AstraZeneca PLC

In 2014, AstraZeneca’s CVMD franchise generated nearly $9.8 billion, a 11% rise in sales as compared to $8.8 billion in 2013.

According to a March 3, 2016, Bloomberg consensus of five brokerage firms, 60% of brokerage firms rated Sanofi as a “buy,” while 40% of the broker firms rated the company as a “hold.”

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.

Intel generated ~$5.7 billion in cash from operations. The company paid quarterly dividends of $1.1 billion and repurchased 122 million shares for $4.2 billion.

AQR Capital sold a position in GEO Group Inc. in 2Q14. The company accounted for a 0.0206% position in the fund’s first quarter U.S. long portfolio.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) CVMD (Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease) segment contributed nearly 32.4% of total company revenues in 3Q16.

Sucampo has taken on a significant level of debt. Its outstanding debt is ~$300 million. Its interest expense has increased from $6.8 million in 2015 to $23.7 million in 2016.

Last week, AstraZeneca issued A2/A rated high-grade bonds worth $6.0 billion to fund the acquisition of ZS Pharma (ZSPH).

According to Novavax, ~64.0 million RSV infections occur every year on a global basis. The global cost of RSV exceeds $88.0 billion.

Medivation’s portfolio complements Pfizer’s existing oncology portfolio that includes solid tumors, hematology, and immunology-oncology.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) oncology segment is another key focus area. The segment’s contribution increased to more than 15% in 2Q16.

Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue, is set to release its 3Q16 earnings on October 25, 2016.

In 1Q17, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) new oncology portfolio reported global sales of around $236.0 million. Tagrisso earned revenues of $171.0 million globally.

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.

Sales for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment declined over 80% in 2Q15, while the immunoscience segment’s sales improved ~15% in 2Q15 as compared to 2Q14.

Sales from Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Neuroscience segment declined by 94% in 1Q16. Sales from the Immunoscience segment improved by ~18.7% in 1Q16 over 1Q15.

Pfizer (PFE) is seeking to expand its oncology franchise and a combination with AstraZeneca (AZN) would be meaningful due to the latter’s pipeline of cancer drugs.

GlaxoSmithKline stock has risen ~6.4% in 1Q18, while its stock has risen ~12.6% YTD (year-to-date) as of April 6, 2018.

The fundamental factors affecting stock prices and valuation include the performance of growth platforms as well as the exclusivity of blockbuster drugs.

During the last quarter, the oncology segment’s contribution to AstraZeneca (AZN) increased to over 15%. AZN’s key products for oncology are Zoladex, Faslodex, Iressa, and the new drug Tagrisso.

In January 2018, the FDA granted a BTD to Novartis’s (NVS) Promacta for use along with standard immunosuppressive therapy.

In January 2016, Horizon acquired Krystexxa from Crealta Holdings. The drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic refractory gout.

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%.

AQR Capital initiated a position in Bally Technologies during the third quarter of 2014 that accounts for 0.22% of the fund’s 3Q14 portfolio.

TOM BUTCHER: What are generic drugs, and why are they important? JAMES DUFFY: Generic drugs are drugs that are comparable to their brand-name counterparts. They are comparable in terms of the dosage, effectiveness, and intended use. Generics are important because they are essentially a less-expensive alternative to their brand-name counterparts. This, of course, is expected […]

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment sales fell over 37% in 3Q16, while the immunoscience segment sales rose ~18% in 3Q16 as compared to 3Q15.

On December 9, 2016, the FDA accepted for review its first-ever biologics license application (or BLA) submitted by AstraZeneca (AZN).

According to Lipper’s funds flow data, investment-grade bond funds saw net outflows of $789.1 million up to the week ending November 25.

AstraZeneca’s oncology segment is another key focus area. The segment contributed 11.6% in 2014 and 12.1% in 2Q15. Key products for oncology are Zoladex and Faslodex.

Biogen’s investigational Alzheimer’s disease drug, aducanumab, is one of the four therapies accepted in the EMA’s Priority Medicines program (or PRIME).

AQR Capital increased its position in Apple from 0.86% in the previous quarter to 1.24% in the fund’s second quarter U.S. long portfolio.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) key focus is its oncology segment. The segment’s contribution increased to more than 12% in 1Q16. Its key products include Zoladex, Faslodex, and Iressa.

Wall Street analysts have projected AstraZeneca’s (AZN) 2017 net profit margins at about 12.2%, which is lower by 300 basis points on a YoY basis.

Approximately 85% of all lung cancers in the United States are non-small cell lung cancers, and 10% to 15% of these are EGFR mutation-positive.

Over the past year, Pfizer completed multiple acquisitions to restore its top line growth. They will offset the revenue decline and fuel Pfizer’s top line.

Launched in Japan in 2Q16, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) 1Q17 revenues for Tagrisso approached $39 million in this major emerging market.

Myriad Genetics (MYGN) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (or FDA) acceptance of its supplementary premarket approval application for BRACAnalysis CDx, a DNA sequencing companion diagnostic test.

The oncology segment is another key focus area of AstraZeneca (AZN). The oncology segment’s contribution increased from ~11.6% in 2014 to ~12.1% in 2015.

The gastrointestinal (or GI) drug market in the United States is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% over a five-year period from 2014 to 2019.

Valeant’s (VRX) recent wins include the FDA’s advisory committee vote in favor of approving brodalumab for the indication of mild to moderate psoriasis.

Teva’s respiratory drugs franchise provides solutions for asthma, COPD, and allergic rhinitis. Respiratory drugs contributed nearly 11% of total revenues for Teva’s Specialty Medicines in 2014.

Aquinox has a positive future outlook and will likely continue to better its performance in the near future.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) stock has risen ~18.6% in 2Q17. It has risen ~16.9% year-to-date as of July 7, 2017.

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) neuroscience segment’s sales declined by 63.0% in 2015 from 2014, while its immunoscience segment’s sales improved ~14.1%.

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

The Putnam Europe Equity Fund – Class A (PEUGX) fell 4.3% in 1Q16, making it a below-average performer among the 12 funds in this review. In the past one year, PEUGX has fallen 7.9%

Over the last several years, patent cliffs have led to steep revenue losses for traditional pharmaceuticals as well as created a gateway for smaller companies to come to market with generics.

The PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) class consists of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, Merck’s Keytruda, and Roche’s Tecentriq.

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) oncology products include legacy oncology products as well as new oncology products.

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

Along with a negative information ratio, PEUGX also posted a negative alpha in the one-year period ended March 15, 2016. This placed it tenth among the 12 funds in this review.

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.

To understand how the Brexit result stands to impact your portfolio or your willingness to invest in the United Kingdom, a cost-benefit analysis is pertinent.

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.

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.

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

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

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 (AZN) and Eli Lilly (LLY) reported effective tax rates of 3% and $15.98%, 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.