Latest news with #Kesimpta
Boston Globe
13-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
He needed his medication for multiple sclerosis. He got more paperwork instead.
In 2022, Blum's neurologist recommended he switch his primary MS medication to Kesimpta, which he takes by monthly self-injection. At the time, Blum was on medication that was administered by infusion twice a year in his doctor's office and fully covered by Medicare. Kesimpta, by contrast, would cost many thousands of dollars a year, way too expensive for Blum. (The switch was recommended mainly as a matter of convenience.) That's when Blum discovered he was income-qualified for a no-cost supply of Kesimpta from the Advertisement NPAF said Blum would get his medication at no cost so long as there was no significant change in his finances, Blum said. Advertisement It was a godsend. For the next two and a half years, everything went smoothly. Blum would call NPAF to order his medication and it would arrive at his house in time for his monthly doses. This is what Blum says happened next: In January, when he tried to call in his order as usual, NPAF told him he had to reapply for enrollment. It annoyed him that he had received no advance warning of this new requirement, and it came only a couple of days before his next scheduled dose. But he did as instructed by getting a note from his doctor, filling out a form, and returning both to NPAF, along with a copy of his 2023 tax return, all within 48 hours. (Patient assistance programs overall are tightening rules in response to scrutiny from regulators and the high cost of the programs.) NPAF also required him to obtain documentation that he was not eligible for drug assistance from an alternative program — the Social Security Administration's Nevertheless, he applied online for Extra Help to satisfy NPAF's requirements. The denial letter, however, would take up to 30 days to arrive in the mail, according to the SSA website. Under these circumstances, NPAF provided Blum with his medication even without the denial letter, as a 'courtesy.' A month later, when he tried to refill his medication, NPAF said it hadn't received the Extra Help denial letter. Blum said he was still waiting for it. NPAF agreed to a second 'courtesy' dose of his medication. Advertisement A short time later, the Extra Help letter finally came and Blum forwarded it to NPAF. But in March, NPAF again denied Blum his medication. It said the Extra Help denial letter it received from Blum wasn't what it needed, though it didn't explain why. Blum told NPAF that the SSA website contained a statement about eligibility that clearly excluded him. At NPAF's suggestion, he provided screenshots of the eligibility section of the online application for Extra Help. That apparently was good enough for NPAF. Blum got his medication for March. A month later, when Blum sought a refill, NPAF insisted on a formal denial letter, not screenshots. And this time, NPAF said it would not give him a courtesy refill, leaving Blum confused and demoralized. In an email requesting my help, Blum said NPAF's rejection of the screenshots 'contradicted their previous directive' and came only days before he was supposed to take his next dose. Blum said NPAF should have reached out to him as soon as it determined the screenshots were unacceptable, but instead it waited until he attempted to make a new order. 'Now they are refusing any further help,' he wrote to me. The only way for Blum to receive his medication was to obtain an Extra Help denial letter. But he knew the process for applying, waiting for the letter, then forwarding it to NPAF would be time-consuming (if the letter was accepted at all), likely forcing him to miss at least one monthly dose and maybe more. Advertisement Blum also worried that recent staff cuts at Social Security could add new delays to getting his requested documentation. Blum said he didn't expect an immediate deterioration in his health due to one or two missed doses, but it certainly wouldn't help. The resolution : I wrote to NPAF: 'It seems to me Mr. Blum has done everything in his power to comply with NPAF's requirements, but the requirements' seem to have constantly changed. 'Mr. Blum needs his medication,' I wrote. NPAF reacted quickly by promptly delivering Blum his medication and assuring him he would continue to get it at least until it's time to reapply for enrollment next year. Blum said he was relieved and grateful, though he's a bit wary of what might unfold next year. The takeaway : NPAF, in a statement to me, declined to comment specifically on Blum. But it did say that NPAF patients were informed of the new enrollment process and requirements in 'multiple letters sent out in October-December 2024.' Blum said he received no such letters. Could he have missed them in the mail? 'Highly unlikely,' he said. 'I'm extremely attentive to anything having to do with my health and medication.' In any case, the requirements kept changing. And life is tough enough without these added headaches. What can a consumer learn from Blum's unfortunate experience? Beware that something can always go wrong when it comes to medications and paperwork. Even when things are going smoothly, ask questions and seek assurances, preferably in writing. Anticipate problems, be proactive, document everything — and be persistent. Got a problem? Send your consumer issue to
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Novartis (NVS) is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. While you may have an investing style you rely on, finding great stocks is made easier with the Zacks Style Scores. These are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and/or momentum characteristics. Finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks. Switzerland-based Novartis has one of the strongest and broadest portfolios of varied drugs that has enabled it to maintain its dominant position as a top pharma company over the years. It continues to build depth in core therapeutic areas like cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience and oncology in geographies like the United States, China, Germany and Japan. Novartis' efforts to strengthen its wide portfolio by developing breakthrough treatments have made it even more formidable in this space. Kesimpta, Pluvicto, Scemblix, Kisqali, Leqvio and Fabhalta should fuel growth. NVS boasts a Value Style Score of B and VGM Score of B, and holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating. Shares of Novartis are trading at a forward earnings multiple of 13.3X, as well as a PEG Ratio of 1.5, a Price/Cash Flow ratio of 10.6X, and a Price/Sales ratio of 4.6X. Many value investors pay close attention to a company's earnings as well. For NVS, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.10 to $8.55 per share for 2025. Per share NVS boasts an average earnings surprise of 7.1%. With strong valuation and earnings metrics, a good Zacks Rank, and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, investors should strongly think about adding NVS to their portfolios. 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 Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Novartis AG (NVS) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Impressive Growth and Strategic Advancements
Sales Growth: Up 15% in Q1 2025. Core Operating Income: Increased by 27%. Core Margin: Reached 42.1%, up 400 basis points. Core Earnings Per Share: $2.28, up 31%. Free Cash Flow: $3.4 billion, up 66% in US dollars. Kisqali Growth: 56% in constant currency. Kesimpta Growth: 43% in constant currency. Pluvicto Growth: 21% in Q1. Leqvio Growth: 72% in the quarter. Cosentyx Growth: 18% in the quarter. Entresto Growth: 22%, reaching over $2.2 billion in global sales. Full-Year Guidance: Sales expected to grow high single digits; core operating income to grow low double digits. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with FNNNF. Release Date: April 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) reported double-digit sales growth of 15% and core operating income growth of 27% for Q1 2025. The company achieved a core margin of 42.1%, reflecting a 400 basis points improvement. Key products such as Kisqali, Kesimpta, and Pluvicto showed strong growth, with Kisqali growing 56% and Kesimpta 43% in constant currency. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) upgraded its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting high single-digit sales growth and low double-digit core operating income growth. The company made significant pipeline progress with three new approvals in the quarter, including Pluvicto, Vanrafia, and Fabhalta. The company faces potential challenges from tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, which could impact its financial outlook. There is ongoing litigation concerning generic entries for key products like Entresto, which could affect future revenue. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is dealing with pricing pressures in Europe, which may impact the launch and profitability of new medicines. The company needs to expand the number of sites capable of administering Pluvicto to fully realize its market potential. There are concerns about the impact of potential US policy changes, such as the most favored nation pricing, on the company's financial performance. Q: Can you provide insights on Novartis' exposure to tariffs and the impact on your financial outlook? A: Vasant Narasimhan, CEO, explained that Novartis has accounted for potential tariffs in its guidance and has taken actions to manage inventory and supply chain effectively. The company is investing $23 billion to ensure key US products are produced end-to-end in the US, aiming for a manageable impact on financials. Q: Could you elaborate on the gross to net positive impact and its distribution across the portfolio? A: Harry Kirsch, CFO, noted that the 2 percentage points impact was due to lower Medicaid utilization and favorable channel mix. This was broad-based across many brands, without distorting growth rates significantly. Q: What is the outlook for Pluvicto, especially regarding the PSMAfore launch in the US? A: Vasant Narasimhan, CEO, confirmed the $5 billion peak sales ambition for Pluvicto. The company expects rapid uptake in established accounts and is working to expand community capacity and referral networks to support broader adoption. Q: How does Novartis view the competitiveness of pelacarsen given emerging data from competitors? A: Vasant Narasimhan, CEO, stated that Novartis is focused on delivering Phase III trial results and establishing pelacarsen as a first-in-class therapy. The company is also developing less frequently dosed formulations to maintain competitiveness. Q: Can you discuss the potential impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on Novartis, particularly regarding exclusivity differences between small and large molecules? A: Vasant Narasimhan, CEO, expressed optimism about legislative support for extending small molecule exclusivity from 9 to 13 years, which is a top priority for the industry. He also highlighted ongoing advocacy for PBM reform and fixing the 340B system. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Novartis raises 2025 forecast after strong Q1 momentum
Novartis has today released a more optimistic full-year earnings forecast, citing the strong growth of drugs such as Leqvio, Kisqali and Kesimpta during the first quarter. The Swiss drugmaker said in a statement that it expects 2025 operating income, adjusted for special items, to grow by a "low double-digit" percentage. It had previously projected "high single to low double-digit" growth this year, compared with a 22% increase in 2024. First-quarter net income, adjusted for special items, rose 22% to $4.48 billion, surpassing an analyst consensus of about $4.2 billion. The company's breast cancer drug Kisqali saw quarterly revenues jump 52% to $956m, while sales of cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio surged 70% to $257m, gaining momentum after a slow launch. Both beat market expectations. "We expect the strong quarter along with the 2025 guidance upgrade ... to be well-received," JP Morgan analysts said in a research note, adding that the analyst consensus on adjusted earnings for 2025 was set to rise by 1%. Novartis said this month it plans to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities in the US, as it grapples with threats of drug import duties by the Trump administration. Chief executive Vas Narasimhan said that the company had historically expanded capacity in Europe and other regions to serve the US, which is its biggest market. "We now want to ensure that 100% of the demand of our key products in the US is produced in the US," Narasimhan said in a media call, declining to provide details on volumes.
Business Recorder
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Novartis more upbeat on 2025 guidance after strong Q1 momentum
FRANKFURT: Novartis on Tuesday issued a more optimistic full-year earnings guidance, citing strong growth of drugs such as Kisqali, Kesimpta and Leqvio during the first quarter. The Swiss drugmaker said in a statement that it expects 2025 operating income, adjusted for special items, to grow by a 'low double-digit' percentage. Novartis agrees to acquire Anthos for up to $3.1 billion It had previously projected 'high single to low double-digit' growth, compared with a 22% increase in 2024.
