Pfizer Inc. NYSE: PFE made a strong move higher after it became the first drug manufacturer to sign on as part of the TrumpRx platform. PFE stock is up nearly 14% since its closing price of around $23.61 on Sept. 25. Pfizer TodayPFEPfizer$26.27 -0.16 (-0.61%) 52-Week Range$20.92▼$30.43Dividend Yield6.55%P/E Ratio13.97Price Target$28.41Add to WatchlistThis is welcome news to long-term holders who have endured a significant dip in the stock since its vaccine-fueled surge in 2021. PFE stock trades at an attra ...

AbbVie said on Monday it would launch its ovarian cancer drug Elahere in the U.K. at a list price equal to that in the U.S. ...

Core Insights - AbbVie has a strong immunology franchise with blockbuster drugs and has also developed a substantial oncology franchise with key products like Imbruvica and Venclexta [1] Oncology Franchise Development - AbbVie and Genmab's Epkinly was approved for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, while Emrelis was approved for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer [2] - The acquisition of Immunogen added Elahere to AbbVie's oncology portfolio, contributing to double-digit revenue growth for Elahere and Epkinly in the first half of 2025 [2] - AbbVie's oncology segment generated $3.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, a 4.2% increase year over year, driven by Venclexta and new drugs [3] Innovation in Oncology - AbbVie is enhancing its oncology portfolio with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are seen as a disruptive innovation in cancer treatment [4] - The company has two ADCs in its commercial portfolio and two additional next-generation ADCs in late-stage development, along with others in early-stage development [4] Pipeline and Growth Potential - A key candidate in AbbVie's oncology pipeline is etentamig/ABBV-383, targeting relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma [5] - Despite competitive pressure on Imbruvica, AbbVie's oncology business is well-positioned for growth in the coming years [5] Competitive Landscape - Major competitors in the oncology space include AstraZeneca, Merck, Bristol-Myers, and Pfizer, with AstraZeneca's oncology sales comprising around 43% of total revenues and growing 16% in the first half of 2025 [6] - Merck's Keytruda accounts for about 50% of its pharmaceutical sales, with a 6.6% sales increase to $15.1 billion in the first half of 2025 [7] - Pfizer's oncology revenues grew 9% in the first half of 2025, driven by various drugs, while AbbVie's oncology revenues rose 4.2% to $3.3 billion [8] Financial Performance and Valuation - AbbVie's stock has increased by 21.2% this year, outperforming the industry [10] - The company's shares trade at a price/earnings ratio of 15.54, higher than the industry average of 14.64 [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has slightly decreased to $12.02 per share, while the estimate for 2026 has increased to $14.31 per share [16]

Core Insights - AbbVie's stock has increased by 11.5% in the past month due to strong second-quarter performance, beating earnings and sales estimates with earnings of $2.97 per share, a 12.1% year-over-year increase [1][2] Financial Performance - Revenues reached $15.42 billion, reflecting a 6.6% year-over-year increase, driven by strong sales of key drugs such as Rinvoq and Skyrizi, alongside contributions from newer drugs like Ubrelvy and Elahere [2][3] - AbbVie raised its revenue and EPS guidance for 2025, expecting adjusted EPS between $11.88-$12.08 and total revenues around $60.5 billion, up from previous estimates [3] Product Performance - AbbVie has successfully launched new immunology drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are expected to replace declining sales from Humira, generating combined sales of $11.6 billion in the first half of 2025 [5][7] - Skyrizi and Rinvoq are projected to achieve combined sales exceeding $25 billion in 2025 and over $31 billion by 2027, with Skyrizi annualizing at nearly $18 billion and Rinvoq at over $8 billion [8][9] Oncology and Neuroscience Growth - The oncology segment generated $3.3 billion in the first half of 2025, a 4.2% year-over-year increase, supported by new drug launches and the addition of antibody-drug conjugates [11][13] - Sales in the neuroscience portfolio increased by 20.3% to nearly $5 billion, driven by products like Botox Therapeutic and newer migraine treatments [14] Acquisition Strategy - AbbVie has engaged in over 30 M&A transactions since early 2024, focusing on immunology, oncology, and neuroscience to enhance its early-stage pipeline [15][16] - Recent acquisitions include Capstan Therapeutics, adding a potential first-in-class CAR-T therapy to its immunology pipeline [16] Challenges and Market Dynamics - Humira's sales have declined over 50% in the first half of 2025 due to biosimilar erosion, with expectations of continued decline as more plans adopt exclusionary formularies [17] - Sales of Juvederm fillers have also decreased by 22.2% in the first half of 2025, impacted by macroeconomic challenges and weakened consumer sentiment [18] Stock Performance and Valuation - AbbVie's stock has gained 19.3% year-to-date, outperforming the industry and S&P 500 [19] - The stock trades at a price/earnings ratio of 15.31, higher than the industry average of 14.46, indicating a relatively high valuation compared to some peers [22] Future Outlook - AbbVie anticipates returning to mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025, driven by the performance of Skyrizi and Rinvoq, with no significant loss of exclusivity events expected for the remainder of the decade [28][29]

Financial Performance - AbbVie Inc. reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.97, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.89 and the company's guidance of $2.84-$2.88, with earnings rising 12.1% year over year [1] - Revenues for the quarter reached $15.42 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.07 billion, with a year-over-year increase of 6.6% on a reported basis and 6.5% on an operational basis [2] Key Drug Performance - Sales of Rinvoq totaled $2.03 billion, up 41.2%, driven by market share gains and recent label expansion [4] - Skyrizi generated $4.42 billion in sales, reflecting a 61.8% increase, attributed to strong volume growth and market share gains [5] - Humira experienced a significant sales decline of 58.2% to $1.18 billion, with U.S. sales down 66% to $802 million due to loss of exclusivity [6][7] - Neuroscience portfolio sales increased 24% to $2.68 billion, driven by higher sales of Botox Therapeutic, Vraylar, Ubrelvy, and Qulipta [8] Oncology and Other Drug Sales - Oncology franchise sales rose 2.4% to $1.68 billion, supported by newer drugs like Epkinly and Elahere, despite a decline in Imbruvica sales [10][11] - Venclexta generated revenues of $691 million, reflecting 8.3% growth, while Elahere sales rose 23.7% to $159 million, although it missed expectations [13] Cost and Guidance - Adjusted SG&A expenses decreased 2.3% year over year to $3.24 billion, while adjusted R&D expenses increased 10.3% to $2.12 billion [16] - AbbVie raised its full-year 2025 EPS guidance to a range of $11.88-$12.08, up from the previous range of $11.67-$11.87 [17] Market Reaction and Strategic Moves - AbbVie shares rose over 5% in pre-market trading following the upward revision in guidance, with a year-to-date stock gain of about 7% compared to the industry's 4% decline [20] - The company continues to invest in its future pipeline through strategic collaborations, including a licensing deal for an investigational trispecific antibody and interest in acquiring Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals [22]

Industry Overview - The second-quarter 2025 reporting cycle for the Medical sector is commencing, with most firms expected to release earnings results in the next two weeks, primarily consisting of pharma/biotech and medical device companies [1] - The earnings season for the drug and biotech sector began in mid-July, highlighted by Johnson & Johnson's strong performance, which exceeded earnings and sales estimates, leading to raised revenue and earnings expectations for the year [1] Company Performance - Novartis surpassed second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, driven by a year-over-year increase in sales of key drugs, prompting an upward revision of its annual guidance for core operating income [2] - Roche experienced solid growth in the first half of 2025, with high demand for key drugs offsetting declines in legacy drug sales [2] - As of July 23, 15% of companies in the Medical sector, representing 27.2% of the sector's market capitalization, reported quarterly earnings, with 88.9% outperforming earnings estimates and 100% beating revenue estimates [3] - Overall, second-quarter earnings for the Medical sector are projected to increase by 0.9%, while sales are expected to rise by 7.9% compared to the previous year [3] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Merck, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers, AbbVie, and Moderna are scheduled to release their quarterly results this week [4] - Merck has a strong earnings track record, beating estimates in the last four quarters with an average surprise of 3.82% [5] - AstraZeneca has a mixed earnings history, beating estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.24% [8] - Bristol Myers has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 20.16% over the last four quarters [11] - AbbVie has also maintained a strong track record, beating estimates in the last four quarters with an average surprise of 2.55% [13] - Moderna has an excellent earnings history, with an average surprise of 31.60% in the last four quarters [15] Sales Drivers - Merck's growth in the second quarter is likely attributed to increased sales of its cancer drug Keytruda, driven by additional indications and patient demand [7] - AstraZeneca's sales are expected to be bolstered by strong demand for its cancer and diabetes medications [10] - Bristol Myers' revenue may be impacted by declines in legacy drug sales, but growth products are expected to partially offset this decline [12] - AbbVie's revenue is anticipated to be driven by strong sales of key drugs and contributions from newer products [14] - Moderna's revenues are expected to be influenced by sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, while the focus is shifting to updates on its broader pipeline [16]

Core Insights - AbbVie has been expanding its oncology portfolio, now including five therapies for various cancers, contributing over 12% to its first-quarter revenues, which grew 6% year over year [1][2] AbbVie's Oncology Segment - The estimated sales for AbbVie's oncology segment in Q2 2025 are projected to be $1.6 billion, reflecting a 2% year-over-year decline, primarily due to the decline in Imbruvica sales amid rising competition [2][7] - Despite the decline, Venclexta, Epkinly, and Elahere are expected to contribute to growth, while modest revenues from Emrelis are anticipated following its approval in mid-May [2][7] Competitive Landscape - Major competitors in the oncology space include AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer, with AstraZeneca's oncology sales accounting for nearly 41% of total revenues and growing 13% in Q1 2025 [4] - Merck's Keytruda accounted for over 46% of its total revenues in Q1 2025, while Pfizer's oncology revenues grew 7% on an operational basis, now accounting for over 27% of its total revenues [5] Valuation and Performance - AbbVie shares have outperformed the industry year to date, trading at a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.21, slightly below the industry average of 15.16 [6][8] - EPS estimates for 2025 have decreased from $12.28 to $12.08, while estimates for 2026 have increased from $14.05 to $14.06 over the past 30 days [10]

Core Insights - AbbVie is actively enhancing its deal-making efforts to strengthen its pipeline, focusing on immunology while also exploring early-stage deals in oncology and neuroscience [2][4] Group 1: Recent Acquisitions - AbbVie signed a definitive agreement to acquire Capstan Therapeutics for nearly $2.1 billion, expected to close in Q3, which will add a first-in-class CAR-T therapy and proprietary RNA delivery platform to its immunology pipeline [3][11] - The company has completed over 20 early-stage deals since last year, including a long-acting amylin analog for obesity from Gubra, marking its entry into the obesity treatment space [4][11] - Recent larger acquisitions include ImmunoGen, adding the ovarian cancer drug Elahere, and Cerevel Therapeutics, diversifying AbbVie's therapeutic portfolio across multiple modalities [5][11] Group 2: Market Context and Competitors - Broader macroeconomic concerns have impacted deal-making, but major pharmaceutical companies continue to pursue strategic assets in key growth areas [7] - Eli Lilly announced its intent to acquire Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3 billion, marking its third targeted M&A deal this year, indicating a selective M&A strategy focused on long-term strength across therapeutic areas [8] - Sanofi's $9.5 billion acquisition of Blueprint Medicines aims to strengthen its immunology pipeline and reduce reliance on Dupixent, showcasing ongoing consolidation in the industry [9] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - AbbVie shares have outperformed the industry year to date, trading at a P/E ratio of 14.42, slightly below the industry average of 14.86, but higher than its five-year mean of 12.46 [10][13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AbbVie's 2025 EPS has increased from $12.26 to $12.28, while the estimate for 2026 remains at $14.06 [14]

Core Insights - AbbVie has established a significant oncology franchise, expanding from blood cancer drugs to include therapies for solid tumors, with five oncology products now available [1][7] - The oncology segment contributed over 12% to AbbVie's total revenues in Q1 2025, with expectations for Emrelis, its first internally developed lung cancer drug, to start contributing in Q3 2025 [1][2][7] Company Strategy - AbbVie is pursuing both organic and inorganic growth strategies, with recent additions to its oncology portfolio coming from acquisitions and collaborations, while Emrelis represents an internal development [2] - The company has a diverse pipeline of promising therapies, including etentamig for multiple myeloma and Temab-A for colorectal and gastroesophageal cancers, indicating a strong focus on expanding its oncology offerings [3][7] Competitive Landscape - Major competitors in the oncology space include AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer, with AstraZeneca's oncology sales accounting for nearly 41% of its total revenues and growing by 13% in Q1 2025 [4] - Merck's Keytruda accounted for over 46% of its total revenues in Q1 2025, while Pfizer's oncology revenues grew by 7%, making up over 27% of its total revenues [5] Financial Performance - AbbVie shares have outperformed the industry year to date, although the company's valuation is not considered cheap, trading at a P/E ratio of 13.99 compared to the industry average of 14.81 [6][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AbbVie's earnings has increased for both 2025 and 2026, indicating positive market sentiment [10]

Core Insights - AbbVie announced that the phase III VERONA study failed to meet its primary endpoint of overall survival for the combination therapy of Venclexta and azacitidine in newly diagnosed patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) [1][7] - The study showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.908, indicating no significant reduction in the risk of death compared to the control group [2][7] - Despite this setback, AbbVie continues to expand its oncology pipeline, which now includes five marketed therapies and late-stage assets [9][10] AbbVie's Stock Performance - Year to date, AbbVie shares have risen by 8%, outperforming the industry growth of 3% [4] Venclexta's Market Performance - Venclexta generated $665 million in sales for AbbVie in the first three months of 2025, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) indications [6] Oncology Pipeline Expansion - AbbVie has diversified its oncology portfolio, adding therapies such as Epkinly, Elahere, and Emrelis, alongside its established drugs Imbruvica and Venclexta [9] - The company is developing promising new therapies, including etentamig for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and Temab-A for metastatic colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal cancer [10][11] Collaboration with Roche - Venclexta is marketed in partnership with Roche, with AbbVie holding commercialization rights outside the United States [8]