Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM). The Fund exited its position in Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops and commercializes therapies for patients with serious and rare diseases, during the quarter. On September 15, 2026, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) closed at $119.92 per share. Over the past month, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) declined 7.49%, but its shares are down 16.51% over the past year. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) has a market capitalization of $26.19 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $90.39 and $212.75.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM)shares fell after sales of the biopharmaceutical company's new lung drug Brinsupri fell short of ****** ysts' expectations. We exited the position during the quarter. Insmed's thesis had largely played out following positive TPIP data and upward revisions to Brinsupri sales. We redeployed capital to Twist Bioscience, which offers a longer runway for growth."
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 88 hedge fund portfolios held Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 67 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#Growth #parnassus

Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes therapies for serious and complex diseases. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Biogen has built a strong presence in neurology, specialized immunology, and rare diseases, with a portfolio spanning multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and other conditions.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are typically classified as "large-cap stocks," and Biogen, with a market cap of $32.1 billion, fits the label perfectly. Biogen's core strength lies in its deep neuroscience expertise and a portfolio of established therapies for complex neurological and rare diseases. Its long-standing research capabilities, specialized commercial infrastructure, and broad pipeline also provide scale and expertise that smaller biotech rivals can find hard to replicate.
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#biogen #complex #expertise

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.

#vaccine #pfizer #NYSE

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) reported that its investigational lung-cancer drug gotistobart produced a clinically meaningful overall-survival benefit in the Phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Reuters said gotistobart nearly doubled survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy, strengthening the case for the drug as a potential chemotherapy-free treatment in a population with significant unmet need.
The result builds on earlier Stage 1 data, where gotistobart reduced the risk of death by 54% versus docetaxel, with a hazard ratio of 0.46. Median overall survival was not yet reached for gotistobart versus 9.95 months for docetaxel, while the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 25.2% versus 0%. BioNTech is now awaiting the pivotal Stage 2 readout, making the latest result important not only for the drug's approval prospects but also for the credibility of BioNTech's broader transition from a COVID-vaccine company toward a multi-product oncology business.
The strongest bullish argument is that gotistobart now has repeated evidence of a meaningful survival advantage in a difficult-to-treat lung-cancer population. The earlier Stage 1 dataset showed 55.6% of patients alive in the gotistobart arm versus 23.8% with docetaxel, alongside a 54% reduction in the risk of death. The latest Phase 3 update reinforces that signal rather than introducing an entirely new hypothesis. If the pivotal Stage 2 data confirm the benefit, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) could have a differentiated therapy capable of competing on survival rather than simply response rates, potentially supporting meaningful pricing power and a commercially attractive oncology franchise.
The result also strengthens BioNTech's broader oncology strategy because gotistobart is one piece of a much larger pipeline rather than a standalone bet. BioNTech says it has 14 ongoing pivotal trials and more than 10 novel combination programs, while its lung-cancer strategy spans more than 16 ongoing clinical trials and five Phase 3 programs. Gotistobart's success therefore provides validation for the company's immuno-oncology capabilities, while other ****** ets such as pumitamig and antibody-drug conjugates advance toward additional indications. BioNTech has identified 17+ late-stage or pivotal readouts through 2030+, creating the possibility that a successful gotistobart launch becomes the first major commercial proof point in its planned transition to a multi-product oncology company.

#stage #survival

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)'s decision to rebrand its day-to-day identity as "Novo" and launch a cultural reset is primarily a strategic response to the company's loss of momentum in the obesity-drug market, rather than a financial restructuring in itself. Reuters reports that the company is trying to regain competitiveness as pressure from Eli Lilly intensifies. The move comes as Novo prepares to unveil new strategic ambitions at its September 21 Capital Markets Day, making the cultural reset potentially important if it leads to faster decision-making, stronger commercial execution and a more aggressive R&D approach.
The underlying business still has substantial scale to protect. Novo generated DKK 309.1 billion of 2025 sales and DKK 127.7 billion of operating profit, while obesity-care sales rose 31% at constant exchange rates to DKK 82.3 billion. However, the company also spent around DKK 8 billion on its transformation in 2025, and its diabetes value-market share fell 3.6 percentage points to 30.1%. The reset therefore comes at a critical point: Novo remains the global obesity-market leader, with a 59.6% branded-volume share in 2025, but Lilly is rapidly narrowing the competitive gap.
A successful cultural reset could improve Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)'s execution at a time when the company needs to convert its scientific and commercial ******* ets into faster growth. Reuters reported that CEO Mike Doustdar is already seeking to accelerate R&D and streamline decision-making following investor concerns about the pipeline and competition from Lilly. If the reorganization reduces internal bureaucracy and improves the speed of clinical, regulatory and commercial decisions, it could help Novo extract more value from its existing obesity portfolio while advancing next-generation treatments before the semaglutide patent cliff expected early next decade.
The company also has ******* ets that give a cultural and operational reset something concrete to build around. Wegovy was available in 52 countries by the end of 2025, while the company's higher-dose Wegovy achieved 20.7% weight loss in Phase 3 studies and its oral Wegovy achieved 16.6% weight loss. More recently, Wegovy received approval in China for MASH, expanding its potential beyond weight management and cardiovascular benefits into another large metabolic-disease market. If Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) can combine these products with better execution, the reset could support higher patient volumes and extend the commercial life of its GLP-1 franchise, helping defend revenue and cash flow despite pricing pressure.

#nordisk #lilly

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.

#disease

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is "cancer free," she announced on X on Sept. 16, 2026. "Some personal news I'm grateful to share. After a medical appointment at the Mayo Clinic this week, my pathology results came back clear," she explained.

Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks — during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 — before it has spread — in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 — slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than 380,000 American women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.

#breast #diagnosed

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) reported that its investigational lung-cancer drug gotistobart produced a clinically meaningful overall-survival benefit in the Phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Reuters said gotistobart nearly doubled survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy, strengthening the case for the drug as a potential chemotherapy-free treatment in a population with significant unmet need.
The result builds on earlier Stage 1 data, where gotistobart reduced the risk of death by 54% versus docetaxel, with a hazard ratio of 0.46. Median overall survival was not yet reached for gotistobart versus 9.95 months for docetaxel, while the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 25.2% versus 0%. BioNTech is now awaiting the pivotal Stage 2 readout, making the latest result important not only for the drug's approval prospects but also for the credibility of BioNTech's broader transition from a COVID-vaccine company toward a multi-product oncology business.
The strongest bullish argument is that gotistobart now has repeated evidence of a meaningful survival advantage in a difficult-to-treat lung-cancer population. The earlier Stage 1 dataset showed 55.6% of patients alive in the gotistobart arm versus 23.8% with docetaxel, alongside a 54% reduction in the risk of death. The latest Phase 3 update reinforces that signal rather than introducing an entirely new hypothesis. If the pivotal Stage 2 data confirm the benefit, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) could have a differentiated therapy capable of competing on survival rather than simply response rates, potentially supporting meaningful pricing power and a commercially attractive oncology franchise.
The result also strengthens BioNTech's broader oncology strategy because gotistobart is one piece of a much larger pipeline rather than a standalone bet. BioNTech says it has 14 ongoing pivotal trials and more than 10 novel combination programs, while its lung-cancer strategy spans more than 16 ongoing clinical trials and five Phase 3 programs. Gotistobart's success therefore provides validation for the company's immuno-oncology capabilities, while other ***** ets such as pumitamig and antibody-drug conjugates advance toward additional indications. BioNTech has identified 17+ late-stage or pivotal readouts through 2030+, creating the possibility that a successful gotistobart launch becomes the first major commercial proof point in its planned transition to a multi-product oncology company.

#biontech #survival

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)'s decision to rebrand its day-to-day identity as "Novo" and launch a cultural reset is primarily a strategic response to the company's loss of momentum in the obesity-drug market, rather than a financial restructuring in itself. Reuters reports that the company is trying to regain competitiveness as pressure from Eli Lilly intensifies. The move comes as Novo prepares to unveil new strategic ambitions at its September 21 Capital Markets Day, making the cultural reset potentially important if it leads to faster decision-making, stronger commercial execution and a more aggressive R&D approach.
The underlying business still has substantial scale to protect. Novo generated DKK 309.1 billion of 2025 sales and DKK 127.7 billion of operating profit, while obesity-care sales rose 31% at constant exchange rates to DKK 82.3 billion. However, the company also spent around DKK 8 billion on its transformation in 2025, and its diabetes value-market share fell 3.6 percentage points to 30.1%. The reset therefore comes at a critical point: Novo remains the global obesity-market leader, with a 59.6% branded-volume share in 2025, but Lilly is rapidly narrowing the competitive gap.
A successful cultural reset could improve Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)'s execution at a time when the company needs to convert its scientific and commercial ***** ets into faster growth. Reuters reported that CEO Mike Doustdar is already seeking to accelerate R&D and streamline decision-making following investor concerns about the pipeline and competition from Lilly. If the reorganization reduces internal bureaucracy and improves the speed of clinical, regulatory and commercial decisions, it could help Novo extract more value from its existing obesity portfolio while advancing next-generation treatments before the semaglutide patent cliff expected early next decade.
The company also has ***** ets that give a cultural and operational reset something concrete to build around. Wegovy was available in 52 countries by the end of 2025, while the company's higher-dose Wegovy achieved 20.7% weight loss in Phase 3 studies and its oral Wegovy achieved 16.6% weight loss. More recently, Wegovy received approval in China for MASH, expanding its potential beyond weight management and cardiovascular benefits into another large metabolic-disease market. If Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) can combine these products with better execution, the reset could support higher patient volumes and extend the commercial life of its GLP-1 franchise, helping defend revenue and cash flow despite pricing pressure.

#cultural #company #lilly

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM). The Fund exited its position in Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops and commercializes therapies for patients with serious and rare diseases, during the quarter. On September 15, 2026, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) closed at $119.92 per share. Over the past month, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) declined 7.49%, but its shares are down 16.51% over the past year. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) has a market capitalization of $26.19 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $90.39 and $212.75.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM)shares fell after sales of the biopharmaceutical company's new lung drug Brinsupri fell short of ******* ysts' expectations. We exited the position during the quarter. Insmed's thesis had largely played out following positive TPIP data and upward revisions to Brinsupri sales. We redeployed capital to Twist Bioscience, which offers a longer runway for growth."
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 88 hedge fund portfolios held Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 67 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#Growth

The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.

Top 5 Upgrades:
Wolfe Research upgraded Paychex (PAYX) to Peer Perform from Underperform without a price target. The firm sees reduced estimate risk for the company amid stable employment trends.
UBS upgraded Union Pacific (UNP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $339, up from $310. The firm says its **** ysis of key customer markets points to a second year of strong volume growth in 2027 for Union Pacific.
Needham upgraded Rocket Pharmaceuticals (RCKT) to Buy from Hold with a $9 price target after the FDA reaffirmed the pivotal study design for RP-A501 in Danon Disease, except for a recalibrated dose and prophylaxis.
Needham upgraded Similarweb (SMWB) to Buy from Hold with an $11 price target after meeting with management. Needham was encouraged by AI's potential to increase the value and consumption of Similarweb's data.

#needham #Research #union #pacific

By David French
NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The death toll in Pennsylvania's measles outbreak rose this weekend with a county coroner's ‌report of a woman's death from complications related to the ‌disease.
The coroner's office of western Pennsylvania's Jefferson County reported that a 40-year-old woman died on Saturday from complications ******* ociated with measles. The commonwealth has seen an outbreak of the highly-infectious disease, adding to a resurgence of measles in the United States as official data shows declining U.S. vaccination rates.
The coroner's office said it ‌was working with the Pennsylvania ⁠Department of Health.
"This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a ⁠serious and potentially life-threatening disease," Coroner Greg Furlong said in a statement posted on Facebook.

#county #outbreak #office

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) could be positioning itself for its next major phase of growth following its roughly $10 billion acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. The deal gives the company immediate exposure to the endocrinology market and provides a new commercial platform beyond its established cystic fibrosis franchise.
On September 3, Citigroup **** yst Geoff Meacham highlighted the strategic importance of the Crinetics acquisition, arguing it could diversify Vertex's business while complementing its existing cystic fibrosis franchise and newer businesses in renal disease, hematology, and pain.
Through the transaction, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) gains access to Palsonify (paltusotine), an oral treatment for acromegaly that has already received regulatory approval in Europe. Paltusotine is also in Phase 3 development for carcinoid syndrome **** ociated with neuroendocrine tumors.
Palsonify is particularly important because it provides an immediate commercial revenue opportunity, rather than requiring the company to wait several years for an entirely new drug to reach the market.
Early uptake of Palsonify has been encouraging, supported by expanding physician adoption and improving reimbursement coverage. If that momentum continues, the drug could become an important contributor to Vertex's revenue growth.

#palsonify

Toward the end of the lightning round on September 8, when a caller inquired about AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN), Mad Money host Jim Cramer commented:
Alright, now, AstraZeneca reminds me of a company, it's not unlike Novartis. I'm a little nervous about it. It's been missing some of its trials. I don't think COPD is enough to change my mind… I am not going to put my money on AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) maintains a solid financial foundation supported by steady top-line growth and disciplined cost management. In its second-quarter report, the company generated total revenue of $15.38 billion, marking a 6.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share reached $2.63, outperforming ****** yst consensus estimates.
The profitability was driven by strong global demand for core oncology and rare disease treatments, which successfully offset revenue headwinds from generic competition affecting older blockbusters like Farxiga and Brilinta. With a net margin hovering around 17.02% and management reiterating its full-year guidance for mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth along with low double-digit core EPS expansion, the core business continues to demonstrate commercial resilience.
The primary driver behind the skepticism could be based on tangible execution risks and regulatory hurdles that threaten AstraZeneca PLC's (NYSE:AZN) long-term top line. A significant blow to the rare disease division came when anselamimab failed to achieve statistical significance for the primary endpoint in the overall AL amyloidosis population in the Phase III CARES program, although AstraZeneca reported encouraging results in a prespecified subgroup of patients with kappa light-chain amyloidosis.

#management

Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) disclosed that pelacarsen failed the Phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON cardiovascular-outcomes trial conducted by Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS). The randomized, double-blind study enrolled 8,323 patients with elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), and established cardiovascular disease.
Pelacarsen lowered Lp(a), but the study did not meet its primary endpoint of reducing cardiovascular events compared with placebo in the overall population. The endpoint combined cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, nonfatal stroke, and urgent coronary revascularization requiring hospitalization. Complete results have not yet been presented.
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) provided Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) with $500 million in January 2023. The transaction allocated $150 million to pelacarsen royalties and $350 million to Spinraza royalties. The clinical failure shifts the financial focus from uncertain pelacarsen upside to recovery through Spinraza.
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) acquired 25% of the Spinraza royalties received by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) through 2027. That share increases to 45% in 2028 on Spinraza annual sales of up to $1.5 billion.
Following the HORIZON result, the Spinraza interest will revert after aggregate payments to Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) reach $550 million, equal to 1.1 times the original funding. Management expects the structure to recover the entire investment and generate a modest positive return despite the clinical failure.

#royalty #pharma #cardiovascular #horizon

Annual U.S. cancer deaths tied to alcohol consumption more than doubled over a three-decade period, according to a recent study led by researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health — Americas and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, revealed that alcohol-attributable cancer deaths jumped from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023.
Researchers ******* yzed more than 30 years of data from the Global Burden of Disease study to track the trends.
Beer, Wine Or Liquor? Massive Study Reveals Which Was Linked To Lower Death Risk
While alcohol has long been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, surveys show that awareness of its link to cancer remains limited.

#study

Luke Evans revealed that Tim Curry responded to his letter while the actor was seriously ill. Evans recalled Curry's response during a recent appearance. The actor also shared the last impact Curry had on his career.
Luke Evans reflected on his relationship with Tim Curry and shared how he responded to his letter shortly before his death.
During the Toronto International Film Festival, Luke Evans spoke to Entertainment Weekly and recalled Curry, saying, "He was very appreciative. I think he was very sick when he got the letter — he was struggling a lot — and I've spoken to his publisher since. He struggled to speak and talk, so I think he was really in a bad place, but what a legacy."
Evans shared that fellow actor Tim Curry responded to a heartfelt letter he sent to the actor shortly before Curry's death at the age of 80.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show star died of coronary artery disease. Curry also had a history of stroke and kidney cancer. These conditions were made public but were not the underlying cause of his death.

#LUKE #actor

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) is a leading animal-health diagnostics and technology company best known for providing veterinarians with diagnostic testing, laboratory services, software, and imaging solutions. Valued at a market cap of $45.7 billion, the company develops and supplies diagnostic instruments, test kits, software, and laboratory services that help veterinarians, farmers, and laboratories detect diseases and monitor animal health.
Companies worth between $10 billion and $200 billion are typically classified as "large-cap stocks," and IDXX fits the label perfectly. The company is widely recognized as a market leader in veterinary diagnostics, supported by strong brand recognition, a large installed base of diagnostic instruments across veterinary practices, and a recurring revenue model fueled by consumables and testing services. With its solutions used by veterinary practices in more than 175 countries, the company has built a strong global presence and a broad, highly recurring customer base.
'Not Tens Of Billions, But Tens Of Trillions': Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Is Like the New Electricity and the Scale Is Unlike Any Tech in History
What It Means for MSFT Stock Investors as Microsoft Switches to 2 Business Segments
RKLB Stock Jumps as Rocket Lab Debuts New Solar Cell for ******* e

#Services #Stock #laboratories

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the world's fastest-growing outbreak of the disease on record, has now spread to seven provinces in the African country, local authorities said. And it's showing no signs of slowing down.
According to the governor of the northwestern province of Sud-Ubangi, Jean-Rene Galekwa Vundawe, laboratory tests by Congo's national research institute found in a sample the Bundibugyo virus, the rare kind of Ebola that caused the current outbreak.
The statement, which was issued on Thursday and reported by local media outlets on Friday, said the sample was from the Bulu health district in Sud-Ubangi. It did not disclose other information about the source of the infection.
The development makes Sud-Ubangi the seventh province affected by the outbreak — and the first in western Congo — a worrisome spread west from what was previously concentrated in the country's east. A case was detected in Kinshasa in May in a person who had traveled from eastern Congo, but the Congolese capital was not classified as an affected province.
As of Wednesday, 6,942 cases and 3,349 deaths have been reported, according to the latest government figures.

#outbreak #local

On August 27, AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) and Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) scored a shared clinical victory. Positive high-level results from the Phase III CROSSING trial showed that their co-developed severe asthma drug, TEZSPIRE, achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements across both co-primary endpoints, histologic remission and the frequency/severity of dysphagia, and all key secondary endpoints at week 24 in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. These benefits were sustained through week 52 across both tested doses, accompanied by a safety profile consistent with its approved indications. While CROSSING highlights their joint R&D success, a closer look at their standalone financial performance reveals distinct growth trajectories.
Both pharmaceutical giants delivered solid Q2 2026 results, but AstraZeneca is showing stronger overall financial momentum. AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN)'s Q2 revenue increased 6% year over year to $15.38 billion, supported by its Oncology franchise, which grew 18% in H1 to $14.12 billion, and its Rare Disease portfolio, which increased 13%. Core EPS rose 21% to $2.63, beating expectations, while management reaffirmed its full-year 2026 outlook for mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit Core EPS growth.
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported Q2 revenue of $10.1 billion, up 10% year over year, while non-GAAP EPS increased 4% to $6.29. Although its key growth products advanced 26%, mature products faced significant biosimilar pressure, with Prolia revenue declining 32% and XGEVA falling 34%. Amgen nevertheless raised its 2026 revenue guidance midpoint to $39.4 billion.
Overall, AZN holds the financial edge due to stronger EPS growth, broader portfolio momentum, and less exposure to the biosimilar erosion affecting AMGN's mature products.
Amgen's bull case is supported by robust growth in key products, which increased 26%, and $3.5 billion in Q2 free cash flow, providing substantial capital flexibility. Wells Fargo raised its Amgen price target to $435 from $400 on September 4, citing potential upside from HORIZON and pipeline ****** ets such as olpasiran. New Phase III VESALIUS-CV data also showed Repatha reduced the risk of death by 20% in high-risk adults without a prior heart attack or stroke, with heart attack risk reductions emerging as early as six months. However, accelerating biosimilar competition affecting legacy franchises such as Prolia and XGEVA remains a key risk to sustained margin expansion.

#revenue #astrazeneca #increased #products

Interested in AbbVie Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
SKYRIZI and RINVOQ remain AbbVie's main growth drivers, with additional opportunities in inflammatory bowel disease, vitiligo, alopecia and hidradenitis suppurativa. The company expects a subcutaneous SKYRIZI induction approval for Crohn's disease in the fourth quarter and plans further combination-therapy data.
AbbVie is advancing a broad pipeline, including the BCMA-directed cancer therapy etentamig, which showed strong early multiple-myeloma results and could support a rapid regulatory filing. Neuroscience programs such as bretisilocin for depression are also expected to deliver additional data this year.
The company is taking a selective approach to acquisitions and partnerships, having invested about $20 billion in roughly 30 transactions while increasing annual R&D spending toward $10 billion. Management maintained its outlook for high-single-digit annual revenue growth through the decade.
Moderna Just Doubled Overnight, and 2 More Healthcare Stocks Could Follow It

#disease #company #Therapy

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record in eastern Congo is rapidly spreading beyond its epicenter, Africa's top health body said Thursday.
In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.
According to the latest government figures released on Thursday, 6,843 cases have been reported, including 3,310 deaths. Ituri province remains the hardest-hit province, with more than 5,400 cases while North Kivu has reported over 1,000 cases since the outbreak was declared in May.
The outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements. The situation is particularly concerning at displacement sites, where residents already live in extremely precarious conditions.
The World Health Organization has said the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

#outbreak #thursday #ituri

ALS has taken almost everything from Chris Johnson. But his kids, he writes, give him the strength to keep fighting.
Johnson, a Tennessee ****** ans franchise icon, wrote an open letter to his children via the Players' Tribune published on Thursday, Sept. 10. In the letter, Johnson described his journey from initial symptoms of the motor neuron disease to where he has ended up 18 months later.
The former ****** ans running back detailed how his first alarming symptoms presented: a water bottle feeling heavy on a road trip in March 2025. From there, Johnson said he met with multiple doctors before getting a possible diagnosis of ALS, and he recounted the fear he and his wife felt about the uncertain road ahead.
CHRIS JOHNSON: Former RB getting a top ****** ans' honor after ALS diagnosis
By the time he joined fellow former NFLer Michael Strahan on "Good Morning America" to publicly announce his ALS battle in June of this year, Johnson had lost the ability to speak.

#chris #symptoms #road #getting

Michael J. Fox is reflecting on his 35-year journey with Parkinson's disease after receiving major recognition for his advocacy work.
The 65-year-old actor was named a recipient of the prestigious Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award (often referred to as "America's ****** els") for his tireless efforts in funding medical research. Since launching the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, his organization has raised over $3 billion to find a cure for the neurodegenerative condition.
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"When we launched the Foundation, our goal was simple, yet ambitious — cure Parkinson's," Fox said in a statement following the announcement. "I am humbled to be recognized by the Lasker Foundation and jury. I accept this honor on behalf of everyone living with Parkinson's and everyone with us in our shared mission to end the disease."

#foundation

Biopharmaceutical leader Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals (KNSA) is approaching a new buy point in the wake of a strong quarterly sales report. That makes Kiniksa stock Thursday's pick for IBD 50 Growth Stocks To Watch from Investor's Business Daily.
Kiniksa develops and commercializes medicines for cardiovascular, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Its only drug, Arcalyst, treats recurrent pericarditis, a condition in which the sac protecting the heart, the pericardium, becomes inflamed. The risk of recurrence increases with each subsequent flare-up of pericarditis, according to the Arcalyst website.
The company expects to replace Arcalyst with a next-generation version, now called KPL-387, in 2028 or 2029.
While Arcalyst requires a weekly under-the-skin shot, KPL-387 is a monthly injection. KPL-387 sales are expected to start slow at $21.7 million in 2028, growing to $173.7 million, $486.3 million and $1.03 billion over the next three years.
During the second quarter, Arcalyst generated $243.6 million in sales, growing 55% year over year. That crushed estimates from FactSet that called for $227.7 million.

#next #biopharmaceutical

Harbor Funds, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Harbor Mid Cap Value Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Global equities experienced a sharp rally in Q2 2026, with the S&P 500 returning 15.2%, its strongest quarter since 2020, driven by a shift from software to hardware in the Artificial Intelligence capital spending cycle. Small caps outperformed large caps, with the Russell 2000® gaining 21.5% compared to the Russell 1000's 15.1%. Growth stocks led within large caps, while Information Technology rose about 33%, contributing significantly to the S&P 500's return. The Harbor Mid Cap Value Fund returned 13.99%, outperforming its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index. Strong stock selection in Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate, and Financials contributed positively, although an underweight in Information Technology negatively impacted results. Despite ongoing economic uncertainties, the investment philosophy remains committed to a disciplined value approach. Check the fund's top five holdings for its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Harbor Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) as a newly added position. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes medicines to treat various diseases. On September 04, 2026, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) closed at $827.72 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $85.21 billion. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) posted a one‑month return of 2.43%, while its shares gained 48.22% over the past 52 weeks.
Harbor Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We added to our position in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN), a biotech company in the Health Care sector. The stock ranks high on multiple cash flow and forecasted earnings measures — two of our most important measures of valuation. While the company pays a below-average dividend, Regeneron has been buying back stock, which we view positively. Price momentum over the past 12 months has been strong. In addition, several indicators of operating momentum also are attractive with improving operating margins and growth in sales. Overall, the stock ranks in the top 10% in our stock-ranking universe, which led to the second quarter purchase."
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 63 hedge fund portfolios held Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) at the end of the second quarter, down from 72 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalue

Let's be brutally honest, ladies. If someone had told us back in 1996 that Pamela Anderson - the slow-motion running, red-swimsuit-wearing, ultimate 90s bombshell - would one day become our leading philosophical guru for embracing midlife, we probably would have choked on our Diet ******* es. But here we are, fiercely navigating our own second acts, and surprisingly, it's Pam who is serving up exactly the kind of rebellious, bare-faced wisdom we didn't know we desperately needed.
Pamela Anderson keeps her makeup-free philosophy as she attends the amfAR Gala Venezia 2026 (@ Getty Images for amfAR)
Who can forget that Pamela was the poster girl for an impossible standard of hyper-glamorous beauty. With the heavy lip liner, bleach, and frosted eyeshadow, she really went for the more-is-more approach to beauty. But in more recent years? She has gloriously changed tack. She has stepped onto the world's most heavily photographed, judgmental red carpet arenas completely makeup-free (or minimally made-up sometimes). She lets her freckles shine, her fine lines show, and her natural skin breathe. And honestly, the collective sigh of relief from women over 50 could be heard from ******* e.
Pamela Anderson went for a more is more approach back in the nineties (@ WireImage)
Because let's face it: the 'anti-ageing' industry is downright exhausting. We are constantly bombarded with marketing campaigns telling us to freeze, fill, lift, and aggressively scrub away every single sign that we have actually had the audacity to live past our fortieth birthdays. It's a relentless, outrageously expensive treadmill. We are commanded to fight aging as if it's a disease, rather than the profound privilege it actually is.

#makeup #free #amfar

While all drugs sold to American consumers face a rigorous approval process, that's not the case when it comes to supplements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements, and while there are some limits to the claims that can be made by companies in this ******* e, there's a fair amount of latitude.
"The manufacturer must have substantiation that the claim is truthful and not misleading and must submit a notification with the text of the claim to FDA no later than 30 days after marketing the dietary supplement with the claim. If a dietary supplement label includes such a claim, it must state in a 'disclaimer' that FDA has not evaluated the claim," according to the FDA website.
Supplement makers can make certain structure/function claims without FDA preapproval, as long as they have substantiation that the claims are truthful and not misleading, and that they meet the agency's other requirements.
"The disclaimer must also state that the dietary supplement product is not intended to 'diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,' because only a drug can legally make such a claim," the federal agency shared.
It's a legal grey area that allows supplements to advertise that they can help with fitness, hair growth, sleep, and your ability to focus.

#claims #dietary

On August 5, Vaxcyte (NASDAQ:PCVX) reported second-quarter results that read less like a snapshot of today and more like a countdown to a verdict. The clinical-stage vaccine maker has no product on the market yet, but its three late-stage trials for its lead pneumococcal candidate are now fully enrolled, with the first major readout due before year-end. Add a net loss that nearly doubled and a boardroom that just brought in two vaccine-industry veterans, and you have a company betting its near-term story on data still to come.
Vaxcyte's three Phase 3 studies of VAX-31, its next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, have dosed 6,191 adults combined, with roughly 3,500 of them receiving the actual candidate. The largest, OPUS-1, put 4,049 participants through head-to-head comparisons against Prevnar 20 and Capvaxive, the two shots VAX-31 needs to beat to earn a spot in the standard vaccination schedule. Data on safety, tolerability, and immune response from that trial are due in the fourth quarter of 2026, with results from OPUS-2 and OPUS-3 following in the first half of 2027.
A separate Phase 2 study testing VAX-31 in infants, covering both the primary immunization series and a booster dose, is on a similar timeline. In June, Vaxcyte also dosed the first participants in a Phase 1 study of VAX-A1, aimed at preventing disease from Group A Streptococcus, with topline data expected in the second half of 2027. As of June 30, cash and investments stood at $2.5 billion, up from $2.44 billion at the end of 2025, and the board added Dr. Moncef Slaoui, previously chief scientific advisor to Operation Warp Speed and a three-decade GSK veteran, alongside Dr. John Markels, the former president of Merck's global vaccines business.
None of that pipeline progress comes cheap. Vaxcyte's net loss for the quarter ended June 30 was $284.3 million, up from $166.6 million in the same period a year earlier, and the increase shows up on both sides of the ledger. R&D spending rose to $267.9 million from $194.2 million, driven by manufacturing work to prepare for a possible launch and by the cost of running three simultaneous Phase 3 trials at once. G&A expenses climbed too, to $34.9 million from $32 million, largely from adding headcount.
Because Vaxcyte has no approved product generating sales, every one of those dollars comes straight off the balance sheet. The calendar adds pressure of its own: even a clean OPUS-1 readout in the fourth quarter of 2026 still leaves the OPUS-2 and OPUS-3 results, plus a required manufacturing consistency study, sitting in the first half of 2027, pushing any license application and launch well beyond that. The newer VAX-A1 program is earlier still, with its second stage contingent on a safety board signing off on the first.

#phase

On August 5, OraSure Technologies (NASDAQ:OSUR) reported second-quarter 2026 results that included its first GAAP net income in years, a headline number of $6.2 million versus a $19.7 million loss a year earlier. Revenue of $30.6 million beat the company's own guidance range and climbed 9.7% from the prior quarter. But look past the top line and the story splits in two, one part driven by real operating progress, the other by an accounting adjustment tied to a regulatory setback.
Some of this quarter's improvement came from actual operations. Gross margin expanded to 43.5% on a GAAP basis, up from 42.1% a year earlier, and non-GAAP gross margin rose to 44.2% from 43.2%. Diagnostics revenue grew 1% year over year to $19.4 million, helped by higher syphilis test sales and the addition of BioMedomics' Sickle SCAN product line. OraSure also picked up two regulatory wins during the quarter. In June 2026, the FDA cleared its Colli-Pee Dx urine collection kit for use with Roche's **** ually transmitted infection tests, letting patients collect samples at home instead of in a clinic.
The following month, the FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for the second-generation OraQuick Ebola 2.0 Rapid Antigen Test, which can detect all four Ebola virus strains known to cause disease in humans. Cash used in operating activities improved to $23.8 million over the first six months of 2026, down from $30 million a year earlier, a sign the cash burn is easing. The company also kept buying back stock, repurchasing $22 million of shares, or 7.7 million shares, against its $40 million authorization, retiring more than 10% of shares outstanding.
The GAAP profit that headlines this quarter didn't come from the business getting more profitable. It came almost entirely from a $22.6 million reduction in a contingent consideration liability, an accounting entry triggered when OraSure updated its regulatory submission plan for the CT/NG test on its Sherlock platform. Strip that adjustment out and the underlying trend looks different. Non-GAAP operating loss widened to $14.7 million from $13.2 million a year earlier, and non-GAAP net loss came in at $13.8 million, roughly in line with last year's $14.2 million loss. The regulatory event behind that accounting gain is itself a setback.
In July, OraSure withdrew its InteliQuick CT/NG molecular self-test submission after receiving FDA feedback, meaning the product's path to market is now delayed while the company prepares a future resubmission. Total revenue for the quarter was still down 2% year over year, and core revenue, which excludes COVID-19 and Risk **** sment Testing, was flat. Six-month revenue fell 4% to $58.6 million. Sample Management Solutions revenue stayed flat year over year at $9.9 million, showing no growth driver of its own. Cash and equivalents fell to $161 million at quarter-end from $199.3 million at the end of 2025, pulled down by continued buybacks and cash used in operations.

#year #gaap #reven