We recently published 12 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar.  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer's radar. Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) factored into the discussion after Cramer and his co-hosts discussed Pfizer and Merck. The firm’s shares are up by 46% year-to-date and have had a good December so far. During this time period, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has reported several important developments. For instance, the firm announced on December 12th that it had secur ...

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) maintains a leading position in the HIV market, primarily driven by its flagship therapies Biktarvy and Descovy, which have significantly contributed to the company's revenue growth in recent quarters [1][9] Gilead's HIV Portfolio - The FDA approved lenacapavir, branded as Yeztugo, as the first and only twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for prevention, enhancing GILD's HIV portfolio amid generic competition for Truvada [2][9] - Yeztugo's competitive edge lies in its biannual dosing, appealing to a broader population compared to daily oral medications [3] - Gilead's investigational single-tablet regimen combining bictegravir and lenacapavir has met primary endpoints in phase III studies, indicating potential for regulatory submission [4][5] Competitive Landscape - The HIV treatment market includes major competitors like GSK and Merck, with GSK's HIV portfolio benefiting from strong demand for long-acting injectables and Dovato, while Merck markets doravirine in various formulations [7][8][10] Financial Performance - Gilead's stock has increased by 31.2% over the past year, outperforming the industry average growth of 15% [11] - The company's shares are trading at a price/earnings ratio of 14.32x forward earnings, which is above its historical mean of 10.93x but below the large-cap pharma industry's average of 17.11x [12] - Earnings estimates for 2025 have risen to $8.17 from $8.07, while the estimate for 2026 has slightly decreased to $8.50 from $8.51 [13]

Core Viewpoint - A class action securities lawsuit has been filed against Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. alleging securities fraud that affected investors between February 21, 2025, and August 28, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit claims that defendants made false statements regarding Telix's progress with prostate cancer therapeutic candidates, overstated the quality of its supply chain and partners, and that these statements were materially false and misleading [2]. - Investors who suffered losses during the specified timeframe have until January 9, 2026, to request to be appointed as lead plaintiff, although participation in any recovery does not require serving as a lead plaintiff [3]. Group 2: Legal Representation - Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has a strong track record in securities litigation, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders and being recognized as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States for seven consecutive years [4].

- New Patent Expands IGC Pharma's Pharmaceutical Cannabinoid Portfolio Beyond Alzheimer's Disease - POTOMAC, MD / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 / IGC Pharma, Inc. (NYSE American:IGC) ("IGC" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially issued U.S. Patent No. 12,491,200, covering the Company's novel microd ...

Core Insights - Amplia Therapeutics Limited has entered the second phase of a research collaboration with Next & Bio to further investigate the efficacy of its FAK inhibitors in treating pancreatic cancer [2][3][4] - The collaboration aims to explore the synergistic effects of Amplia's FAK inhibitor narmafotinib in combination with kRAS inhibitors, which target genetic mutations present in over 90% of pancreatic cancers [3][4][9] - Initial studies have shown that narmafotinib demonstrated promising activity against patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells, with plans to present this data at an upcoming scientific conference [3][6] Company Overview - Amplia Therapeutics is an Australian pharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of FAK inhibitors for cancer and fibrosis, particularly in fibrotic cancers like pancreatic and ovarian cancer [7] - Narmafotinib (AMP945) is Amplia's leading FAK inhibitor, which has shown significant potential in preclinical studies and is currently undergoing clinical trials in combination with established chemotherapies [8][10] Collaboration Details - The partnership with Next & Bio, a preclinical drug screening company, leverages patient-derived cell models to provide more accurate and predictive results for pancreatic cancer treatment [5][6] - The collaboration is expected to enhance Amplia's strategic positioning for future partnerships and commercial growth opportunities [6]

Acquisition Overview - BioMarin will acquire Amicus Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction for $14.50 per share, valuing Amicus' equity at approximately $4.8 billion[14] - The purchase price represents a 33% premium to Amicus' closing stock price on December 18, 2025[14] - The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026, subject to regulatory clearance and approval by Amicus' stockholders[14] Financial Impact - The acquisition is expected to increase BioMarin's long-term revenue CAGR through 2030 and beyond[12] - It is anticipated to be accretive to Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) in the first 12 months after close and substantially accretive beginning in 2027[12, 28] - BioMarin is committed to deleveraging, targeting gross leverage < 2.5x within two years after close[12, 28] - The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and approximately $3.7 billion of non-convertible debt financing[14] Strategic Rationale - The acquisition expands BioMarin's position as a leader in rare diseases by adding two marketed, high-growth products[4, 12, 28] - BioMarin's global scale and manufacturing capabilities will enable more patients to benefit from Galafold and Pombiliti + Opfolda[12, 28] - The deal diversifies BioMarin's revenue mix and strengthens its commercial portfolio[5, 12, 15] Product Portfolio - Galafold, an oral therapy for Fabry disease, is projected to generate $458 million in revenue in FY'25, with a growth rate of +10-15%[19] - Pombiliti + Opfolda, a two-component therapy for Pompe disease, is projected to generate $70 million in revenue in FY'25, with a growth rate of +50-65%[24]

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. agreed to buy Amicus Therapeutics Inc. for about $4.8 billion to expand its portfolio of treatments for rare diseases. https://t.co/ChUMv6l4pJ ...

NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GALT), the leading developer of galectin-3-targeted therapeutics for patients with MASH cirrhosis and portal hypertension, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided a written response, and subsequent communications, to the Company’s previously submitted Type C meeting request regarding the development program for belapectin, its investigational galectin-3 inhibitor. The FDA converted the C ...

Core Viewpoint - BioMarin Pharmaceutical is set to acquire Amicus Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.8 billion [1] Company Summary - The acquisition will enhance BioMarin's portfolio and expand its capabilities in the biotechnology sector [1] - The deal signifies BioMarin's strategic move to strengthen its position in the market through consolidation [1] Financial Summary - The total value of the acquisition is around $4.8 billion, indicating a significant investment by BioMarin [1]

Deal Activity Overview - The total deal value for 2025 reached approximately $2.4 trillion, a significant increase from about $1.83 trillion in 2024, driven by high-value agreements in corporate M&A and private equity buyouts [1] - Middle-market deal volume was low in 2025, with large M&A transactions inflating overall statistics, marking a decade-high level of megadeals, which were double the number from the previous year [2] Historical Context - 2021 remains the peak year for U.S. deal activity, with 19,666 deals valued at roughly $5.55 trillion, influenced by low interest rates at that time [3] Market Conditions - The sluggishness in dealmaking during the first half of 2025 was attributed to uncertainty from Trump's tariff announcements, which created a challenging environment for executives [4][6] - The consumer sector saw a 17% decline in deal value during the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while industrials, energy, and healthcare sectors experienced growth in transaction values [8] Sector-Specific Insights - In the retail space, there were 227 U.S. deals recorded through mid-December 2025, down from 296 in the previous year, but the total valuation exceeded $40 billion, compared to approximately $28.4 billion in 2024 [9] - The automotive industry faced a 19.9% decline in deal volume year-over-year, reflecting broader challenges in the industrial manufacturing sector [17] Regulatory Environment - The Trump administration's policies have influenced deal approvals, with companies like Verizon altering their diversity policies to facilitate regulatory approvals for significant acquisitions [20][21] - The merger of Paramount Skydance was approved after the company agreed to eliminate DEI initiatives, showcasing the regulatory landscape's impact on deal-making [21] Future Outlook - The second half of 2025 saw a resurgence in deal activity, particularly in the banking sector, which experienced an 88% increase in announced deals, with total transaction sizes nearly quadrupling to $39 billion [29] - There is optimism for continued deal-making activity in 2026, especially among regional banks, driven by activist investors and a more favorable regulatory environment [30][31]