Latest news with #Blincyto
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US judge overturns Amgen's $50.3 mln loss in cancer drug patent case
Aug 14 (Reuters) - Amgen (AMGN.O), opens new tab convinced a federal judge in Delaware on Thursday to invalidate two patents owned by Lindis Biotech, undercutting a $50.3 million jury verdict Lindis won last year in an infringement lawsuit over Amgen's leukemia drug Blincyto. U.S. District Judge Gregory Williams said in a court order, opens new tab that the patents were unenforceable due to their inventor's "inequitable conduct" at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Williams' opinion outlining his reasoning for the decision was filed under seal. Attorneys and spokespeople for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. Germany-based Lindis sued Amgen in 2022, alleging that Blincyto infringed patents related to reducing the side effects of using antibodies to stimulate the body's immune system to kill cancer cells. Thousand Oaks, California-based Amgen earned $800 million from U.S. sales of Blincyto last year, according to a company report. A Delaware jury determined in December that Amgen owed at least $50.3 million for infringing Lindis' patents. The jury also said that the infringement was willful, which could have led the court to increase the award up to three times the amount. Amgen argued that the patents were invalid because their inventor submitted false information in his patent application. Williams held a separate bench trial in January on Amgen's defense. The case is Lindis Biotech GmbH v. Amgen Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:22-cv-00035. For Amgen: Michael Wise, Joseph Hamilton, Lara Dueppen, Courtney Prochnow and Alisha Burgin of Perkins Coie; Lisa Pensabene, Hassen Sayeed, Carolyn Wall, Luann Simmons and Sorin Zaharia of O'Melveny & Myers For Lindis: James Taylor, Jessica Jones, Henry Platt, Robert Gill and Matthew Antonelli of Saul Ewing Read more: Amgen hit with $50.3 mln US verdict in cancer drug patent lawsuit
Globe and Mail
08-08-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Amgen's Repatha, Evenity & Blincyto Drive Sales This Earnings Season
Amgen AMGN delivered yet another strong quarterly performance. Its second-quarter 2025 earnings and sales beat estimates. The company has been recording consistently strong top-line performance. Amgen's total revenues in the second quarter rose 9% year over year to $9.2 billion. Total product revenues increased 9% from the year-ago quarter to $8.77 billion. With the selling prices of most drugs declining, volume growth has been a key differentiator for Amgen. Fifteen of Amgen's products, including Repatha, Blincyto, Tezspire, Uplizna, Tavneos and Evenity, achieved double-digit volume growth in the quarter. These key drugs, as well as newer medicines like Imdelltra, Tavneos and Tezspire, drove sales, more than offsetting declining revenues from oncology biosimilars and legacy established products such as Enbrel. Rare disease drugs are also boosting top-line growth. Newer biosimilar products are also contributing to sales growth. Let us discuss how some of its key drugs performed in the quarter. So far this year, Amgen's stock has risen 11.1% compared to no change for the industry. Repatha, Evenity Drive General Medicine Growth In general medicine, Repatha is Amgen's key drug, which is now a multi-billion-dollar product. Repatha generated revenues of $696.0 million, up 31% year over year, driven by higher volume growth. Repatha volumes rose 36%, driven by improved access in the United States. Volume growth was partially offset by lower prices due to higher rebates to support expanded access and unfavorable changes to estimated sales deductions. Repatha sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $672.0 million and our model estimate of $663.8 million. Evenity recorded sales of $518 million in the quarter, up 32% year over year, driven by solid volume growth in the United States. Evenity sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $478.0 million as well as our model estimate of $461.8 million. Prolia revenues came in at $1.12 billion, down 4% from the year-ago quarter due to lower pricing. Prolia sales were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but slightly beat our model estimate of $1.01 billion. AMGN's Rare Disease Drug Sales Improve Turning to rare disease. Amgen's four key growth drivers, Tepezza, Krystexxa, Uplizna and Tavneos, are all early in their life cycles and well-positioned for long-term growth. Sales of rare disease drugs rose 19% year over year, delivering nearly $1.4 billion in sales in the quarter. Amgen's rare disease drug sales are now annualizing at over $5 billion. Tepezza sales rose 5% year over year to $505 million due to higher inventory levels. Amgen launched Tepezza in Japan in December 2024. On the call, the company mentioned that the launch progress in Japan was encouraging. Krystexxa sales rose 19% year over year to $349.0 million, driven by volume growth and higher inventory levels. Uplizna rose 91% year over year to $176.0 million, backed by volume growth and higher inventory levels. Uplizna sales also benefited from the FDA approval in April for use in IgG4-related disease. Ultra-rare products generated revenues of $183.0 million in the quarter, down 2% year over year. Another rare disease drug, Tavneos, generated $110 million in sales in the quarter, up 55% year over year, driven by new patient volume growth. AMGN's Oncology Portfolio Remains Strong Amgen's innovative oncology portfolio, including Blincyto, Imdelltra, Lumakras, Vectibix, Kyprolis, Nplate and Xgeva, grew 14% year over year, generating over $2.2 billion in sales in the quarter. In oncology, the key revenue driver was Blincyto, which generated $384 million in sales, rising 45% from the year-ago period, driven by broad prescribing across both academic and community segments. Xgeva delivered revenues of $532 million, down 5% year over year due to unfavorable changes to estimated sales deductions and volume decline. Xgeva sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $508.0 million as well as our model estimate of $506.4 million. Kyprolis recorded sales of $378 million, flat year over year. Vectibix revenues came in at $305 million, up 13% year over year, driven by volume growth. Nplate sales rose 7% to $369.0 million. Lumakras/Lumykras recorded sales of $90 million in the quarter, up 6% from the year-ago period. New cancer drug Imdelltra (tarlatamab) recorded sales of $134 million in the second quarter compared with $81 million in the previous quarter. The drug's 65% sequential growth was driven by volume growth. New Biosimilars Contribute to AMGN's Sales Growth In the second quarter, Amgen's biosimilar portfolio sales grew 40% year over year to $661 million. Since the first launch in 2018, Amgen's biosimilars have delivered almost $12 billion in sales, significantly contributing to top-line growth and generating meaningful cash flows. While sales of Amgen's older biosimilars, Mvasi (biosimilar of Roche 's [ RHHBY ] Avastin), Kanjinti (a biosimilar of Roche's Herceptin) and Amjevita (biosimilar of AbbVie's Humira) are being hurt by continued sales erosion, driven by competition, its new biosimilar products have begun to contribute to growth. Amgen launched a biosimilar version of J&J 's JNJ blockbuster drug, Stelara, called Wezlana, in January and Regeneron's Eylea, called Pavblu, in late 2024. As expected, Amgen did not record any sales from Wezlana in the United States in the second quarter following a large first-quarter order. Total Wezlana sales were $35 million, entirely from ex-U.S. markets. Amgen expects quarterly sales of Wezlana and Amjevita to fluctuate and does not expect any sales in the third quarter. Pavblu generated sales of $130 million in the second quarter versus $99 million in the first quarter of 2025. Bekemv, a biosimilar version of AstraZeneca 's AZN Soliris, was approved in the United States in May 2024 and was launched in the second quarter of 2025. AMGN's Inflammation Drugs In its inflammation portfolio, sales of Otezla were $618.0 million in the quarter, up 14% driven by volume growth and favorable changes to estimated sales deductions. Otezla sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $535.0 million as well as our estimate of $504.1 million. Enbrel revenues of $604 million declined 34% year over year due to lower selling prices (including the impact from increased 340B program mix and Medicare Part D redesign) and unfavorable changes to estimated sales deductions, which offset the impact of volume growth. Enbrel sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $804.0 million as well as our estimate of $816.3 million. Asthma drug Tezspire (tezepelumab) recorded sales of $342.0 million in the quarter, up 46% year over year, driven by volume growth. Tezspire sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $326.0 million as well as our estimate of $250.7 million. Amgen has a partnership with AstraZeneca for Tezspire. Amgen and AstraZeneca share costs and profits equally after AstraZeneca pays a mid-single-digit inventor royalty to Amgen. While AstraZeneca leads development, Amgen leads manufacturing. AMGN's Established Products Total sales of established products, which include Aranesp, Parsabiv and Neulasta, decreased 5% year over year in the quarter to $533 million. AMGN's Outlook for 2025 Amgen slightly raised its revenue and earnings outlook for 2025. Total revenues are expected in the range of $35.0 billion to $36.0 billion, slightly more than the prior expectation of $34.3 billion to $35.7 billion. Amgen expects key drugs like Repatha, Evenity, Tezspire and oncology and rare disease drugs, as well as biosimilars, to drive top-line growth in 2025. However, the biosimilar erosion of Prolia/Xgeva and continued price declines across its portfolio of drugs will partially offset the growth. Patents for RANKL antibodies, Prolia and Xgeva, expired in February 2025 in the United States, while the same will expire in some European countries in November 2025. Sales of these best-selling drugs are expected to erode significantly from the second half of 2025 as three biosimilars are now launched in the U.S. markets. AMGN's Zacks Rank Amgen currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here See our %%CTA_TEXT%% report – free today! 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis Report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY): Free Stock Analysis Report Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multispecific Antibodies Market, Drug Sales, Dosage, Price & Clinical Trials Report: Multispecific Antibodies Market to Surpass USD 50 Billion by 2030
Explore the booming Global Multispecific Antibodies Market set to surpass USD 50 billion by 2030. Key highlights include sales insights, approved drugs, and clinical trials from over 700 antibodies. Significant contributors like Roche and rising players ensure ongoing innovation in this dynamic biopharma sector. Dublin, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Multispecific Antibodies Market, Drug Sales, Dosage, Price & Clinical Trials Insight 2030" report has been added to Multispecific Antibodies Market, Drug Sales, Dosage, Price & Clinical Trials Insight 2030 Report Highlights: Global Multispecific Antibodies Market Opportunity By 2030: > USD 50 Billion Global Multispecific Antibodies Market Sales In 2024: > USD 12 Billion Number Of Approved Multispecific Antibodies: 18 Global & Regional Trends Insight Approved Antibodies Global, Regional, Annual & Quarterly Sales Insight Approved Antibodies Dosage & Pricing Insight Comprehensive Insight On All Antibodies In Clinical Trials By Company, Country, Indication & Phase Number Of Multispecific Antibodies: In Clinical Trials: > 700 Multispecific antibodies market globally has been one of the most energetic and fast growing sectors in the biopharmaceutical business as a result of therapeutic breakthroughs and growing acceptance of their ability to treat complicated pathologies by targeting multiple pathways simultaneously. As of May 2025, 18 multispecific antibodies have gained regulatory approval globally, all of which are bispecific constructs, a monumental milestone in the history of targeted therapeutics. This expanding portfolio boasts trailblazing drugs like Blincyto, the first bispecific antibody to gain approval, and Hemlibra, which was the first bispecific antibody to be approved for a non-cancer indication. The latest entrant to this therapeutic pipeline is Regeneron's Lynozyfic, which received marketing approval in April 2025 for the treatment of multiple myeloma, with evidence of ongoing momentum in the segment. The range of approved multispecific antibodies mirrors the flexibility of this therapeutic modality across various disease indications and patient bases. Rybrevant is another key breakthrough as the first bispecific antibody for a solid tumor, whereas China based Akeso's Cadonilimab is especially noteworthy for being solely approved bispecific antibody intended to target two immune checkpoints at once and becoming the first China developed bispecific antibody to gain regulatory approval. This regional variation in development emphasizes the world nature of innovation in this sector, with input from both mature pharmaceutical markets and developing biotechnology centers. The regulatory environment is still changing at a rapid pace, with further approvals expected in the near future. The FDA is also evaluating marketing applications for Odronextamab and Linvoseltamab, both of which have already received approval in the EU for follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, respectively. Such transatlantic regulatory advancements reflect the growing acceptability and trust in multispecific antibody technologies by global regulatory bodies. Market performance has been extremely strong, with global multispecific antibodies market sales in 2024 amounting to over US$ 12.6 Billion, followed by first quarter 2025 sales of over US$ 3.46 Billion. The US is the largest contributor to these sales, highlighting the maturity and acceptance of the market in this prime geography. Roche's mature products, Hemlibra and Vabysmo, lead the market share, with over half of total sales, emphasizing the value of first mover benefit and effective market entry strategies in this competitive market. The pipeline for development is an even more daunting picture, with more than 900 multispecific antibodies already in various stages of development. Oncology is leading this pipeline, both due to the traditional priority of multispecific antibody development and due to the large unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. However, pipeline diversity is not confined to oncology alone with promising candidates being identified in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and neurological disorders as well, indicating an expanding therapeutic horizon that has the potential to dramatically expand market opportunities. Major industry players behind this innovation are well established pharma giants like Amgen, AstraZeneca, Genentech, and Regeneron, as well as new biotech firms like ABL Bio, Harbour BioMed, Innovent Biologics, Merus, and Zymeworks. This combination of well established and new players provides a vibrant competitive landscape that ensures ongoing innovation and technological progress. Strategic alliances continue to influence the development of the market, such as in the April 2025 alliance of Boehringer Ingelheim and Cue Biopharma for the development of CUE-501, a bispecific candidate that attacks pathogenic B cells via virus-specific memory T cells. The alliance, involving a US$ 12 Million upfront payment and possible milestone payments of up to US$ 345 Million, illustrates the high financial investment that companies are undertaking to drive multispecific antibody technologies, specifically in autoimmune indications where existing treatments are still inadequate. Regulatory encouragement of innovation continues to be robust, with the FDA's April 2025 fast track designation of ISB 2001, an Ichnos Glenmark Innovation investigational trispecific T-cell engager for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, reflecting ongoing regulatory enthusiasm for moving multispecific antibody technologies forward that treat important unmet medical needs. As a result of these ongoing innovations, the global multispecific antibody market is expected to grow rapidly and is on track to become one of the most important segments within the pharmaceutical industry. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction to Next Generation Multispecific Antibodies 2. Next Generation Multispecific Antibody Current Clinical Development & Future Commercialization Outlook2.1 Current Market Overview2.2 Future Commercialization Opportunity2.3 Collaborations, License Agreements, Investments & Acquisitions2.4 Next Generation Multispecific Antibody Proprietary Technologies By Company 3. Next Generation Multispecific Antibody Clinical Trends by Indication3.1 Cancer3.2 Hematological Disorders3.3 Microbial Infections3.4 Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disorders3.5 Ocular Diseases 4. Next Generation Multispecific Antibody Clinical Development & Market Trends by Region4.1 US4.2 EU4.3 China4.4 UK4.5 Japan4.6 Australia4.7 South Korea4.8 Canada 5. Approved Multispecific Antibodies - Clinical Overview, Pricing & Dosage Insight5.1 Overview5.2 Clinical Overview, Pricing & Dosage Insight 6. Approved Multispecific Antibodies - Sales Insight (2020 - Q1'2025) 7. Global Multispecific Antibodies Clinical Trials Overview 8. Global Bispecific Antibodies Clinical Trials By Company, Indication & Phase8.1 Research8.2 Preclinical8.3 Phase-I8.4 Phase-I/II8.5 Phase-II8.6 Phase-II/III8.7 Phase-III8.8 Preregistration8.9 Registered 9. Marketed Bispecific Antibodies Clinical Insight By Company, Country & Indication 10. Global Trispecific Antibodies Clinical Trials Insight By Company, Country, Indication & Phase10.1 Research10.2 Preclinical10.3 Phase I10.4 Phase I/II10.5 Phase II/III 11. Tetraspecific Antibodies Clinical Trials Insight By Company, Country, Indication & Phase11.1 Preclinical11.2 Phase I11.3 Phase I/II11.4 Phase II 12. Competitive Landscape AbbVie ABL Bio Abzyme Therapeutics Affimed Therapeutics Akeso Biopharma Alligator Bioscience Amgen Antibody Therapeutics APITBIO Astellas Pharma AstraZeneca Aptevo Therapeutics BioAtla Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Biosion EpimAb Biotherapeutics FutureGen Biopharmaceutical Genentech Genmab Genor Biopharma Gensun Biopharma Harbour BioMed IGM Biosciences I-MAB Biopharma ImmuneOnco Biopharma ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Innate Pharma Innovent Biologics Invenra Johnson & Johnson Kenjockety Biotechnology LaNova Medicines Limited Light Chain Bioscience Linton Pharm Lyvgen Biopharma MacroGenics Merck Merus ModeX Therapeutics (OPKO Health) Molecular Partners NovaRock Biotherapeutics Numab OPKO Health Pfizer Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Revitope Roche Sanofi Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical SystImmune Virtuoso Therapeutics Xencor Y-Biologics Zhejiang Shimai Pharmaceutical Zymeworks For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Is Amgen Stock a Buy?
Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) is doing something unusual in 2025. The biotech giant's shares are up 7.2% for the year as I write this while most large-cap healthcare stocks struggle; yet it trades at just 13 times forward earnings estimates compared to 21 for the S&P 500. That disconnect between performance and valuation creates an opportunity. With 14 drugs posting double-digit sales growth in the most recent quarter, a promising obesity drug in late-stage trials, and a 3.5% dividend yield, Amgen offers investors a rare combination of growth, income, and value. Here's why this $150 billion pharmaceutical powerhouse deserves a closer look by investors of all stripes. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Broad-based growth defies biotech blues Amgen delivered stellar first-quarter 2025 results in early May that demonstrated the power of its diversified portfolio, with total revenue climbing 9% year-over-year to $8.1 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share surging 24% to $4.90. The company's performance was driven by remarkable strength across multiple therapeutic areas, with 14 products achieving double-digit sales growth during the three months, relative to the same period a year ago. Leading the charge was asthma blockbuster Tezspire at 65%, followed by cancer drug Blincyto with explosive 52% growth, the osteoporosis treatment Evenity at 29%, and cholesterol-lowering Repatha at 27%. What makes Amgen's growth particularly noteworthy is its ability to maintain robust profitability while investing heavily in future innovation. The company's non-GAAP operating margin expanded 2.5 percentage points to 45.7% in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating exceptional operating leverage even as research and development expenses climbed 12% to support late-stage clinical programs. This includes pivotal investments in MariTide, Amgen's highly anticipated obesity drug that could transform the company's growth trajectory. Pipeline promises next wave of blockbusters While Amgen's current portfolio delivers steady growth, the company's late-stage pipeline could unleash a new era of expansion. The crown jewel is MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide), a differentiated obesity treatment that activates the GLP-1 receptor while antagonizing GIPR. With Phase 3 trials now enrolling patients and additional studies launching throughout 2025, MariTide represents a multibillion-dollar opportunity in the white-hot obesity market. Beyond MariTide, Amgen's pipeline depth is impressive. Rocatinlimab for atopic dermatitis has delivered stellar Phase 3 results across multiple studies, with the Ignite trial showing 42.3% of patients achieving significant skin clearance versus just 12.5% for placebo. In oncology, tarlatamab (Imdelltra) just demonstrated improved overall survival in small cell lung cancer, potentially establishing a new standard of care in second-line small cell lung cancer. The company's biosimilar strategy also provides a competitive edge. With successful launches of Pavblu (Eylea biosimilar) and Wezlana (Stelara biosimilar), plus upcoming biosimilars for blockbusters Opdivo and Keytruda, Amgen is well positioned to capture market share as several high-earning biologics lose patent protection in the coming years. Financial fortress with shareholder rewards Amgen's financial profile stands out in the biotech space. The company generated $1 billion in free cash flow during Q1 2025, up from $0.5 billion a year earlier, providing ample resources for both business development and shareholder rewards. Management raised the quarterly dividend 6% to $2.38 per share, resulting in an attractive 3.5% yield at the current stock price. The balance sheet remains rock-solid even after the $27.8 billion Horizon Therapeutics acquisition. Amgen reduced debt by $2.8 billion in Q1 and maintains the flexibility to pursue strategic opportunities while returning cash to shareholders. Full-year 2025 guidance calls for revenue of $34.3 billion to $35.7 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share of $20.00 to $21.20, representing mid-single-digit growth at the midpoint. Is Amgen stock a buy? With shares trading at a significant discount to the broader market, Amgen stock presents a compelling opportunity for value-conscious investors. The combination of 14 products delivering double-digit growth, a potentially transformative obesity drug in late-stage development, and a generous 3.5% dividend yield makes this biotech giant a buy for investors seeking both growth and income at a reasonable price. Should you invest $1,000 in Amgen right now? Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amgen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,389!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $830,492!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is982% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to171%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Amgen is an innovative leader in an industry where its products will always be in high demand. Microsoft is navigating the current situation well and boasts lucrative growth opportunities. Both companies have increased their payouts at a good clip over the past decade. 10 stocks we like better than Amgen › Some research has shown that dividend-paying stocks significantly outperformed their non-dividend-paying peers over the past few decades, and that the lion's share of market returns can be attributed to reinvested dividends and compounding. Those are excellent arguments for investing in dividend stocks and holding on to them for a long time. However, not all dividend-paying companies are equally attractive. Which ones should you consider? Two excellent options right now are Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Here's why these two income stocks are worth sticking with for good. It's never a bad idea to turn to leading drugmakers like Amgen when looking for forever stocks. The business of developing and marketing innovative therapies for serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases will never go out of style until we find all-purpose cures for all conditions. While individual drugmakers could fail, Amgen's business looks strong enough to avoid that fate for a long time. It boasts an extensive lineup of medicines, with over 10 that each generated upwards of $1 billion in sales in 2024. In the first quarter, revenue increased by a strong 9% year over year to $8.1 billion. Amgen's lineup is diversified across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, rare diseases, and respiratory diseases. Key growth drivers (not an exhaustive list) include Tezspire, an asthma medication; Repatha, which treats high cholesterol; and blood-cancer medicine Blincyto. Like every drugmaker, Amgen will, at some point, face patent cliffs that will erode sales of important products. The way to get around this issue is to develop newer medicines. Looking at the company's pipeline, it seems more than capable of doing so. It boasts a few dozen programs that should lead to label expansions and brand-new approvals. The company has been working on a promising weight management candidate, MariTide. Though this product somewhat disappointed in phase 2 studies, it's still in the running to reach the market and generate decent sales, considering how rapidly the anti-obesity space is growing. Besides, Amgen is developing another weight loss candidate that's still in phase 1 studies. Weight loss isn't the only area the biotech is going after; it has exciting products across others. In the biosimilar realm, it recently launched Pavblu, a competitor to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' blockbuster, Eylea, which treats an eye condition called wet age-related macular degeneration. Amgen should be able to overcome future losses of patent exclusivity for key products, even if it goes through periods of declining sales as a result. The stock should perform well in the long run and continue rewarding shareholders with regular dividends. The company has increased its payouts by 201% in the past decade so it currently offers a forward yield of 3.4% -- while the average for the S&P 500 is 1.3%. Amgen might not be as exciting as certain tech companies, but the stock looks like a strong buy-and-forget pick. Microsoft's shares struggled for much of the year. The threat of tariffs and the fear that they could lead to an inflationary environment or a recession (or both) weighed on many tech giants, including Microsoft. However, the company more or less put those fears to bed (for now) with its latest quarterly update, for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2025, ending March 31. Revenue jumped by 13% year over year to $70.1 billion. The tech leader can thank its cloud computing arm, Microsoft Azure, for that performance; the segment's revenue jumped by 33% (or 35% in constant currency) compared to the year-ago period. And there's more where that came from. In its fourth quarter, Microsoft expects Azure revenue to increase 34% to 35% in constant currency. So, despite economic uncertainty, the company is doing fine. The important lesson here isn't that its quarter was strong. It's that even during challenging times, Microsoft can perform relatively well. That's why the stock has thrived for decades, making longtime shareholders much wealthier. Microsoft's ability to navigate tough periods is one factor that makes it an attractive forever stock. Here are two more. First, the company has a strong moat from its brand name and switching costs within its cloud and software productivity businesses. Second, it has attractive long-term growth opportunities; cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) are the most exciting of the bunch. That means that even with a market capitalization above $3 trillion, Microsoft still has a bright future, and the company's dividend looks safe. It might only have a forward yield of 0.8%, but the rock-solid underlying business, ability to generate plenty of cash, and consistent dividend growth record (it's increased its payouts by 168% over the past 10 years) more than make up for the low yield. Microsoft is a top stock to hold on to for growth and income investors alike. Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Amgen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $623,103!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $717,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 909% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 162% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Microsoft, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
