Key Takeaways Amgen acquired Dark Blue Therapeutics for about $840M, strengthening its oncology pipeline.AMGN gains a preclinical small-molecule degrader targeting MLLT1/3 proteins tied to certain AML types.Amgen has no marketed AML therapy, but sells Blincyto for ALL and has early AML bispecifics.Amgen (AMGN) announced that it has acquired U.K.-based private biotech company, Dark Blue Therapeutics, for approximately $840 million.The acquisition will strengthen Amgen’s oncology pipeline by adding Dark Blue’ ...

Core Insights - High-rolling investors are bullish on Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), indicating potential privileged information influencing their trading decisions [1] - The sentiment among major traders is predominantly bullish, with 75% of options trades being calls and only 0% bearish [2] - Significant price targets for Amgen have been identified, ranging from $290.0 to $400.0 over the last three months [3] Options Trading Activity - A total of 8 options trades were detected for Amgen, with a notable imbalance favoring calls over puts [1][2] - The total trade price for the identified options includes $422,130 for calls and $30,600 for a put [2] - Recent options trades include various strike prices, with significant trades such as a bullish call for $400.00 expiring on January 16, 2026, totaling $180.6K [8] Company Overview - Amgen is a leader in biotechnology, known for its therapeutics including Epogen, Neupogen, and Enbrel, among others [9] - The company has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions and recent drug launches, including treatments for cancer and rare diseases [9] - Amgen's current market position is supported by expert ratings, with an average target price of $314.67 from three analysts [11][12] Current Market Status - Amgen's stock is currently trading at $337.81, reflecting a 0.45% increase [14] - The stock's trading volume is reported at 163,220, with RSI readings suggesting it may be overbought [14] - Anticipated earnings release is scheduled in 82 days, which may impact future trading activity [14]

Core Viewpoint - Amgen's stock has outperformed the industry, rising 21.7% this year compared to a 7% increase for the industry, driven by strong sales from key drugs and a robust pipeline [1][4]. Financial Performance - Amgen's total revenues increased by 19% in 2024, reaching $33.4 billion, with expectations for continued growth in 2025 from key drugs and biosimilars [4][23]. - Sales from biosimilars reached $2.2 billion in 2024, marking a 16% year-over-year increase [13]. Key Drugs and Pipeline - Key drugs driving revenue include Repatha, Evenity, Tezspire, and rare disease drugs from the Horizon acquisition, while older products like Prolia and Xgeva are expected to decline due to biosimilar competition [4][6][17]. - Amgen is evaluating several drugs for additional indications, with regulatory applications planned for Uplizna in 2025 [7]. - The company is developing MariTide, a GIPR/GLP-1 receptor, with promising phase II data showing up to 20% weight loss over 52 weeks [9][16]. Challenges and Setbacks - Amgen faces pricing headwinds and competitive pressures affecting sales of key brands like Otezla and Lumakras [5][6]. - Recent setbacks in the obesity pipeline include a clinical hold on AMG 513 and lower-than-expected weight loss results from MariTide [15][16]. Valuation and Estimates - Amgen's shares trade at a price/earnings ratio of 15.26, slightly below the industry average of 16.85, and above its five-year mean of 13.83 [18]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share for 2025 has increased from $20.36 to $20.63 over the past 60 days [25].