Core Insights - AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN) are both leading global healthcare companies with diverse drug portfolios, excelling in immunology and oncology, with AbbVie also focusing on neuroscience and aesthetics, while AstraZeneca emphasizes rare diseases and vaccines [1][2] AbbVie Overview - AbbVie has achieved significant success in immunology with three blockbuster drugs: Skyrizi, Rinvoq, and Humira, which together contribute nearly 50% of its revenue [3] - Despite losing U.S. exclusivity for Humira in 2023, AbbVie has returned to strong growth, with Skyrizi and Rinvoq sales increasing by 53% year-over-year to $18.5 billion, and projected to exceed $25 billion by 2025 [4] - The oncology segment generated approximately $5 billion in revenue in the first nine months of 2025, up nearly 3% year-over-year, while neuroscience drug sales rose over 20% to nearly $7.8 billion [5] - AbbVie has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, completing over 30 M&A transactions since early 2024, including acquiring Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for a drug in mid-stage development for major depressive disorder [6] - AbbVie faces near-term challenges, including biosimilar competition for Humira, pressure on Imbruvica sales, and a decline in its aesthetics franchise, which saw a 7% drop in sales in the first nine months of 2025 [7] AstraZeneca Overview - AstraZeneca has a diversified geographical presence and a portfolio of blockbuster drugs, including Imfinzi, Lynparza, Farxiga, Ultomiris, and Tagrisso, which are driving revenue growth [8][9] - The company aims for $80 billion in total revenues by 2030, supported by the launch of 20 new medicines, with nine already launched or approved [10] - AstraZeneca has also expanded its pipeline through acquisitions, including EsoBiotec, a biotech specializing in cell therapies [11] - Challenges for AstraZeneca include the impact of U.S. policy changes on oncology sales, ongoing investigations in China, and competition from generics and biosimilars affecting key drugs [12][13] Financial Estimates and Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AbbVie indicates an 8.2% increase in 2025 sales and a 5.1% increase in EPS, with recent EPS estimates declining from $11.04 to $10.64 [14] - For AstraZeneca, the 2025 sales and EPS estimates suggest a 9% and 11.9% increase, respectively, with EPS estimates rising from $4.56 to $4.60 [16] - Year-to-date, AbbVie shares have increased by 28%, while AstraZeneca shares have risen by 40%, outperforming the industry average of 17% [17] - AbbVie has a lower P/E ratio of 15.90 compared to AstraZeneca's 17.81, making AbbVie appear more attractive from a valuation perspective [18] - AbbVie offers a higher dividend yield of 2.88% compared to AstraZeneca's 1.10% [22] Comparative Analysis - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a challenging decision for investors [24] - AbbVie's recovery post-Humira is notable, driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq, but its reliance on acquisitions may weigh on near-term earnings [25] - AstraZeneca's growth profile is more balanced, with a diverse range of blockbuster products reducing reliance on any single drug [27]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences has exercised its option to exclusively license Assembly Biosciences' herpes simplex virus helicase-primase inhibitor programs, marking the first advancement under their collaboration [1][2] Licensing Agreement - Gilead entered a 12-year partnership with Assembly Biosciences in 2023 to develop novel antiviral therapies, with Assembly Bio receiving a $35 million payment upon Gilead's exercise of its option [2] - Gilead will obtain exclusive rights to ABI-5366 and ABI-1179, taking full responsibility for their clinical development and commercialization [2] Financial Milestones - Assembly Biosciences is eligible for up to $330 million in regulatory and commercial milestones, along with tiered royalties on net sales [3][7] Product Development - ABI-1179 and ABI-5366 are long-acting helicase-primase inhibitors showing strong antiviral activity and significant reduction in virus-positive lesions in interim data from early-stage studies [8][9] - Over four million people in the U.S. and some European countries suffer from recurrent genital herpes, indicating a substantial market opportunity for these new therapies [9][10] Market Context - No new HSV therapies have been approved in the U.S. or Europe in over 25 years, highlighting the potential impact of ABI-5366 and ABI-1179 if successfully developed [9][10] Gilead's HIV Portfolio - Gilead has a leading HIV franchise, with products like Biktarvy and Descovy driving top-line growth [11] - The recent FDA approval of lenacapavir for HIV prevention enhances Gilead's portfolio, especially as Truvada faces generic competition [12]

Key Takeaways Novo Nordisk shares soared Tuesday after the company said the Food and Drug Administration approved an oral version of its popular Wegovy weight-loss drug.The Danish drugmaker said it hopes to launch the pill in the U.S. in early January. Could a new weight-loss pill be just what Novo Nordisk (NVO) needs to revive its stock? U.S.-listed shares of the Danish drugmaker surged 9% in recent trading after the company said it received Food and Drug Administration approval for an oral version of ...

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) has announced that a participant in the long-term extension trial evaluating Marstacimab in people living with hemophilia A or B with or without inhibitors has passed away following serious adverse events of cerebellar infarction and subsequent cerebral hemorrhage.The individual completed the active treatment phase of the parent study, dubbed B7841005, in 2022 and subsequently enrolled in the long-term extension study in 2023.B7841005 was a phase 3 trial that included adolescents and adul ...

A Baltimore jury ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay over $1.5 billion to a woman who claimed decades of exposure to asbestos in the company’s talc-based products caused her peritoneal mesothelioma, a form of cancer.Jurors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Md., on Monday found the company, two of its subsidiaries and spinoff Kenvue liable for failing to warn plaintiff Cherie Craft that its baby powder contained asbestos.Johnson & Johnson said it will appeal the jury’s decision, whic ...

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JR Research is an opportunistic investor. He was recognized by TipRanks as a Top Analyst. He was also recognized by Seeking Alpha as a "Top Analyst To Follow" for Technology, Software, and Internet, as well as for Growth and GARP. He identifies attractive risk/reward opportunities supported by robust price action to potentially generate alpha well above the S&P 500. He has also demonstrated outperformance with his picks. He focuses on identifying growth investing opportunities that present the most attracti ...

Key Takeaways The EC approved Tremfya for patients aged 6-17 years with plaque psoriasis needing systemic therapy.The PROTOSTAR study met PASI 75 and IGA 0/1 endpoints at 16 weeks.Tremfya drove JNJ sales growth, generating $3.6B in the first nine months of 2025, up 31% year over year.Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved an expanded use of its blockbuster psoriasis drug, Tremfya, in children. Tremfya is now approved to treat pediatric and adolescent patients (aged ...

A patient who was being treated with Pfizer's hemophilia drug, Hympavzi, as part of a long-term study died after experiencing serious side effects, the company said. ...

Welcome back. Novo Nordisk gaining FDA approval for the first oral weight loss drug. Our Anakah Constantino spoke with the CEO and joins us this morning.Hey, Anakah. >> Hi, Carl. That's right.So, we're all familiar with Novo's Blockbuster Weekly injection, Mgoi. But for the very first time, patients will be able to access an oral version of that drug. It's the first ever GLP-1 pill specifically approved for obesity, and it's launching early in 2026.And Novo says it's priced at a significant discount to what ...