Key Takeaways Gilead shares fell 2.2% after CVS chose not to cover its new HIV prevention drug Yeztugo.Yeztugo, FDA-approved in June, is the first and only twice-yearly PrEP option in the U.S.Gilead's Kite will acquire Interius BioTherapeutics for $350M, impacting EPS by $0.23-$0.25.Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. ((GILD) tumbled 2.2% on Aug. 21, after pharmacy benefit manager CVS Health ((CVS) decided not to add the former’s new HIV prevention drug, Yeztugo (lenacapavir), to its commercial plans for now.As ...

消息面上，CVS Health暂时不将吉利德的艾滋病预防新药Yeztugo纳入其商业计划中，称该决定是基于 临床、财务和监管方面的原因做出的。吉利德仍在与CVS就Yeztugo进行谈判，该药物在美国的上市价 格超28,000美元/年。公司的目标是在年底前实现美国保险公司75%的覆盖率，在2026年6月前实现90% 的覆盖率。(格隆汇) 吉利德科学(GILD.US)跌超3%，报115.16美元。 ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector, particularly in developed markets, with a notable emphasis on the impact of US tariffs and the Most Favored Nation (MFN) policy on investor sentiment and positioning in the healthcare sector [2][10]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Investor Sentiment**: The healthcare sector is currently viewed negatively, with investors adopting a bearish stance due to uncertainties surrounding MFN and tariffs. There is anticipation for clarity on these issues, which may influence investment decisions in the sector [2][10]. 2. **GLP Therapeutics**: Recent disappointing data on oral GLP therapies has led to diminished growth expectations in obesity treatments. Concerns about pricing and access are prevalent, suggesting a potential shift in investor focus away from GLP players to other therapeutic areas [3][10]. 3. **Life Sciences Tools vs. PBMs**: The traditional investment strategy of focusing on payers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) is being questioned. Increased scrutiny on medical loss ratios and drug pricing may hinder earnings growth in this area. In contrast, the Life Sciences tools sector is showing signs of recovery, with positive book-to-bill ratios indicating potential for growth [4][5][10]. 4. **Oncology and Immunology Investments**: There is a cautious interest in oncology and immunology stocks, with some companies trading at reasonable multiples. Growth-at-a-reasonable-price (GARP) strategies may attract more investor attention, particularly for companies like AstraZeneca and Sanofi [6][10]. 5. **Company-Specific Updates**: - **Eli Lilly**: The company reported Q2 results that exceeded expectations, but concerns remain regarding competition in the obesity treatment market. The market share debate is heavily tilted in favor of Eli Lilly compared to competitors [19][20]. - **Gilead**: Strong performance in the HIV segment, with a 5% revenue beat, has led to an optimistic outlook for the year. The focus will be on the launch of new products and their market acceptance [19][20]. - **Merck KGaA**: Despite a slight miss in Q2 results, the company maintains a positive outlook for Life Sciences growth, indicating a return to structural growth despite challenges in the electronics segment [19][20]. - **Novo Nordisk**: The company faces scrutiny over its growth strategy and market execution, particularly in the GLP market, where expectations may be overly optimistic [19][20]. Additional Important Insights - **Market Dynamics**: The healthcare sector is experiencing a shift in focus from GLP therapies to Life Sciences tools and oncology/immunology investments, reflecting changing investor priorities and market conditions [3][4][5][10]. - **Regulatory Environment**: The evolving regulatory landscape, particularly concerning drug pricing and market access, is a critical factor influencing investor sentiment and company performance in the healthcare sector [4][10]. - **Future Outlook**: The potential for recovery in the Life Sciences tools sector and the ongoing developments in oncology and immunology present opportunities for selective investment, although caution is advised due to market volatility and regulatory challenges [5][6][10].

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the **Biopharma** industry in **North America** with a comprehensive analysis of the **US drug market** as per **IQVIA Rx** data [1][6]. Core Insights - The **Total Prescription Year-over-Year (YoY) growth** for the week ending August 1, 2025, was reported at **+2.8%**, an increase from **+1.7%** the previous week and **+2.6%** over the past 12 weeks [1][6]. - For the week ended August 1, the **US total market weekly TRx YoY change** was **+2.8%**, compared to **+0.9%** a year ago. The **rolling 4-week TRx YoY** was **+2.9%** and the **rolling 12-week TRx YoY** was **+2.6%** [2]. Company-Specific Developments - **Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)**: - The drug **Cobenfy** was approved for schizophrenia on September 26, 2024. The current scripts are approximately **2,010** for the week, up from **1,950** the previous week. To meet 2025 consensus expectations, Cobenfy's TRx needs to track at **~2-3x** the volumes from recent schizophrenia launches [3]. - The consensus estimate for Cobenfy has decreased from **$196 million** to **$171 million**, implying that approximately **129K TRx** are required to meet these estimates [3]. - **Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)**: - The drug **Journavx** was approved for acute pain on January 30, 2025, with current scripts at approximately **6,800**, up from **6,430** the previous week. It is noted that hospital scripts, which account for about **35%** of total scripts, are not captured by IQVIA [4]. - To achieve a sales target of **$78 million**, approximately **345K total scripts** are needed, assuming a **$225 net price per script** [4]. - **Gilead Sciences (GILD)**: - The launch comparison for **Yeztugo** (lenacapavir) shows current TRx at approximately **210**, down from **300** the previous week. The injectable formulation accounts for **50%** of total TRx [5]. Additional Insights - The **extended unit (EUTRx)** weekly YoY growth was reported at **+1.9%**, which is below the TRx YoY growth [2]. - The **sequential weekly TRx growth** was **-0.1%**, an improvement from **-1.2%** the week before [2]. - The **biopharma industry view** is categorized as **attractive**, while the major pharmaceuticals industry view is **in-line** [7]. Notable Trends - The **momentum of top outpatient drugs** indicates varying performance across different companies, with notable declines in some established drugs like **Humira** (AbbVie) showing a **-40%** YoY change, while newer drugs like **Mounjaro** (Eli Lilly) and **Zepbound** (Eli Lilly) show significant growth rates of **69%** and **257%** respectively [24]. Conclusion - The conference call highlights a positive trend in the US drug market with specific growth in total prescriptions. However, individual company performance varies significantly, with newer drugs showing strong growth potential while established drugs face declines. The insights provided can guide investment decisions in the biopharma sector.

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results, with adjusted EPS of $2.01 surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.95 and remaining flat year over year [1] - Total revenues reached $7.1 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.9 billion, marking a 2% year-over-year increase driven by higher sales in HIV, Livdelzi, and Trodelvy [1] Financial Performance - Product sales increased 2% year over year to $7.1 billion; excluding Veklury, product sales rose 4% to $6.9 billion [5] - HIV product sales grew 7% year over year to $5.1 billion, driven by increased demand and higher average realized prices, beating estimates [5][6] - Biktarvy sales increased 9% year over year to $3.5 billion, holding over 51% market share in the U.S. treatment market [6] - Descovy sales surged 35% year over year to $653 million, maintaining over 40% market share in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) [7] - Liver Disease portfolio sales decreased 4% to $795 million, primarily due to lower chronic HCV sales impacted by Medicare Part D redesign [9] - Veklury sales plummeted 44% to $121 million due to reduced COVID-19-related hospitalizations [9] - Cell Therapy product sales fell 7% to $485 million, missing estimates due to competitive pressures [10] - Trodelvy sales increased 14% year over year to $364 million, driven by higher demand [11] Cost and Guidance - Adjusted product gross margin improved to 86.9% from 86% year over year [12] - R&D expenses rose to $1.5 billion from $1.3 billion due to increased clinical manufacturing activities [12] - Gilead raised its 2025 product sales guidance to between $28.3 billion and $28.7 billion, with adjusted EPS now anticipated in the range of $7.95-$8.25 [14][15] Pipeline Developments - Gilead received FDA approval for lenacapavir (Yeztugo), a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for prevention, marking a significant addition to its HIV portfolio [16][20] - The company entered a partnership with Kymera Therapeutics to develop a novel molecular glue degrader program targeting CDK2, with potential payments up to $750 million [18] Market Position - Gilead's strong performance in the HIV segment is expected to continue, with projected growth of approximately 3% in 2025, driven by Biktarvy and Descovy [19] - The approval of Yeztugo addresses barriers to PrEP adoption, providing a competitive advantage over daily oral medications [21] - Gilead's breast cancer drug Trodelvy is gaining market share, while cell therapies face competitive challenges [22][23]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Biopharma in North America - **Market Analysis**: The latest weekly Total Prescription (TRx) year-over-year (YoY) growth for the week ending July 25, 2025, was +1.7%, a decrease from +3.0% the previous week and +2.6% over the past 12 weeks [1][2][6] Core Company Insights Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) - **Cobenfy Launch**: Approved for schizophrenia on September 26, 2024. Weekly scripts were approximately 1,950, down from 2,060 the previous week. To meet 2025 consensus expectations, Cobenfy TRx needs to track at 2-3 times the volumes of recent schizophrenia launches, requiring about 129K TRx at an estimated net price of $1,200 [3][14][16] Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) - **Journavx Launch**: Approved for acute pain on January 30, 2025. Weekly scripts were around 6,430, up from 6,240 the previous week. Hospital scripts, which are not captured by IQVIA, account for approximately 28% of total scripts. To achieve estimated sales of $65 million, about 289K total scripts are needed [4][19] Gilead Sciences (GILD) - **Yeztugo Launch**: Approved on June 18, 2025, with weekly TRx of approximately 300, an increase from 240 the previous week. The injectable formulation accounted for 45% of total TRx, while the oral formulation made up 55% [5][22] Eli Lilly (LLY) - **Mounjaro and Zepbound**: The launch of Mounjaro is showing strong growth, with a 69% increase in TRx YoY. Zepbound has seen a remarkable 268% increase in TRx YoY [9][26] Additional Insights - **Market Trends**: The extended unit (EUTRx) weekly YoY growth was +0.9%, indicating a more positive trend compared to TRx YoY growth. This suggests that physicians are increasingly writing longer-duration prescriptions [2][35] - **Key Product Performance**: The performance of major pharmaceutical products shows significant variations, with some experiencing substantial declines (e.g., Humira -41% YoY) while others like Sotyktu and Mounjaro are seeing strong growth [26][48] Important Metrics - **TRx Growth**: The overall TRx growth for the biopharma sector is showing signs of slowing down, with the latest figures indicating a need for companies to adapt their strategies to maintain growth [1][31] - **Sales Estimates**: Consensus estimates for various drugs have been adjusted, reflecting the dynamic nature of the market and the competitive landscape [3][4][5] Conclusion The biopharma industry in North America is currently experiencing mixed performance across different companies and products. While some new launches are showing promising growth, overall market trends indicate a slowdown in prescription growth, necessitating strategic adjustments by companies to meet evolving market demands.

Financial Performance - Total product sales excluding Veklury increased by 4% year-over-year (YoY) to $6.9 billion, driven by HIV, Livdelzi, and Trodelvy[8] - Total HIV product sales increased by 7% YoY to $5.1 billion[12] - Oncology product sales increased by 1% YoY to $849 million[12] - Veklury sales decreased by 44% YoY to $121 million[12] - Liver disease product sales decreased by 4% YoY to $795 million[12] - Cell Therapy product sales decreased by 7% YoY to $485 million[12] HIV Business - Biktarvy sales increased by 9% YoY[8] - Descovy sales increased by 35% YoY[8] - FY25 HIV revenue guidance updated to reflect year-to-date (YTD) strength, expecting >7% YoY growth[22] Oncology - Trodelvy sales increased by 14% YoY[8] - Cell Therapy saw a 7% YoY decrease due to evolving competitive landscape[8] Pipeline and Regulatory Updates - FDA approved Yeztugo (lenacapavir) as a twice-yearly injection for HIV prevention[8] - Phase 3 ASCENT-03 & -04 data for Trodelvy in 1L mTNBC showed clinically meaningful results, with FDA filings expected in ~2H 2025[8]

Gilead stock is flashing "buy" in bright green letters.Biopharmaceuticals stock Gilead Sciences (GILD 2.70%) jumped 2.5% through 12:30 p.m. ET Friday after Needham & Co. upgraded the shares to a buy rating and slapped a $133 price target on the $116 stock.Key to the analyst's analysis is Gilead's new Yeztugo prescription medication for pre-exposure prevention of HIV-1. What Needham says about GileadCiting a survey of physicians, Needham reports in a note covered on The Fly this morning that the market for ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Biopharma in North America - **Market Analysis**: Comprehensive analysis of the US drug market conducted by IQVIA Rx Key Market Metrics - **Total Prescription Year-over-Year (YoY) Growth**: - Latest weekly growth (week ending July 11, 2025) was +4.0%, up from +3.4% the previous week and +2.5% over the past 12 weeks [1][6] - For the week ended July 11, the total market weekly TRx YoY change was +4.0%, compared to +1.8% a year ago [2] Prescription Trends - **Rolling 4-week TRx YoY**: +3.0% - **Rolling 12-week TRx YoY**: +2.5% - **Extended Unit (EUTRx) Weekly YoY Growth**: +3.3%, which is below the TRx YoY [2] - **Sequential Weekly TRx Growth**: +12.0%, a significant increase compared to -7.3% the week before [2] Company-Specific Insights - **Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)**: - Cobenfy approved for schizophrenia on September 26, 2024, with scripts at ~2,040 for the week, up from ~1,820 the previous week [3] - To meet 2025 consensus expectations, Cobenfy TRx needs to track at ~2-3x the volumes from recent schizophrenia launches [3] - **Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)**: - Journavx approved for acute pain on January 30, 2025, with scripts at ~5,880 for the week, up from ~5,180 the previous week [4] - Hospital scripts, which are not captured by IQVIA, account for ~28% of total scripts [4] - **Gilead Sciences (GILD)**: - Yeztugo approved on June 18, 2025, with latest week TRx at ~70, up from ~20 the previous week [5] - Yeztugo's injectable formulation accounted for 54% of total TRx [5] Competitive Landscape - **Launch Comparisons**: - GILD's Yeztugo compared to Descovy and Apretude [5] - BMY's Sotyktu launch tracked against AMGN's Otezla [9] - LLY's Kisunla launched in July 2024 for Alzheimer's [9] Pricing and Sales Analysis - **Immunology Pricing**: Updated charts for 2Q25 for Stelara and Tremfya, analyzing how additional indications impact price per script [10] - **Biosimilar Adoption**: Comprehensive analysis of biosimilars across various branded drugs [12] Notable Trends - **Seasonal Respiratory Vaccine Tracking**: Exhibits tracking RSV and COVID vaccine weekly and monthly TRx launch trends [11] - **Key Products Performance**: Detailed tracking of TRx market share and performance for major pharmaceutical companies [48] Conclusion - The biopharma industry in North America is experiencing positive growth in total prescriptions, with significant contributions from new product launches and competitive dynamics among major players. The analysis indicates a robust market environment with potential investment opportunities in emerging therapies and established products.

Core Insights - Merck has initiated two late-stage clinical studies for MK-8527, a once-monthly oral pill for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) [1][8] - The studies aim to enroll nearly 9,000 participants and will compare MK-8527 with Gilead's daily oral PrEP pill, Truvada [2][8] - The initiation of these studies is backed by positive Phase II results showing similar adverse event rates between treatment and placebo [3] Company Developments - Merck is expanding its HIV portfolio, focusing on both prevention and treatment, with MK-8527 being a key component [6][10] - The FDA has accepted a regulatory filing for Merck's once-daily, two-drug, single-tablet regimen of doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) for treating HIV-1, with a decision expected by April 28, 2026 [7] - Merck is also collaborating with Gilead on a once-weekly, two-drug, single-tablet regimen of islatravir/lenacapavir (ISL/LEN) [9][10] Competitive Landscape - Merck's growing HIV portfolio positions it to compete with Gilead, which currently leads the market with its PrEP medications, Truvada and Descovy [11] - If approved, MK-8527 could challenge Gilead's dominance in the PrEP market [11] - Gilead's recent approval of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, adds to the competitive pressure in the HIV therapeutic space [13] Market Context - GSK is another significant player in the HIV market, with strong sales driven by products like Cabenuva, Apretude, and Dovato [14] - The competitive dynamics in the HIV space are intensifying as companies innovate and expand their product offerings [11][14]