Latest news with #VEEV
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
mRNA vaccine technology makes headway via Pitt, Penn State research
A new kind of mRNA vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University could be cheaper to produce and offer a greater level of immunity across multiple variants of the virus. The news comes as mRNA vaccines have been targeted by the Trump administration's recent funding cuts, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all members of the expert vaccine panel the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine safety and eligibility guidelines. Results of the Pitt study, tested in a small group of mice, were published in npj Vaccines, a journal associated with Nature, on June 3. It's considered a proof-of-concept study and will require more research until human clinical trials are possible. Continual mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus - the virus that causes COVID-19 - has presented challenges for scientists' ability to forecast a dominant variant and tailor vaccines effectively, requiring recalibration each year depending on what is currently circulating. "This study demonstrated two key aspects," said Suresh Kuchipudi, senior author on the paper and chair of infectious diseases and microbiology at Pitt's School of Public Health, "that we can produce mRNA vaccines with much less mRNA required, that will significantly lower the cost of the vaccines." And, he said, "It is also possible that with mRNA vaccines, we can provide broad protection across multiple versions of the virus without needing to constantly update." This was possible because of a design called a trans-amplifying vaccine. In traditional mRNA vaccines, a single molecule of RNA - a kind of code that creates viral proteins in the body - is included to help the body recognize and fight off viruses. Amplifying RNA vaccines use two components: that viral protein, as well as another component that helps enhance the mRNA signal. In trans-amplifying mRNA vaccines, those two components are encoded separately, allowing for more flexibility in design and potentially fewer side effects, though the latter needs further study. And instead of using code from one circulating variant, the trans-amplifying vaccine uses code from a "consensus spike protein," meaning it includes mRNA that is conserved across multiple variants, allowing it to provide broader immunity. "After several years, we have seen multiple variants emerge," said Kuchipudi. "If you look at the genetic sequence of the spike protein among all these variants, certain parts are conserved across all. We can design a spike protein that can broadly cover known variants." The new formulation also includes a component called a replicase, which helps to generate a signal in the body with a lower dose of mRNA. Researchers used a replicase based on the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). "We chose the VEEV replicase because it's a well-studied enzyme known for its ability to amplify target mRNA efficiently," said Kuchipudi in an email. "In our system, it boosts the expression of the vaccine antigen (SARS-CoV-2) without requiring a high starting dose." They also conducted safety studies and found the VEEV replicase did not affect the body's original cells in a negative way. Scientists then measured the presence of antibodies in the injected mice to see how their new vaccine formulation compared to the traditional mRNA vaccine. The mice showed immunity comparable to the original COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and with 40 times less mRNA used. Moderna's current Spikevax formulation is given at 50 micrograms per dose for adults, and Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty contains 30 micrograms (ug) per dose. This could be why many people who received the Moderna vaccine reported more side effects. The trans-amplifying vaccine, by contrast, was given at 20 ug of the VEEV replicase and 0.5 ug of the consensus spike protein mRNA, as well as a lower dose formulation at 20 ugs and 0.05 ugs, respectively. This vaccine could offer greater flexibility and be more cost efficient than the existing COVID vaccines, said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. "I think it's a worthwhile study," he said. The study is also an example of how much research goes into a product like a vaccine before it becomes available to the public - and this one is still early in the developmental process. Kuchipudi said the team wants to delve deeper into learning more about potential side effects. "We did some early mouse studies and saw no apparent side effects," said Kuchipudi. "We plan to conduct more in-depth safety studies in mice next, focusing on immune responses, inflammation, and any potential off-target effects," or unpredictable side effects that might occur other than at the injection site, or what's typically associated with getting a vaccine. But in the current political climate, it may be harder for scientists to further their research on these kinds of vaccines. On May 28, President Trump rescinded its contract with Moderna, per Reuters reporting. That included more than $700 million in federal monies for vaccine research and development for diseases like bird flu. In a statement to Reuters, an HHS spokesperson said that "after a comprehensive internal review, the agency had determined that the project did not meet the scientific standards or safety expectations required for continued federal investment." Although mRNA vaccines have been around since the 1990s, they have been the face of intense scrutiny after their development was fast-tracked via Operation Warp Speed, the government-backed push to get COVID-19 vaccines into the hands of the public during a deadly pandemic. To date, they have saved 3.2 million lives, said Hotez. "What you should be focusing on, if there are ways you think you can improve the technology, that's what you have to incentivize," he said. The Pitt and Penn State study is illustrative of that, he said. "This is an example of heading toward 2.0." But Hotez is worried about deprioritization of this kind of research in the coming years, especially as infectious disease surveillance infrastructure, including staffing, has been cut, leaving officials in a weaker position to understand and defend against future viruses. "I think the FDA is prematurely shutting down mRNA technology when it has enormous promise," he said. "It's a relatively safe vaccine. Every vaccine technology has strengths and weaknesses ... to toss it out the window for ideological reasons makes no sense." _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) on Compounding Your Wealth's Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on VEEV. Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV)'s share was trading at $279.70 as of 30th May. VEEV's trailing and forward P/E were 59.38 and 37.74 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. A close-up of a server array powering a cloud-services system. Veeva Systems delivered a strong Q1 FY2026 performance, with revenue reaching $759 million, up 16.7% year-over-year and surpassing estimates by 4.3%. Subscription services grew 18.9% to $634.8 million, while professional services rose 6.8%. Gross margin improved to 79.2%, but non-GAAP operating margin declined to 30.8% due to higher investments. EPS of $1.97 beat expectations by 13.2%. Billings increased 16.1%, and net new ARR more than doubled. Customer acquisition cost payback improved significantly, and share dilution was minimal. Veeva achieved its $3 billion annual revenue run rate ahead of schedule, driven by strong growth in Crossix and Vault CRM. Over 80 customers are now live on Vault CRM, with plans to reach 200 by FY2027. Four top 20 pharma firms have committed to the platform, highlighting its integration of sales, marketing, and medical functions. Clinical products continue to gain traction, with 19 of the top 20 pharma companies using eTMF and nine adopting EDC. Development Cloud is expected to grow 19% in FY2026, supported by cross-sell momentum. Data Cloud, especially Crossix and Compass, is expanding through deeper adoption and differentiated data sourcing. Veeva is also investing in a new Horizontal CRM initiative aimed at large enterprises, competing with incumbents like Salesforce. AI is central to Veeva's strategy, with embedded agents across CRM, safety, and regulatory functions promising significant industry efficiency gains by 2030. Customer sentiment remains positive, supported by a robust product roadmap. Veeva modestly raised its FY2026 guidance, reflecting strong execution and growing demand across verticals. Previously, we have covered Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) in March 2025 wherein we summarized a by Francesco Ferrari on Substack. The author highlighted Veeva Systems as a resilient, high-quality cloud software provider with strong recurring revenue and financials, making it a compelling investment. Since our last coverage, the stock is up 20.4% as of 30th May. Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 55 hedge fund portfolios held VEEV at the end of the first quarter which was 60 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of VEEV 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 best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was 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
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Veeva Systems Delivers 'Solid' Fiscal Q1 Driven by Crossix Business, Oppenheimer Says
Veeva Systems (VEEV) delivered "solid" fiscal Q1 results driven by its Crossix data analytics platfo 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
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reasons to Retain Veeva Systems Stock in Your Portfolio for Now
Veeva Systems Inc. VEEV is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, courtesy of its strong product portfolio. The optimism, led by a solid fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 performance and strategic deals, is expected to contribute further. However, rising operational costs remain a cause for concern. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's shares have risen 13.2% in the year-to-date period compared with 11.6% growth of the industry. The S&P 500 Composite has decreased 1.8% during the said time frame. The renowned provider of cloud-based software applications and data solutions for the life sciences industry has a market capitalization of $37.91 billion. The company anticipates 26.2% growth for the next five years and expects to maintain its strong performance in the future. It delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.92%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Robust Product Portfolio: Veeva Systems continues to drive the migration to its next-gen Vault CRM, with 20 new customers adopting the solution in the fourth quarter, particularly small and mid-sized biotech firms preparing for commercial launches. The company expects most top 20 pharma firms to make migration decisions by fiscal 2026, ahead of the 2030 sunset of the legacy CRM. Veeva Systems has introduced AI-driven innovations like CRM Voice Control, CRM Bot and MLR Bot to enhance efficiency, compliance and automation. Meanwhile, its Clinical Development Cloud sees growing adoption, with 17 of the top 20 pharma companies using its CTMS and a ninth committing to its EDC solution. Investments in RTSM and eCOA further expand its market opportunities. Veeva Systems' Data Cloud solutions—Compass, OpenData, Link, and the new Pulse—are gaining momentum. Compass supports over 100 brands, and Pulse secured its first seven-figure deal to enhance pharma segmentation and targeting. While enterprise-wide licensing is still in the early stages, larger contracts are expected. Veeva Systems is also expanding its Safety suite, offering a fully cloud-based solution for signal detection, adverse event reporting, and regulatory compliance, with automated updates and seamless clinical integration. Strategic Deals: Veeva Systems has secured several key deals in recent months, including Boehringer Ingelheim's commitment to migrate to Veeva Vault CRM, expanding its use of Veeva Commercial Cloud and Development Cloud. Additionally, ACTO joined the Veeva AI Partner Program to enhance generative AI capabilities for field representatives in life sciences. In October, Veeva Systems and Walgreens Boots Alliance announced a long-term partnership to leverage the former's Data Cloud and Clinical Platform, aiming to improve patient outcomes by connecting the latter's community locations with diverse patient populations for easier clinical research access. Strong Q4 Results: Veeva Systems exited the third quarter of fiscal 2025 with better-than-expected results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. This uptick in both top and bottom lines and robust performance by the Subscription services segment during the quarter were impressive. The rise in Professional services and others revenues also bodes well. Per management, Veeva Systems had a strong finish to the year by strengthening its partnerships across all customer segments, from large biopharma companies to smaller biotech firms. Rising Costs: Veeva Systems has been experiencing rising operating costs over the past few months. General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 20.6% year over year. Management expects sales and marketing expenses to increase in fiscal 2025, primarily due to employee-related expenses as the company raises its headcount to support sales and marketing efforts associated with product offerings and the continued expansion of sales capacity across all solutions. In the fiscal fourth quarter, the total operating expenses increased 9.3% year over year. Veeva Systems expects operating expenses to increase in fiscal 2025, primarily due to employee compensation-related costs. Veeva Systems is witnessing a positive estimate revision trend for fiscal 2026. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has moved a cent north to $7.30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $727.9 million, indicating an 11.9% improvement from the year-ago quarter's reported number. The EPS estimate for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 is pinned at $1.74, implying a 16% improvement year over year. Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space that have announced quarterly results are CVS Health Corporation CVS, Integer Holdings Corporation ITGR and AngioDynamics ANGO. CVS Health, carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.25, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 31.6%. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Revenues of $94.59 billion outpaced the consensus mark by 1.8%. CVS Health has a long-term estimated growth rate of 11.4%. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.1%. Integer Holdings reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of $1.31, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.2%. Revenues of $437.4 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. Integer Holdings has a long-term estimated growth rate of 18.4%. ITGR's earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 2.8%. AngioDynamics, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1, reported a third-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of 3 cents against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a 13-cent loss. Revenues of $72 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2%. ANGO has an estimated fiscal 2026 earnings growth rate of 27.8% compared with the S&P 500 Composite's 10.5% growth. AngioDynamics' earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 70.9%. 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 AngioDynamics, Inc. (ANGO) : Free Stock Analysis Report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research 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
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
More Upside For Veeva Stock?
CHONGQING, CHINA - MAY 25: In this photo illustration, the logo of Veeva Systems Inc. is displayed ... More on a smartphone screen, with the latest stock market chart of the company in the background, reflecting investor sentiment and recent trading activity, on May 25, 2025, in Chongqing, China. (Photo Illustration by) Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) stock, a cloud-based software firm, surged 16% in after-hours trading on May 28, following a strong performance in Q1 fiscal year 2026 (Jan. year). The company reported earnings of $1.97 per share on revenue of $759 million, surpassing consensus estimates of $1.74 and $728 million, respectively. Overall sales growth was 17% year-over-year, with subscription services revenue growing even faster at 19% to $635 million, exceeding market expectations of $616 million. This robust Q1 performance has prompted several prominent research firms to raise their price targets for VEEV stock. While Veeva's Q1 results were undoubtedly solid, leading to a significant jump in its stock price, the critical question now is whether VEEV stock is a buy at levels around $275. We believe VEEV appears attractive but trades at lofty valuations, making it a challenging investment at its current price of around $270. Although there's minimal underlying concern for the stock, its extremely high current valuation makes it highly susceptible to adverse market events. This assessment is based on a comprehensive comparison of VEEV stock's current valuation against its recent operating performance and its historical and present financial condition. Our analysis of Veeva Systems across key parameters—Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Downturn Resilience—indicates that the company demonstrates very strong operating performance and financial health. That said, if you seek upside with lower volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio presents an alternative - having outperformed the S&P 500 and generated returns exceeding 91% since its inception. When considering the price paid per dollar of sales or profit, VEEV stock appears very expensive compared to the broader market. Veeva Systems has a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 16, significantly higher than the S&P 500's figure of 3.0. Additionally, the company's price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) ratio stands at 41, compared to 20.5 for the S&P 500. Furthermore, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 58.1, while the benchmark's is 26.4. These high valuation multiples can be attributed to the company's robust profitability, discussed below. Veeva Systems' revenues have experienced notable growth in recent years. Its top line has grown at an average rate of 14.1% over the last three years, in contrast to a 5.5% increase for the S&P 500. Moreover, its quarterly revenues in the most recent quarter grew by 17% to $759 million, up from $650 million a year ago, outperforming the S&P 500's 4.8% improvement. For the last twelve months period, Veeva's revenue stood at $2.9 billion. Veeva Systems' profit margins are considerably higher than most companies in the Trefis coverage universe. The company's operating income over the last four quarters was $770 million, representing a high operating margin of 27% compared to 13.2% for the S&P 500. Veeva Systems' operating cash flow (OCF) during this period was $1.2 billion, indicating a high OCF margin of 42.2% versus 14.9% for the S&P 500. Finally, for the last four-quarter period, Veeva Systems' net income was $781 million, pointing to a considerably high net income margin of 27.3% compared to 11.6% for the S&P 500. Veeva Systems' balance sheet appears very strong. At the end of the most recent quarter, Veeva Systems' debt stood at $77 million, while its market capitalization was $38 billion (as of May 28, 2025). This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.2%, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 19.9% (a low Debt-to-Equity Ratio is desirable). Furthermore, cash (including cash equivalents) constitutes $4.1 billion of Veeva Systems' $7.8 billion in total assets, yielding a very strong Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 52.8% compared to 13.8% for the S&P 500. VEEV stock has fared worse than the benchmark S&P 500 index during some recent downturns. While investors hope for a soft landing by the U.S. economy, it's worth considering how severe things could become in another recession. Our dashboard, "How Low Can Stocks Go During A Market Crash," illustrates how key stocks performed during and after the last six market crashes. During the Inflation Shock of 2022, VEEV stock fell 55.7% from a high of $341.00 on August 5, 2021, to $151.10 on October 14, 2022, while the S&P 500 experienced a peak-to-trough decline of 25.4%. The stock has yet to recover to its pre-crisis high, with its highest point since then being $250.45 on December 8, 2024, and currently trading at around $235 (May 28). During the Covid Pandemic in 2020, VEEV stock fell 26.8% from a high of $341.00 on August 5, 2021, to $249.49 on December 3, 2021, whereas the S&P 500 saw a peak-to-trough decline of 33.9%. Similar to the Inflation Shock, the stock has yet to recover to its pre-crisis high. In summary, Veeva Systems has demonstrated very strong performance across all the detailed parameters. This robust performance is reflected in the company's expensive valuation, trading at 16 times trailing revenues and 58 times trailing earnings. While this valuation might be justifiable given Veeva's solid profitability and its long-term outlook of doubling revenues by 2030, we believe the potential upside may be limited from current levels. Therefore, investors considering an entry into VEEV stock might find it more advantageous to await a pullback before making a purchase. Not too happy about the volatile nature of VEEV stock? The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4-year period. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
