Group 1 - Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) shares have increased by nearly 88% this year, driven by investor interest in its royalty-based business model [1] - The company operates as a biotech firm that does not produce biologic medicines but instead focuses on forming partnerships and deals [1] - Ligand has a diverse portfolio with over 90 partnered commercial and development-stage drugs, targeting various conditions including cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes [1] Group 2 - Merck is experiencing a breakout past its latest buy point amid ongoing stock market volatility [2] - The company has recently engaged in a significant acquisition, purchasing Cidara Therapeutics for $9.2 billion [4] - Merck's stock performance is recovering, although it faces challenges with its Gardasil product line [4]

Core Viewpoint - Swiss drugmaker Novartis has opened a new 10,000-square-foot factory in Carlsbad, California, to produce cancer treatments, as part of its commitment to invest billions in expanding U.S. operations [1] Company Summary - The new facility in Carlsbad is specifically designed for the manufacturing of cancer therapies [1] - This investment is part of Novartis's broader strategy to enhance its production capabilities in the United States [1] Industry Summary - The establishment of the new factory reflects the growing emphasis on domestic production of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the oncology sector [1] - Novartis's investment aligns with industry trends focusing on increasing local manufacturing to meet rising demand for cancer treatments [1]

So what most people realize is, you know, there's amazing cell and gene therapies coming through in the market at the moment and they're done and actuated in different ways. Uh crisper gene editing is a way in which you can make very precise edits to a patient's DNA. And what that allows you to do is identify new targets, but also to correct some diseases, more importantly expand the number of treatable diseases.And we're working with our partners. We've built the world's most powerful crisper gene editing ...