US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has struck a deal with Washington to invest $70 billion in America, sell drugs to its Medicaid programme at the lowest prices it offers in other developed countries, and take part in a government-run, direct-to-consumer platform, named by the President modestly as TrumpRx, which promises steeply discounted medicines to the country's citizens. The development adds yet another weapon to the US government’s armoury for restraining medicine prices: Coercion. No government li ...

Core Viewpoint - Amgen's stock has faced a decline of 10.4% over the past three months, largely attributed to macroeconomic uncertainties and trade tensions [1][2]. Group 1: Market Environment - The stock market has experienced volatility due to President Trump's tariffs and China's retaliatory measures, although a recent deal has eased tensions temporarily [2]. - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs continues to impact economic growth, despite pharmaceuticals being exempt from initial tariffs [3]. Group 2: Company Performance - Amgen's revenues grew by 9% year over year in Q1 2025, driven by increased patient demand for innovative medicines [4]. - The company is facing declining revenues from oncology biosimilars and established products like Enbrel, with competitive pressures affecting sales [5]. - Key revenue drivers include older medicines like Prolia and Repatha, as well as new drugs such as Tavneos and Tezspire, alongside rare disease drugs from the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics [5]. Group 3: Drug Pipeline and Approvals - Amgen is evaluating several drugs for additional indications, which could enhance revenue growth, with Uplizna recently approved for IgG4-related disease [6][7]. - The company has invested significantly in M&A to diversify its pipeline, including the development of MariTide, a novel obesity treatment [8][10]. - Clinical studies for MariTide have shown promising results, and further studies are ongoing [9][10]. Group 4: Biosimilars and Market Strategy - Amgen launched several new biosimilars in 2025, generating substantial sales, including Wezlana and Pavblu, which contributed to a 35% year-over-year increase in biosimilar sales [13][15]. - The company is actively pursuing additional biosimilar approvals to mitigate the impact of upcoming patent expirations for key drugs [15][16]. Group 5: Financial Outlook - Amgen's stock has outperformed the industry and S&P 500, with a year-to-date increase of 7.3% [18]. - The stock is reasonably valued, trading at a price/earnings ratio of 13.12, lower than the industry average [21]. - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have seen upward revisions, indicating positive market sentiment [24][26]. Group 6: Long-term Growth Potential - The company is expected to maintain long-term revenue growth driven by strong performance from key drugs and innovative medicines [27]. - Despite initial data from MariTide studies being below expectations, it holds potential as a significant product for Amgen [27].

Group 1 - UnitedHealth's stock experienced a significant decline of 10.17%, dropping from $378.75 to $340.25, marking its lowest price since early 2021 [1][7] - The downturn was exacerbated by the resignation of CEO Andrew Witty, who left for 'personal reasons,' and the company's decision to withdraw its 2025 growth forecast [4][5] - UnitedHealth admitted it does not expect to return to growth until 2026, citing higher-than-expected medical costs for new Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and an acceleration in care activity [4] Group 2 - The broader U.S. healthcare sector is under pressure, particularly following President Trump's announcement to significantly lower drug prices, which has affected market sentiment [6][8] - Although UnitedHealth is not directly impacted by the drug pricing plan, the overall sentiment in the healthcare sector remains negative, contributing to the stock's struggles [8]