AstraZeneca PLC

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) stock rose 2.4% in pre-market trading at 7:51 AM ET today. The company’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine showed positive results.

AstraZeneca (AZN) reported its second-quarter earnings results on July 25. The stock is already up 6.39% on the day and is trading close to $42.91.

On March 28, AstraZeneca (AZN) issued a press release announcing its collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo for the development and commercialization of trastuzumab deruxtecan, an investigational therapy currently being evaluated for multiple HER2-expressing cancers.

In the first quarter, Lynparza garnered revenue of $237 million for AstraZeneca (AZN), a YoY (year-over-year) rise of more than 105% driven mainly by its ongoing launch as a second-line maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer and as a therapy for germline BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer in the US and Japan.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Tagrisso was approved by the FDA first for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor T790M mutation-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and then as a first-line therapy for EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The drug has become the highest-selling drug in AstraZeneca’s portfolio.

On its first-quarter earnings conference call, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for year-over-year product sales growth in high-single-digit percentage in 2019. The company, however, expects modest product sales growth in the second half of 2019 due to higher oncology revenue in the previous period.

Merck & Co. (MRK) is up 8.49%, and AstraZeneca (AZN) is up 5.08% in 2019 on a year-to-date basis. Merck continues to ride on the success of its leading immuno-oncology drug, Keytruda. AstraZeneca’s oncology drugs Tagrisso and Lynparza have emerged as key revenue drivers for it in 2019.

In the first quarter, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Lynparza sales rose 99% YoY (year-over-year) to $237 million on a reported basis, driven by the drug’s rapid uptake in first-line ovarian cancer maintenance and metastatic breast cancer.

Imfinzi earned $64 million from ex-US markets in the first quarter, while Japan alone accounted for $34 million of these sales.

In the first quarter, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Tagrisso sales rose 86% YoY (year-over-year) to $630 million on a reported basis and 92% on a CER (constant exchange rate) basis.

In its first-quarter press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for its fiscal 2019 core operating expenses rising YoY (year-over-year) by a low single-digit percentage.

In its first-quarter press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) reiterated its guidance for core EPS of $3.50–$3.70 in fiscal 2019.

In its first-quarter press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) reiterated its guidance for high-single-digit percentage growth in its fiscal 2019 product sales.

AstraZeneca (AZN) announced its first-quarter results on April 26. Analysts’ average target price of $46.10 implies a 21.35% upside for AstraZeneca stock.

During AstraZeneca’s fourth-quarter presentation, it highlighted the potential of Tagrisso to become the highest-earning drug in its portfolio in 2019.

On its fourth-quarter earnings conference call, Pfizer (PFE) said that it expected its 2019 adjusted diluted EPS to be $2.82–$2.92.

On its fourth-quarter earnings conference call, Pfizer (PFE) guided for the strong performances of its key brands.

On April 11, Pfizer (PFE) closed at $42.27, 1.08% lower than its previous closing price, 22.99% higher than its 52-week low of $34.37.

In fiscal 2018, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) revenue fell 2% YoY (year-over-year) to $22.09 billion on a CER (constant-exchange-rate) and reported basis.

In fiscal 2018, AstraZeneca (AZN) and Eli Lilly (LLY) reported effective tax rates of 3% and $15.98%, respectively.

In fiscal 2018, AstraZeneca (AZN) and Eli Lilly (LLY) reported dividends per share of $1.40 and $2.25, respectively.

In its fourth-quarter earnings press release, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for a low single-digit YoY (year-over-year) rise in core operating expenses in fiscal 2019.

In its fourth-quarter earnings investor presentation, AstraZeneca (AZN) guided for core EPS of $3.50–$3.70 in fiscal 2019, expecting robust YoY (year-over-year) product sales growth and productivity improvements.

Most analysts recommend “buy” for AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly.

Merck & Co. (MRK) highlighted its oncology, vaccines, hospital and specialty care, and animal health businesses as its key growth drivers in 2018.

In the first nine months of 2018, AstraZeneca (AZN) reported revenues worth $2.85 billion from China, which is a YoY rise of 33% on an actual basis and 27% on a CER (constant exchange rate) basis.

On November 19, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) stock price closed at $40.80, which represents ~5% growth from its closing price of $38.78 on October 31.

Merck & Co.’s (MRK) Januvia generated revenues of $927 million in the third quarter, reflecting an ~8% YoY (year-over-year) decline.

Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Invega Sustenna, Xeplion, Trinza, and Trevicta combined witnessed solid growth in the third quarter.

Novartis’s revenue is mainly driven by the strong performance of its Innovative Medicines segment, while Sandoz and Alcon also contribute to the company’s overall growth.

Novartis’s Innovative Medicines segment includes prescription products from two business units: Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Oncology.

Novartis’s (NVS) stock price has increased ~14.3% in the third quarter, and its stock rose ~2.8% year-to-date on October 2.

On October 2, Johnson & Johnson announced the completion of the divestiture of its LifeScan business to Platinum Equity for ~$2.1 billion.

Of the five analysts tracking AstraZeneca in September, three recommended a “strong buy.” One analyst recommended a “buy,” and one analyst recommended a “hold” rating.

Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company Immunomedics (IMMU) is currently focused on advancing several research programs.

Shire reported adjusted EPS of $3.88 on revenue of ~$3.9 billion in the second quarter, a 4.6% YoY (year-over-year) rise.

Novartis (NVS) announced today that it has agreed to sell select portions of its Sandoz US portfolio to Aurobindo Pharma USA.

On August 30, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the EC approved Nucala for pediatric patients with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma.

Eli Lilly and Company surpassed Wall Street analysts’ estimates in the second quarter and reported a 9% YoY (year-over-year) rise in revenue.

Alcon, Novartis’s (NVS) eye care business, reported a 7% growth YoY (year-over-year) in revenues to ~$1.82 billion during Q2 2018.

Novartis’s (NVS) Sandoz reported nearly flat revenues at ~$2.46 billion in Q2 2018 compared to $2.45 billion in the second quarter of 2017.

AstraZeneca’s sales in China surged by 26.0% to $868.0 million in the second quarter.

Zoladex’s sales grew 4.0% to $192.0 million, and Arimidex’s sales grew 2.0% to $57.0 million during the second quarter.

Brilinta’s sales increased by 13.0% to $316.0 million, and Farxiga’s sales grew 34.0% to $340.0 million in the second quarter.

AstraZeneca has seen major recent product approvals such as Lynparza in Japan for breast cancer and Tagrisso in the EU for lung cancer.

Novartis (NVS) announced on August 23 that its SOLAR-1 trial evaluating alpelisib combined with fulvestrant has met its primary endpoint.

Roche’s (RHHBY) Tecentriq generated revenues of 320.0 million Swiss francs in the first half compared to 237.0 million Swiss francs in the first half of 2017.

Novavax has entered into a key grant agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is the current source of its revenue.

GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Consumer Healthcare segment includes its wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health products.

On May 8, Merck (MRK) and AstraZeneca (AZN) managed to secure approval from the European Medicines Agency for Lynparza as maintenance therapy.

In the second quarter of 2018, Merck’s (MRK) Emend generated revenues of $148.0 million compared to $143.0 million in the second quarter of 2017.

In the second quarter of 2018, Merck’s (MRK) Januvia and Janumet generated revenues of $949 million and $585.0 million, respectively.

Eli Lilly (LLY) announced a potential initial public offering for Elanco, which is its animal health business.

Driven by growth in Humira, Imbruvica, and Mavyret sales, AbbVie (ABBV) delivered strong Q2 2018 results on July 27.

Baxter’s gross profit increased from $1.13 billion in Q2 2017 to $1.24 billion in Q2 2018.

AstraZeneca (AZN) is expected to incur research and development expenses of $1.26 billion in Q2 2018 as compared with $1.28 billion in Q2 2017.

Analysts are estimating that GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) revenues will decrease 1.5% to 7.2 billion pounds in Q2 2018.

Today, Advaxis (ADXS) is trading at $1.43, which represents a rise of ~16.80% from yesterday’s close of $1.22.

In Q1 2018, Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Neuroscience business reported revenues of $1.6 billion compared to $1.5 billion in Q1 2017.

In June, Novo Nordisk presented the post hoc analysis of the SUSTAIN 7 trial.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) reported Q1 2018 revenues of 26.9 billion Danish kroner, compared to 28.5 billion Danish kroner in Q1 2017—down ~5% YoY.

AstraZeneca (AZN) received two key regulatory approvals in Japan this week, one for Imfinzi and the other for Lynparza.

Pfizer’s stock price was nearly flat on June 27 at the closing price of $36.38. Pfizer’s stock price has increased ~0.4% in the past week.

As discussed, Pfizer’s (PFE) business is divided into two business segments, Innovative Health and Essential Health.

By the end of June 25, the NASDAQ Composite, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the S&P 500 were down around 2.1%, 1.3%, and 1.4%, respectively.

Yesterday, Tesaro (TSRO) stock rose ~16.3%, triggered by rumours of an acquisition bid by Roche (RHHBY), which registered a stock price rise of ~2.1%.

In the second half of fiscal 2018, major news is expected for indications in diabetes, anemia, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and lupus in AstraZeneca’s (AZN) pipeline.

Investors have a lot to watch for in AstraZeneca’s (AZN) research pipeline in the second fiscal quarter.

GSK reported EPS of 24.60 British pence on revenue of 7.22 billion pounds, surpassing Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates.

Novartis’s stock price has fallen ~7.0% in the last 12 months and ~10.7% year-to-date.

Novartis’s (NVS) Innovative Medicines business, which comprises its Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Oncology products, reported revenue of $8.4 billion in the first quarter, with operating revenue and foreign exchange contributing 6% growth each.

In emerging markets, Symbicort grew 14.0% to $128.0 million on the back of 38.0% growth in the China market to $66.0 million.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Pulmicort witnessed a 3.0% increase in sales to $346.0 million in the first quarter.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Farxiga generated product sales of $299.0 million, an increase of 44.0%.

Sales of Brilinta increased 31.0% to $293.0 million in the first quarter.

Tagrisso, approved in more than 75 countries, registered an increase in sales of 98.0% to $338.0 million, driven by higher testing rates in Japan and the US.

Four of the six analysts covering AstraZeneca (AZN) gave the stock a “buy” or higher rating, and two analysts gave it a “hold” rating.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) has played a major role in positioning the tumor mutational burden (or TMB) as a potential new biomarker across multiple tumor types.

At the end of Q1 2018, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) Opdivo earned 40% of its revenues in the US market from the lung cancer indication.

Merck & Company’s Singulair, a drug for the prevention and treatment of asthma, reported revenue of $175 million in Q1 2018.

Merck & Company’s (MRK) Januvia reported revenue of $880 million in Q1 2018 compared to $839 million in Q1 2017.

Late last week, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced that it was scrapping its mid-stage trial for the development of the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) growth platforms include its Respiratory segment, which is expected to report growth in revenue during 1Q18.

AstraZeneca (AZN) is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies that deals with primary care and specialty care products.

On July 27, Merck (MRK) and AstraZeneca (AZN) announced a strategic global collaboration for co-developing and co-commercializing the latter’s poly ADP ribose polymerase (or PARP) inhibitor, Lynparza.

In 1Q18, Merck (MRK) reported revenues close to $10.0 billion, which is a year-over-year (or YoY) rise of around 6%.

Lynparza (olaparib) is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, or PARP inhibitor, and part of Merck & Co. (MRK) and AstraZeneca’s (AZN) global strategic oncology collaboration.