Question-and-Answer SessionReally appreciate the time. So to kick it off, I'll ask you the typical fireside chat question, which is just to please give us a brief overview of everything going on at the company.Howard HornExecutive VP of Corporate Strategy & CFO Sure. I'll kick off, and then I'll hand to Eric. First of all, thank you again for having us. Good morning, everybody. Ultragenyx is a rare disease company, focused on transformative treatments where none have existed in the past. We're at an interes ...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opus Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRD) (the “Company” or “Opus Genetics”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and small molecule therapies for other ophthalmic disorders, announced today that George Magrath, MD, Chief Executive Officer, and Ash Jayagopal, Ph.D., MBA, Chief Scientific and Development Officer, will deliver a corporate update at the H.C. Wainwrigh ...

Core Points - A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for alleged material misstatements and omissions affecting investors [1][3] - The lawsuit pertains to the period from September 17, 2024, to May 26, 2025, during which investors may seek compensation [2] - The lawsuit claims that Rocket Pharmaceuticals failed to disclose significant safety-related updates regarding its RP-A501 clinical trial, leading to a fatal adverse event and subsequent FDA clinical hold [3] Company Overview - Rocket Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, and specializes in gene therapies for rare and life-threatening diseases [2] - Following the public confirmation of the trial hold and patient death on May 28, 2025, Rocket Pharmaceuticals' stock price plummeted from $6.27 to $2.33 [3]

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Rocket Pharmaceuticals, alleging material misstatements and omissions that led to investor losses [1][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit is on behalf of investors who purchased Rocket Pharmaceuticals stock between September 17, 2024, and May 26, 2025 [2]. - The lawsuit claims that Rocket Pharmaceuticals failed to disclose significant safety-related updates regarding its RP-A501 clinical trial, including the use of an immunomodulatory agent, prior to a fatal adverse event and subsequent FDA-imposed clinical hold [3]. - Following the public confirmation of the trial hold and patient death on May 28, 2025, Rocket Pharmaceuticals' shares plummeted from $6.27 to $2.33 [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Rocket Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, and specializes in gene therapies for rare and life-threatening diseases [2].

Core Insights - Eli Lilly (LLY) and Merck (MRK) are significant players in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, focusing on oncology, immunology, diabetes, and cardiovascular therapies [1][2] - Lilly has a strong position in cardiometabolic health with GLP-1 drugs, while Merck excels in oncology with its PD-L1 inhibitor, Keytruda [1][2] Company Overview: Eli Lilly - Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine Zepbound have become key revenue drivers, accounting for approximately 50% of total revenues [3][10] - Despite slower-than-expected sales in the second half of 2024, Mounjaro and Zepbound's sales rebounded in Q1 2025 due to international market launches and improved production [4][5] - Lilly anticipates continued growth from Mounjaro and Zepbound, alongside new drug approvals and expanded uses of existing drugs [5][6] - The company is advancing its pipeline in obesity, diabetes, and cancer, with several mid- and late-stage data readouts expected [7] - Lilly is diversifying its portfolio through acquisitions, including Verve Therapeutics for heart disease gene therapies and oncology and pain management candidates [8] - However, Lilly faces challenges such as declining product prices in the U.S. and competition from Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 drugs [9][10] Company Overview: Merck - Merck's portfolio includes over six blockbuster drugs, with Keytruda being the primary revenue driver, particularly in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer [12] - The company has made significant regulatory and pipeline advancements, with its phase III pipeline nearly tripling since 2021 [13] - New products like Capvaxive and Winrevair are showing strong launches, and Merck is pursuing acquisitions to enhance its pipeline [14][15] - Despite these strengths, Merck is experiencing declining sales for Gardasil in China and challenges in its diabetes franchise [16] - Merck's heavy reliance on Keytruda raises concerns about its ability to diversify its product lineup ahead of the drug's patent expiration in 2028 [17] Financial Performance and Estimates - Lilly's 2025 sales and EPS estimates suggest a year-over-year increase of 33.0% and 68.4%, respectively, with a forecasted revenue range of $58.0 billion to $61.0 billion [19][32] - In contrast, Merck's 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply a modest year-over-year increase of 1.02% and 15.7%, with declining EPS estimates over the past 60 days [19][22] - Year-to-date, Lilly's stock has risen 2.7%, while Merck's stock has declined by 15.6% [23] Valuation and Dividend Yield - From a valuation perspective, Lilly's shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of 29.54, significantly higher than Merck's 8.87 [25] - Lilly's dividend yield is 0.76%, while Merck's is higher at 3.93% [29]