AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is included among the 12 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Invest in Right Now. AbbVie’s (ABBV) Dividend Track Record: A Testament to Stability Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a global biopharmaceutical company that manufactures and markets innovative medicines. The demand for drugs is so stable that the industry is considered highly defensive, with little economic exposure. Even in recessions, doctors continue to prescribe treatments and patients cont ...

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk's semaglutide has successfully claimed the title of "king of drugs" in Q1 2024, surpassing Merck's Keytruda in sales [2][3] - The success of semaglutide has sparked a research and development frenzy in the global weight loss market among multinational corporations (MNCs) [1][6] - The competitive landscape in the GLP-1 space is intensifying, particularly with Eli Lilly's strong performance and ongoing clinical trials [4][5] Sales Performance - In Q1 2024, Novo Nordisk's semaglutide products generated a total sales revenue of approximately $8.38 billion, with individual products Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus contributing $2.63 billion, $4.95 billion, and $0.86 billion respectively [2] - Merck's Keytruda reported Q1 sales of $7.2 billion, indicating that semaglutide has overtaken it in sales for the first time [2] Market Dynamics - Novo Nordisk has lowered its full-year performance outlook due to lower-than-expected penetration rates of its GLP-1 products in the U.S. market, despite achieving an 18% sales growth in Q1 [3] - Eli Lilly's GLP-1 products, Mounjaro and Zepbound, generated combined sales of $6.15 billion in Q1, indicating strong competition in the market [4] R&D Developments - Novo Nordisk is focusing on developing new formulations, with the oral version of Wegovy under FDA review, which could become the first oral GLP-1 treatment for long-term weight management if approved [5] - Pfizer has announced a commitment to weight loss drug development but faced setbacks with the termination of its oral GLP-1 drug Danuglipron due to safety concerns [6] CXO Industry Impact - The surge in GLP-1 research has positively impacted domestic CXO companies, with WuXi AppTec's TIDES business achieving a revenue of 5.8 billion yuan in 2023, a 70.1% increase year-on-year [7] - Notable growth has also been reported by Novotech Biopharma, with Q1 revenue of 566 million yuan, a 58.96% increase, and a projected annual revenue growth of nearly 60% for 2024 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Roche's collaboration deal with Zealand Pharma for the obesity drug petrelintide increases competition in the obesity treatment market, negatively impacting Novo Nordisk's stock performance [1][5]. Company Summary - Roche has entered a licensing agreement to co-develop petrelintide, a long-acting amylin analog, which is currently in phase IIb studies targeting individuals who are obese or overweight without type II diabetes [2][4]. - The deal includes an upfront payment of $1.65 billion, with total deal value reaching approximately $5.3 billion, including milestone payments [4]. - Novo Nordisk's stock has seen a significant decline of 14.2% this week and 44.4% over the past year, attributed to increased competition and disappointing data from its own obesity candidate, CagriSema [6][7]. Industry Summary - The obesity treatment market is becoming increasingly competitive, with Roche's entry posing a threat to the dominance of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who currently lead with their GLP-1 drugs [3][5]. - Other companies, such as Amgen and Viking Therapeutics, are also advancing in the development of GLP-1-based candidates, indicating a broader competitive landscape [8]. - The recent licensing of GUB014295 by AbbVie for obesity treatment further intensifies competition in the next-generation amylin class [9].

It's not too often that pharmaceutical drugs become household names, but that's happening with medicines in the weight loss market. Brands such as Wegovy and Zepbound -- the leading anti-obesity therapies -- are now well known and are generating billions of dollars in annual sales. That's why other drugmakers want to dip their toes in this lucrative and high-growth market.AbbVie (ABBV 1.68%) is one of them. The company, best known for its work in immunology, recently made a move to enter the weight loss spa ...

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie is expanding its presence in the obesity treatment market by in-licensing GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog, from Gubra, with a total potential deal value of $2.225 billion [1][2][3] Industry Overview - The obesity market is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, with current dominance by GLP-1 drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [3] - Major pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Pfizer, Amgen, and AstraZeneca, are actively pursuing opportunities in the obesity space through in-house development or licensing deals [3] AbbVie's Product Performance - AbbVie has successfully launched Skyrizi and Rinvoq, generating combined sales of $17.7 billion in 2024, particularly excelling in the inflammatory bowel disease market [5][6] - The company anticipates combined sales of Skyrizi and Rinvoq to exceed $31 billion by 2027, driven by market growth and new indications [7] Pipeline and Acquisitions - AbbVie has a robust pipeline with several early/mid-stage candidates and expects multiple regulatory submissions and approvals in the next 12 months [8][9] - The company has been active in acquisitions, signing over 20 early-stage deals in 2024 to enhance its pipeline in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience [11][12] Sales Trends and Challenges - AbbVie is experiencing declining sales from Humira due to biosimilar competition, with a sharper decline expected in 2025 [13] - The aesthetics portfolio, including Juvederm fillers, has also seen a decline, with a 14.6% drop in sales in 2024 [14][15] Stock Performance and Valuation - AbbVie stock has outperformed the industry with a 14.8% increase over the past year [16][18] - The stock trades at a price/earnings ratio of 16.52, slightly below the industry average of 17.80, but higher than many large drugmakers [19][20] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AbbVie's 2025 earnings has increased from $12.24 to $12.29 per share, indicating positive sentiment [22]

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.The booming weight loss drug market has gained a new potential competitor. AbbVie said on Monday that it will pay up to $2.2 billion to develop Danish drugmaker Gubra's experimental obesity drug, marking its late foray into the segment. Under the terms of the deal, the pharmaceutical giant will pay Gubra $350 million upfront ...

On Monday, AbbVie Inc ABBV and Gubra A/S announced a license agreement to develop GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog for obesity. GUB014295 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial.“Our partnership with Gubra marks our entry into the obesity field, offering a compelling opportunity based on the potential to address patient needs while also fostering long-term growth for our company,” said Robert Michael, CEO of AbbVie.Also Read: Is Big Pharma About To Win? Goldman Sachs Weighs In On 340B And Medicaid Sh ...

Core Insights - AbbVie and Gubra A/S have entered into a license agreement to develop GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog aimed at treating obesity, marking AbbVie's entry into the obesity treatment market [1][2][3] - GUB014295 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials and is designed to activate amylin and calcitonin receptors, which may help suppress appetite and reduce food intake [2][3] - The agreement includes an upfront payment of $350 million to Gubra, with potential milestone payments totaling up to $1.875 billion, along with tiered royalties on global net sales [3] Company Overview - AbbVie is focused on innovative medicines addressing significant health issues, with a mission to transform patient care in areas of unmet need [2][8] - Gubra specializes in preclinical contract research services and peptide-based drug discovery, particularly in metabolic and fibrotic diseases, and reported revenue of DKK 266 million in 2024 [9] Clinical Development - The Phase 1 clinical trial of GUB014295 consists of two parts: Part 1 has been completed, while Part 2 is ongoing, involving a randomized, placebo-controlled design [6][7]