Faster paths to proof of concept: How biotech companies approach acceleration 1 Accelerating clinical development is a priority across the biopharma industry, but the pressure for speed is often most intense among small and mid-sized biotechs. While their leanness allows them to respond with agility to shifting landscapes, it also makes them susceptible to significant financial risk. By reaching proof of concept as efficiently as possible, biotechs can make the best use of their resources, putting expertise ...

NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AtaiBeckley Inc (NASDAQ: ATAI) (“AtaiBeckley” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company on a mission to transform patient outcomes by developing rapid-acting, durable and convenient mental health treatments, today announced the appointment of Michael Faerm as Chief Financial Officer, effective March 9, 2026. Mr. Faerm is a seasoned financial executive with more than 25 years of experience across life sciences companies, equity research, and investm ...

Filing of the 2025 U.S. Form 20-F and French “Document d’Enregistrement Universel” containing the Annual Financial Report Paris, February 17, 2026. Sanofi announces today the filing of its Form 20-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its “Document d’Enregistrement Universel” containing its Annual Financial Report with the French market regulator Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). These documents are available on the company’s website:https://www.sanofi.com/en/investors/reports-an ...

Industry Overview - The biotechnology sector in 2025 faced both challenges and opportunities, remaining on a high-growth trajectory due to clinical and operational breakthroughs, but is expected to encounter significant regulatory, political, and financial uncertainties going forward [1] - A report by Boston Consulting Group titled "Biopharma Trends 2026" indicates a shift in R&D spending towards large populations and real-world applicability, alongside an increase in M&A activity as companies pursue inorganic growth strategies [2] - Cost-optimization measures will be a priority for biopharma companies to achieve target margins, necessitating a rethink of business models and the incorporation of AI in operations to sustain themselves [2] Market Dynamics - Biotechnology stocks exhibit high volatility, presenting both risks and attractive opportunities for investors, with careful selection potentially leading to significant portfolio outperformance [3] - The article explores 17 biotechnology stocks identified as having more than 50% upside potential, emphasizing the need for careful navigation in this competitive and rapidly evolving segment [3] Stock Selection Methodology - The selection process for relevant stocks involved screening U.S.-listed biotechnology companies with market capitalizations above $2 billion and share prices above $5, identifying those with at least 50% upside potential based on TipRanks consensus [5] Company Highlights - **BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:BMRN)**: - Holds a moderately bullish analyst sentiment with a projected median 1-year price target of $88.29, implying over 47% upside potential [8] - The company develops targeted therapies for life-threatening medical conditions and rare genetic diseases, with several drugs in the development stage [10] - **Apogee Therapeutics (NASDAQ:APGE)**: - Analysts maintain a Buy rating with a price target of $95, indicating potential upside of over 37% despite recent selloff viewed as an overreaction [11][12] - The company is developing novel biologics for inflammatory and immune diseases, with a pipeline that includes multiple candidates in various clinical trial stages [15] - **Arcellx Incorporated (NASDAQ:ACLX)**: - Analysts have mixed ratings, with one maintaining a Buy rating and a price target of $127, suggesting an upside potential of 85% [18] - The company focuses on advanced immunotherapies for cancer patients, leveraging proprietary technology to develop effective treatments targeting various malignancies [20]

Avantor Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) is one of the most undervalued mid cap stocks to buy now. On February 12, Bank of America analyst Michael Ryskin lowered the firm’s price target on Avantor to $11 from $13 and kept a Neutral rating. This decision followed a sharp market reaction to a soft FY 2026 guidance. The firm noted that visibility into a potential recovery remains limited as management has yet to provide a clear path to improvement, leading to expectations that the shares will remain under pressure. The revi ...

Core Viewpoint - Sanofi's Board of Directors has appointed Belén Garijo as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective after the Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026, following the decision not to renew Paul Hudson's mandate [1][2][6]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Paul Hudson's tenure as CEO will conclude on February 17, 2026, after six years of contributions to the company's transformation [1]. - Olivier Charmeil will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer during the transition period until Garijo officially takes over [3]. Group 2: Belén Garijo's Background - Belén Garijo has a notable career in the pharmaceutical industry, having joined Merck KGaA in 2011 and becoming its CEO in 2021, marking her as the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany [4]. - She has extensive experience at Sanofi, where she held significant roles for 15 years, including Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada [4][6]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Garijo's leadership is expected to enhance the implementation of Sanofi's strategy, focusing on productivity, governance, and innovation in Research & Development [3][6]. - The Board of Directors expressed confidence in Garijo's ability to drive growth and execute strategic initiatives effectively, emphasizing her international experience and reputation in the industry [6].

Core Viewpoint - Sanofi's Board of Directors has appointed Belén Garijo as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective after the Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026, following the decision not to renew Paul Hudson's mandate [1][2][6]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Paul Hudson's tenure as CEO will conclude on February 17, 2026, after six years of contributions to the company's transformation [1]. - Olivier Charmeil will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer during the transition period until Garijo officially takes over [3]. Group 2: Belén Garijo's Background - Belén Garijo has a notable career in the pharmaceutical industry, having joined Merck KGaA in 2011 and becoming its CEO in 2021, marking her as the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany [4]. - She has extensive experience in various roles at Sanofi, including Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Europe and Canada, and has been part of the Executive Committee [4][6]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Garijo's leadership is expected to enhance the implementation of Sanofi's strategy, focusing on productivity, governance, and innovation in Research & Development [3][6]. - The Board of Directors expressed confidence in Garijo's ability to drive growth and transformation within the company, emphasizing her strategic vision and experience [6].

As part of that shift, management said it has recommitted to the VWR brand for the channel business. Ligner said suppliers, customers and employees routinely referred to the distribution channel as VWR, and the company has now restored that brand name. He also emphasized investments in digital capabilities, noting an update to the VWR e-commerce platform launched in the fourth quarter and an additional planned $10 million to $15 million of investment in 2026 to upgrade customer interfaces.Ligner highlighted ...

Core Insights - The J. P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2026 provided an early indication of investor sentiment in the healthcare sector, taking place from January 12 to 15 in San Francisco, attracting a diverse range of participants including investors, biotechs, and pharma companies [1] Mergers and Acquisitions - In 2025, biopharmaceutical mergers and acquisitions saw a 58% increase, characterized by smaller bolt-on transactions rather than large mega deals, with the only $10 billion+ deal at JPM 2026 being Boston Scientific's acquisition of Penumbra for $14.5 billion [2] Strategic Focus of Big Pharma - A strong interest in acquiring high-value assets was evident among big pharma companies at JPM 2026, driven by the impending loss of exclusivity for key drugs such as Merck & Co's Keytruda and Ocrevus, indicating that addressing the patent cliff will be a significant theme for the industry in 2026 and beyond [3] Key Themes at the Conference - The conference highlighted several key themes, including: - **The China Factor**: China is recognized as an innovator in the healthcare industry, with notable licensing deals between Chinese companies and Big Pharma, indicating that Chinese biotechs will continue to be strong competitors and collaborators [4] - **Artificial Intelligence (AI)**: AI is becoming a core strategic focus across the pharmaceutical value chain, with companies engaging in AI-focused partnerships and developing in-house AI tools to enhance drug development processes [5] - **Policy Impact**: Uncertainties surrounding drug pricing policies and regulatory changes have affected investor confidence, prompting the sector to explore direct-to-patient pricing models and domestic manufacturing to mitigate macroeconomic concerns [6] - **Obesity Drugs**: The obesity market is emerging as a key growth area, with a significant patient population and its impact on cardiometabolic conditions driving research and development focus, as well as commercial strategy adjustments among large and mid-cap players [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported full-year adjusted earnings per share of $10, exceeding initial guidance by $0.54, with total net revenues of $61.2 billion, surpassing guidance by over $2 billion [5][6] - Sales growth of 8.6% led to record net sales, exceeding previous peak revenue by more than $3 billion despite nearly $16 billion erosion from U.S. Humira [6][9] - Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $2.71, $0.08 above guidance midpoint, with total net revenues of $16.6 billion, reflecting robust growth of 10% [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Immunology revenues reached approximately $8.6 billion in the fourth quarter, with Skyrizi sales of $5 billion (31.9% operational growth) and Rinvoq sales of nearly $2.4 billion (28.6% operational growth) [10][11] - Neuroscience full-year revenues exceeded $10.7 billion, with a quarterly revenue of over $2.9 billion, up 17.3% operationally, driven by Vraylar and Botox Therapeutic [16][17] - Oncology revenues were nearly $1.7 billion in the quarter, down 2.5% operationally, with Venclexta sales of $710 million, up 6.4% [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global sales for Skyrizi in IBD reached approximately $6.4 billion in 2025, more than double the prior year performance [13][14] - The aesthetics market faced economic headwinds, with global sales of nearly $1.3 billion in the quarter, down 1.2% operationally [21][22] - The company anticipates total sales growth of 9.5% in 2026, driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq, with combined sales expected to exceed $31 billion [7][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing its pipeline across all stages of development and has invested over $5 billion in new business development [6][7] - A voluntary agreement with the U.S. government aims to enhance patient access and affordability while committing $100 billion in U.S. R&D and capital investments over the next decade [9] - The company plans to leverage its diverse portfolio to deliver high single-digit revenue growth through 2029 [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strong position to deliver robust growth despite headwinds from Humira erosion and pricing pressures [5][7] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for substantial sales growth driven by key products, with a focus on maintaining momentum in immunology and neuroscience [8][9] - Management highlighted the potential for long-term growth in neuroscience and oncology, with several promising assets in the pipeline [59][60] Other Important Information - The company anticipates a significant ramp for Vyalev, achieving blockbuster status as a treatment for Parkinson's [8][18] - The adjusted operating margin is expected to expand to approximately 48.5% in 2026, reflecting operational efficiencies [36] - The company expects to generate free cash flow of approximately $18.5 billion in 2026, supporting dividends and investments in business development [38][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Details on the psychedelic therapy in development - Management highlighted the potential of the psychedelic therapy, noting its unique mechanism and observed high efficacy, with further readouts expected before phase III [42][43][44] Question: Insights on Skyrizi's performance in IBD - Management confirmed stable new patient starts for Skyrizi in both Crohn's and UC, with high capture rates despite competition, indicating strong market positioning [51][53][54] Question: Update on external innovation and business development - The company has invested over $8 billion in external innovation, focusing on early-stage opportunities to enhance its pipeline across core therapeutic areas [64][66] Question: Expectations for Rinvoq and lutikizumab phase III data - Management expressed optimism for Rinvoq's performance in treatment failure populations and highlighted lutikizumab's strong efficacy in phase II, anticipating meaningful results in phase III [68][69][70]