Korean Biotech Startup Targeting Alzheimer’s Treatment Raises $42 Million Round https://t.co/u4uHgFsXGJ https://t.co/u4uHgFsXGJ ...

Funding in the amount of $2.0M from Japanese strategic investor, in the form of common equity PIPE with warrants. New funding provides for necessary resources to regain compliance with reporting obligations and listing standards. Share trading will move to the OTC Expert Market temporarily, with potential to uplist to OTCQB as soon as SEC filings are current, with plan to return to Nasdaq or to NYSE American. SANTA ANA, Calif., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NKGen Biotech, Inc. (OTC: NKGN) (“NKGen” or t ...

Sarepta is cutting more than one-third of its workforce and will add a black box warning label to its gene therapy for a fatal muscle disorder after two patient deaths raised doubts about the future of the company https://t.co/FHYwnWd7ml ...

RADNOR, Pa., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (“Sarepta”) (NASDAQ: SRPT) on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Sarepta securities between June 22, 2023, and June 24, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). The lead plaintiff deadline is August 25, 2 ...

PHILADELPHIA and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW, BCTXZ) (TSX: BCT) (“BriaCell” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, today announced the closing of its best-efforts public offering of 12,000,000 units. Each unit consists of one common share (or one pre-funded warrant (“Pre-Funded Warrant”) in lieu thereof) and one warrant (the “Warrants”). Each un ...

Summary of Adverum Biotechnologies Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Adverum Biotechnologies (Ticker: ADVM) - **Industry**: Ocular Gene Therapy - **Focus**: Developing gene therapy to preserve sight in prevalent ocular diseases, particularly wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) [1][3] Key Points and Arguments Market Potential - **Epidemiology**: Approximately 20 million patients worldwide suffer from wet AMD, with a projected market size of $13.5 billion by 2035 [4] - **Incidence**: Over 200,000 new diagnoses in the U.S. annually, with a 42% chance of bilateral disease within 2-3 years for affected patients [5] - **Current Treatment Costs**: Current anti-VEGF treatments account for 12% of Medicare Part B budget, with additional costs related to vision loss and fractures exceeding $80 billion in the U.S. [7][8] Product Development - **Ixabec**: A gene therapy utilizing aflibercept, designed to provide sustained anti-VEGF expression in the retina, potentially allowing for a "one and done" treatment approach [8][14] - **Delivery Method**: Administered via intravitreal injection, aligning with current treatment practices, thus minimizing procedural risks and complications [26][30] Clinical Data - **Phase 1 and 2 Studies**: - Nearly 50% of patients remained injection-free for four years in the OPTIC study [34] - Injection-free rates increased over time, indicating a potential disease-modifying effect [35] - Over 80% reduction in annualized anti-VEGF treatments [36] - Favorable safety profile with 100% of patients inflammation-free at year one through four [36] Patient Preference - High patient satisfaction with Ixabec, with 93% preferring it over previous treatments and 96% willing to recommend it to family and friends [39][40] Economic Impact - **Integration into Practice**: Ixabec is expected to enhance revenue and profitability for healthcare providers by front-loading treatment costs and reducing patient drop-off rates [31][32] - **Cost-Effectiveness**: Potential to lower overall healthcare costs by reducing treatment frequency and associated complications [33] Future Milestones - Upcoming long-term data presentation from the LUNA study in Q4 of this year [51] - Initiation of the AQUARIUS phase three study in the second half of the year [51] - Strong cash runway projected into the second half of the year, with confidence in funding ongoing clinical programs [53][54] Additional Important Content - **Challenges with Current Treatments**: Current anti-VEGF therapies require frequent injections, leading to patient burden and potential vision loss due to treatment gaps [10][18] - **Innovative Approach**: Ixabec aims to eliminate the oscillation of fluid in the retina, providing stable and durable visual outcomes [22][21] - **Regulatory and Commercial Success**: The ARTEMIS study is designed to maximize the probability of success in clinical and regulatory pathways [42] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the Adverum Biotechnologies conference call, highlighting the company's innovative approach to treating wet AMD and the significant market opportunity it represents.

Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Si ...

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.77 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.66, but reflecting a 1.8% decline year over year [1] - Total sales reached $23.74 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.80 billion, with a year-over-year increase of 5.8% [2] - The company raised its 2025 sales forecast to a range of $93.2 billion to $93.4 billion, indicating a growth of 5.1% to 5.6% compared to previous expectations [18][19] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings, excluding intangible amortization and special items, were reported at $2.77 per share, while reported earnings, including these items, were $2.29 per share, up 18.7% year over year [1] - Domestic sales increased by 7.8% to $13.54 billion, while international sales rose by 3.2% to $10.2 billion [3] Segment Performance - The Innovative Medicines segment saw sales rise by 4.9% year over year to $15.2 billion, driven by strong performances from key products like Darzalex and Erleada [5][6] - The MedTech segment reported sales of $8.54 billion, up 7.3% from the previous year, benefiting from operational growth and currency impacts [16] Product Highlights - Darzalex sales increased by 23.0% to $3.54 billion, outperforming estimates [7] - Stelara sales declined by 42.7% to $1.65 billion due to biosimilar competition [11][12] - New drugs such as Carvykti and Tecvayli contributed significantly to sales growth, with Carvykti recording $439 million in sales [10] Future Outlook - JNJ anticipates operational sales growth in both the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments to be higher in the second half of 2025 [25] - The company considers 2025 a "catalyst year" for growth, despite challenges such as the Stelara patent cliff and ongoing legal issues [26]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a modest overall fiscal impulse from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), suggesting a cautious investment outlook for the affected sectors [5][6][27]. Core Insights - The OBBBA is expected to provide significant cash flow benefits primarily through upfront R&D expensing and bonus depreciation, particularly benefiting sectors like technology, communication services, and healthcare [5][10][12]. - The fiscal impulse from the OBBBA is projected to add approximately 0.4 percentage points to real GDP in 2026, although this is not sufficient to offset drags from trade and immigration policies [27][45][57]. - The report identifies potential beneficiaries among companies with substantial R&D and capital expenditures, focusing on those with significant pre-tax earnings and meaningful cash taxes [5][24][25]. Summary by Sections Fiscal Implications - The OBBBA implies higher incremental deficits than previously anticipated, with a projected 2026 deficit of 7.1% of GDP, influenced by increased tariff revenues [6][12][59]. - The bill's provisions are expected to lead to front-loaded deficits and back-loaded surpluses, indicating a short-term fiscal impulse that may later turn into a fiscal drag [5][38][57]. Sectoral Impacts - Clean Tech: The final bill is viewed positively for most subsectors, alleviating investor concerns regarding the repeal of IRA tax credits [7]. - Consumer: Smaller cuts to SNAP in the final bill reduce headwinds for packaged foods, beverages, retail, and restaurants [7]. - Software: The reinstatement of upfront R&D expensing is likely to provide a cash flow tailwind for large-cap corporates [7][10]. Tax Provisions - Upfront R&D expensing allows companies to accelerate cash tax savings, particularly benefiting sectors like tech and healthcare [10][12]. - The reinstatement of 100% first-year bonus depreciation for qualified property and equipment is expected to positively impact capital-intensive sectors such as aerospace and defense, telecom, and energy [10][12]. Cash Flow and Earnings - The report emphasizes that the majority of OBBBA policies will impact cash flows rather than reported earnings, with significant cash tax savings anticipated in the near term [8][10][12]. - The cash tax rate is expected to potentially reach new lows due to the reinstated and expanded expensing provisions [9][12]. Deficit and Rates - The report notes that concerns regarding fiscal policy under the new administration have somewhat diminished, with the 10-year yield remaining below 4.50% [14][57]. - The OBBBA is projected to result in a lower fiscal deficit in 2025 compared to prior forecasts, while maintaining a broadly unchanged deficit forecast for 2026 [59][60].

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metr ...