Latest news with #Merck
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Verona Pharma plc (VRNA) Is Unlikely To Face Antitrust Action For Merck Deal, Says Jim Cramer
We recently published . Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA)'s shares experienced a boost in July when pharmaceutical giant Merck announced that it would acquire the firm for a $10 billion price tag. The stock experienced a healthy 20.6% gain after the announcement, which added to its 80% year-to-date gains at that point. Cramer discussed the Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) acquisition after it was announced. He called the firm's COPD drug a 'first in class' compound that would help Merck with its drug portfolio, particularly as investors worry about KEYTRUDA's patent expiration. This time, he discussed antitrust approval of the acquisition: 'Did you see the Merck deal the other day? Verona? Two gentlemen? Getting together, Merck and Verona. You know they're not gonna block that. That doesn't even hit the radar, whoever's in antitrust.' A patient in a clinic, taking a medication dose from a nebulizer to treat a respiratory disease. After the Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) acquisition was announced, here is what Cramer said: 'Yeah, I talked to Rob this morning, really liked this. He thinks he's got about 50 billion dollars worth of new drugs, which would therefore make it so you should stop worrying about the Keytruda patent expiration in 2028. I am with Rob. I think this COPD is a really important, another important franchise for them the alternative use steroids. And we've all be discovering that if you have trouble using steroids, one it becomes less effective over time, and two, the side effects are much worse than people realize. So I think this is a first in class, novel, compound that will make it so. . .I like this acquisition very much.' While we acknowledge the potential of VRNA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. 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
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Is Unlikely To Face Antitrust Action For Verona Deal, Says Jim Cramer
We recently published . Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, has lost 15% year-to-date on the stock market. Its shares were off to a rocky start in 2025 when the firm's GARDASIL vaccine faced headwinds in China. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)'s shares lost 16.8% in February after the weaknesses led it to miss analyst fourth quarter profit and full year forecasts. Another concern about the firm has been its blockbuster KEYTRUDA vaccine, which is one of the most successful cancer drugs in history. In his previous remarks, Cramer has asserted that Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has a robust portfolio, which can enable it to overcome the KEYTRUDA shortfall. His recent remarks mentioned the firm's Verona acquisition: 'Did you see the Merck deal the other day? Verona? Two gentlemen? Getting together, Merck and Verona. You know they're not gonna block that. That doesn't even hit the radar, whoever's in antitrust.' A close-up of a person's hand holding a bottle of pharmaceuticals. Previously, Cramer discussed Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)'s drug pipeline: 'Yeah, I talked to Rob this morning, really liked this. He thinks he's got about 50 billion dollars worth of new drugs, which would therefore make it so you should stop worrying about the Keytruda patent expiration in 2028. I am with Rob. I think this COPD is a really important, another important franchise for them the alternative use steroids. And we've all be discovering that if you have trouble using steroids, one it becomes less effective over time, and two, the side effects are much worse than people realize. So I think this is a first in class, novel, compound that will make it so, see Merck's up because we're starting to get less worried about the expiration. And you know, Rob, I appreciate the fact that Rob is doing the old days, which is you go look at what the younger companies are doing and then you buy them. . .I like this acquisition very much.' While we acknowledge the potential of MRK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. 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
Globe and Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Will Increased Expenses Affect Bristol Myers' Performance?
Last month, Bristol Myers Squibb BMY announced a strategic collaboration agreement with BioNTech BNTX for the global co-development and co-commercialization of the latter's investigational bispecific antibody BNT327 across numerous solid tumor types. While the collaboration strengthens BMY's pipeline, the company will incur increased operating expenses. BMY will make an upfront payment of $1.5 billion to BNTX and pay a total of $2 billion in non-contingent anniversary payments through 2028. These tax-deductible charges will be recorded as acquired IPR&D Expense when incurred. Of the total expenses related to the deal, approximately $1.5 billion has most likely been incurred in the second quarter. This, in turn, will adversely impact the bottom line. BMY is already facing top-line pressure as the legacy portfolio is under pressure due to continued generic impact on Revlimid, Pomalyst, Sprycel and Abraxane. The sales of the blood thinner drug Eliquis are also affected due to the Medicare Part D redesign in the United States. Competition in Dual Target Cancer Therapy Space Heats Up Developing bispecific antibodies that target two proteins, namely PD-1 and VEGF, has lately been one of the lucrative areas in cancer treatment, attracting pharma giants Merck MRK and Pfizer PFE. In November 2024, Merck received an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize LM-299, a novel investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody from LaNova. Merck's oncology portfolio boasts a blockbuster PD-L1 inhibitor, Keytruda, and it is looking to build a diversified oncology pipeline spanning differentiated mechanisms and multiple modalities. Last month, Pfizer inked a licensing agreement with 3SBio for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of SSGJ-707, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, outside China. The candidate is already being evaluated in China for non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer and gynecological tumors. Pfizer will also make an equity investment of $100 million in 3SBio upon the deal's closure. BMY's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of Bristol Myers have lost 15% year to date against the industry 's growth of 1.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, BMY is trading at a discount to the large-cap pharma industry. Going by the price/earnings ratio, BMY's shares currently trade at 7.40x forward earnings, lower than its mean of 8.53x and the large-cap pharma industry's 14.79X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The bottom-line estimate for 2025 has moved down to $6.52 from $6.89 in the past 60 days and that for 2026 has declined 5 cents. BMY currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> 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 Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMY): Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report BioNTech SE Sponsored ADR (BNTX): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Trump threatens to impose drug and chip tariffs as soon as 1 August
Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products and semiconductors as soon as 1 August, the latest deadline for the introduction of his 'reciprocal' levies on individual countries. The US president told reporters late on Tuesday the taxes on drug imports could be announced 'probably at the end of the month, and we're going to start off with a low tariff and give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build, and then we're going to make it a very high tariff'. He added he had a similar timeline for imposing levies on semiconductors, as he believed it was 'less complicated' to implement tariffs on the chips required by all electronic devices, but did not provide further details. Earlier in the month, Trump told a meeting of his cabinet that he expected to raise tariffs on pharmaceuticals as high as 200%, once he had given drug companies a year to a year and a half to bring their manufacturing to the US. He also threatened a 50% tariff on imported copper in an effort to increase US production of the metal. The Trump administration began investigations in April into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors into the US under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as part of an attempt to impose tariffs on both sectors on national security grounds. Any levies imposed on pharmaceuticals are expected to hit drugmakers including Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Merck, which have overseas production sites, while such a move risks increasing prices for US consumers. Any tariffs on semiconductors are predicted to affect chipmakers and the companies such as Apple and Samsung whose smartphones and computers require chips. Trump's latest pledge to escalate the global trade war comes as the US's trading partners are waiting for a temporary pause on the 'reciprocal' tariffs announced on 2 April to expire on 1 August, after the deadline was extended from 9 July. It also coincided with the White House launching an investigation into Brazil's trading practices, which it called unfair. Investigators will look into Brazilian government policies 'related to digital trade and electronic payment services; unfair, preferential tariffs; anti-corruption interference; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and illegal deforestation', according to a statement from the trade representative, Jamieson Greer, and whether these restrict US trade. He cited 'Brazil's attacks on American social media companies as well as other unfair trading practices that harm American companies, workers, farmers, and technology innovators'. Trump last week announced 50% tariff on Brazil, despite the fact it has a trade deficit with the US, citing a 'witch-hunt' against the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro. Trump said on Tuesday he had struck a trade pact with Indonesia to reduce the tariff rate levied on the country's goods, after negotiations. The south-east Asian country made multibillion-dollar commitments to buy US energy, agricultural products and 50 Boeing jets, Trump said in a social media post. As a result, Indonesian goods entering the US would face a 19% tariff, significantly below the 32% level previously threatened. Bloomberg
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Assay Kit Demand Surges as Advancements in Omics Technologies Elevate Biomarker Discovery and Diagnostic Precision
The biomarkers market is poised to grow from USD 62.39 billion in 2025 to USD 104.15 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 10.8%. This growth is driven by the advantages of assay kits and advancements in genomics, proteomics, and next-generation sequencing, leading to novel biomarker development. Predictive biomarkers are dominant in efficacy biomarkers due to their role in guiding treatment decisions, particularly in oncology and autoimmune diseases. The immunoassays segment led the market in 2024, supported by its high specificity in detecting diverse biomarkers. The Asia Pacific region is set to experience the highest CAGR due to a large patient base and supportive healthcare policies. Key players include Roche, Merck, and Abbott. The report offers detailed analysis, competitive assessment, and insights into market trends and strategies. Biomarkers Market Dublin, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Biomarkers Market by Offering, Type, Research Area, Technology, Disease, Application - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to offering. The biomarkers market is on a robust growth trajectory, projected to escalate from USD 62.39 billion in 2025 to USD 104.15 billion by 2030, marked by a CAGR of 10.8%. The report provides an exhaustive overview of industry trends, challenges, and growth opportunities, offering stakeholders insights to devise strategic initiatives aligning with the market pulse. It discusses market diversification, including innovative product launches and the competitive landscape with assessments of companies such as Charles River Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories, and more. This expansion is primarily driven by the efficacy of assay kits in delivering standardized and optimized biomarker analysis, further advancing diagnostics and research in healthcare. Enhanced genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and next-generation sequencing technologies are uncovering biomarkers with improved sensitivity, specificity, and predictive potential. The predictive biomarkers segment dominated the efficacy biomarkers market in 2024. Segmenting the market into safety, efficacy, and validation biomarkers, where efficacy biomarkers split further into predictive, surrogate, pharmacodynamic, and prognostic categories, predictive biomarkers led the market. This is attributed to their ability to enhance clinical outcomes by guiding tailored treatment strategies, particularly in oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. The increased adoption of predictive biomarkers is evident through more companion diagnostic approvals, like Roche's PATHWAY anti-HER2/neu (4B5) test for HER2-low breast cancer, highlighting their significant value in personalized medicine. Immunoassays remained the top choice in the biomarker technologies market in 2024. The technology segment of the market includes immunoassays, NGS, PCR, mass spectrometry, and chromatography. Immunoassays commanded the largest share due to their precise detection capabilities across various diseases such as oncology and cardiology. This has furthered support for precision diagnostics through scalable high-throughput testing. Companies like Roche and Abbott are propelling advances in immunoassay platforms, enhancing diagnostic capacities across disease spectrums. The Asia Pacific region exhibits the highest growth in the biomarker market. The Asia Pacific leads in growth rate, fueled by a large patient base and supportive healthcare initiatives focusing on cancer care enhancements. Accelerated pharmaceutical and biotechnology research in developing novel drug therapies also contribute to this growth, increasing demand for biomarkers that facilitate drug discovery and development efforts. Primary insights from study interviews: Analysis indicates 44% engagement from tier 1 companies, with North America comprising 40% of the study interviews. Key player profiles include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Merck KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Abbott, and other major market influencers. Focus areas include company strategies, partnerships, and recent market developments. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 560 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $62.39 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $104.15 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.8% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Market Drivers Increasing Use of Biomarkers in Drug Discovery & Development Growing Importance of Companion Diagnostics Rising Prevalence of Cancer Development of Biomarkers for Rare Diseases Increasing Funds and Grants for Biomarker Research Advancement in Omics Technologies Restraints High Capital Investments and Extensive Timelines for Biomarker Development Disease Complexity and Heterogeneity Opportunities Growing Preference for Personalized Medicine and Precision Oncology Enhanced Collaboration Among Healthcare Providers and Key Industry Players High Growth Potential of Emerging Economies Challenges Issues Associated with Quantification & Validation of Biomarkers Complexities Associated with Data Set Integration Technical Issues Related to Sample Collection and Storage Company Profiles Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Merck KGaA F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Qiagen Abbott Agilent Technologies, Inc. Revvity Inc. Charles River Laboratories Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Eurofins Scientific Biomerieux Illumina, Inc. Jsr Corporation Guardant Health Labcorp Quanterix Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC Other Players Celerion Standard Biotools Sebia Bioagilytix Labs Stressmarq Biosciences Inc. Northeast Bioanalytical Laboratories LLC Signosis Serimmune Theraindx Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd. Synexa Life Sciences Bv Diatech Pharmacogenetics Singulex, Inc. R-Biopharm AG 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. Attachment Biomarkers Market 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
