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AbbVie Adds More Than $24B in 6 Months: How to Play ABBV Stock
ZACKS· 2025-06-27 15:11
Key Takeaways ABBV stock rose 8% in six months, gaining over $24B in market cap as investors respond to post-Humira growth. Skyrizi and Rinvoq brought in $5.1B in Q1 2025 sales, up 65%, with $31B projected by 2027. ABBV pipeline gains from 20 recent deals and a push into oncology, neuroscience and obesity therapies.AbbVie (ABBV) stock has risen 8.0% in six months, adding more than $24 billion to its market value.AbbVie has successfully navigated the loss of exclusivity (“LOE”) of its blockbuster drug, Hum ...
40% Upside For Merck Stock?
Forbes· 2025-06-27 11:05
Core Insights - Merck is strategically positioning itself for growth despite facing the Keytruda patent cliff in 2028 by diversifying and expanding its pipeline [2][11] - The company has a robust pipeline with 20 new "blockbuster" drugs under development, collectively having a sales potential of $50 billion [3][11] - Recent drug launches and vaccines are contributing significantly to revenue, indicating a successful diversification strategy [4][11] Pipeline and Product Development - MK-1022 for non-small-cell lung cancer and MK-0616, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, are key pipeline assets expected to exceed $5 billion in peak sales [5] - Winrevair, a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, achieved $280 million in sales in Q1 2025 and is projected to have peak sales of $3 billion [5][6] - Capvaxive recorded $107 million in Q1 2025 sales with a peak sales potential of over $2 billion [5] Acquisition Strategy - Merck's acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics for $680 million enhances its immunotherapy portfolio, while the Acceleron deal has already boosted revenue [7] - The company has over $9 billion in cash reserves, positioning it well for further strategic acquisitions [7] Financial Valuation - MRK stock currently trades at around $80, valuing the company at 3.2 times its trailing revenues, below its three-year average P/S ratio of 4.4 times [8] - If MRK stock reverts to its historical P/S ratio, it could exceed $110, indicating nearly 40% upside potential [9] Market Challenges - Gardasil vaccine faces temporary challenges in China, but sales have risen in other regions, suggesting potential for recovery [9][10] - The transition from reliance on Keytruda to a diversified portfolio is critical for sustaining growth beyond 2028 [11][12]
Will MRK's Growing Pipeline Help Navigate the Looming Keytruda LOE?
ZACKS· 2025-06-26 14:51
Key Takeaways MRK's phase III pipeline has nearly tripled since 2021, boosted by in-house growth and M&A deals. MRK plans around 20 new drug and vaccine launches, many with blockbuster potential, over the next few years. Capvaxive and Winrevair have shown strong launches, supporting growth as Keytruda's patent expiration nears.Merck (MRK) has built a substantial portfolio of new products and pipeline candidates in areas like oncology, vaccines, neuroscience, and infectious disease.Merck’s phase III pipeli ...
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-06-04 21:57
Summary of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) - **Focus**: Rare diseases, specifically targeting hereditary angioedema (HAE) with its lead drug Orlodayo, which is in its fifth year of launch [4][6] Financial Performance - **Profitability**: Expected to be profitable in 2025, with a strong financial position and debt reduction already achieved this year [5][68] - **Revenue Guidance**: Increased revenue guidance for 2025 to $580 million - $600 million from a previous estimate of $535 million - $550 million, driven by strong demand and patient access to paid therapy [6][7] Product Pipeline Orlodayo - **Market Performance**: Strong demand from both patients and physicians, particularly in the Medicare and commercial populations [7] - **Pediatric Opportunity**: FDA accepted the supplemental NDA for pediatric use with a PDUFA date set for September 12, 2025 [8][9] Netherton Syndrome (Drug: 17725) - **Mechanism of Action**: KLK5 inhibitor targeting a genetic disorder with a clear mechanism involving faulty gene function leading to uncontrolled KLK5 activity [12][13] - **Clinical Trials**: Initial evaluations in healthy volunteers have been positive, allowing progression to patient trials [20][21] - **Study Design**: Phase one study designed to assess drug penetration and skin healing, with a focus on skin outcomes and patient-reported outcomes [31][36] - **Market Opportunity**: Estimated 1,600 Netherton patients in the U.S., with potential growth as targeted therapy becomes available [49][50] Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) - **Drug: Vorlestat**: Lower solubility drug being developed for a suprachoroidal delivery approach, aiming for sustained exposure at the retina [58][60] - **Preclinical Data**: Positive results in animal models showing significant reduction in retinal vascular leakage, supporting the mechanism for DME treatment [63][64] - **Phase One Study**: Small study focusing on safety and retinal thickness changes over time, with a bar for success being measurable changes in retinal thickness [65][66] Financial Strategy - **Debt Management**: Paid down $75 million in Pharmakon debt, with a remaining debt of $249 million and a cash position of approximately $240 million [68] - **Future Investments**: Plans to continue paying down debt while investing in the pipeline and potential business development opportunities [68] Key Takeaways - BioCryst is positioned for growth with a strong financial outlook and promising drug pipeline focused on rare diseases - The company is actively pursuing regulatory approvals for pediatric indications and expanding its clinical trials for Netherton Syndrome and DME - Financial health is robust, allowing for continued investment in research and development while managing debt effectively [5][68]
JNJ vs. ABBV: Which Pharma Powerhouse Has Better Growth Prospects?
ZACKS· 2025-05-06 13:30
Core Viewpoint - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and AbbVie (ABBV) are both major U.S. pharmaceutical companies with strong pipelines and global operations, but they face different challenges and growth prospects as they approach 2025, which is expected to be a catalyst year for both companies [2]. Group 1: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) - JNJ's diversified business model, operating through over 275 subsidiaries, provides resilience against economic cycles [3]. - The Innovative Medicine unit showed a 4.4% organic sales growth in Q1 2025 despite the loss of exclusivity for Stelara, with growth expected to be driven by key products and new drug launches [4][5]. - JNJ's MedTech business is experiencing challenges, particularly in China, due to the volume-based procurement program and competitive pressures [6]. - The loss of U.S. patent exclusivity for Stelara in 2025 led to a 33.7% decline in its sales in Q1 2025, with generics expected to further impact sales and profits [7]. - JNJ is facing over 62,000 lawsuits related to its talc-based products, which has created a negative sentiment around the stock [8][9]. - JNJ's 2025 sales and EPS estimates indicate a year-over-year increase of 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively, with the EPS estimate slightly rising over the past month [14]. - JNJ's stock has risen 8.1% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average of 2.4% [21]. - JNJ's current price/earnings ratio is 14.44, slightly below the industry average of 15.70, and its dividend yield is 3.2% [23][24]. - JNJ expects operational sales growth to accelerate in the second half of 2025, driven by new product launches [29]. Group 2: AbbVie (ABBV) - AbbVie has successfully managed the loss of exclusivity for Humira, launching new immunology drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are expected to generate over $31 billion in combined sales by 2027 [10]. - The oncology strategy is gaining traction with contributions from newer products, and AbbVie has several early/mid-stage pipeline candidates with blockbuster potential [11]. - AbbVie has been active in acquisitions, strengthening its pipeline in immunology and entering the obesity market through a licensing deal [12]. - AbbVie faces near-term challenges, including biosimilar erosion of Humira and competitive pressures on its cancer drug Imbruvica [13]. - AbbVie's 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply a year-over-year increase of 6.4% and 21.2%, respectively, with the EPS estimate slightly declining over the past month [17]. - AbbVie's stock has risen 12.4% year-to-date, also outperforming the industry average [21]. - AbbVie's current price/earnings ratio is 15.22, lower than the industry average but higher than its 5-year mean of 12.23, with a dividend yield of around 3.4% [23][24]. - AbbVie expects to achieve mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025 and a high single-digit CAGR through 2029, with no significant loss of exclusivity events anticipated for the rest of the decade [31].