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Tag Archive for: (NVS)

april@madhedgefundtrader.com

August 29, 2024

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
August 29, 2024
Fiat Lux

 

Featured Trade:

(ONE TEST TO RULE THEM ALL)

(ILMN), (BAYRY), (LLY), (MRK), (BMY), (AZN), (RHHBY), (NVS), (GH), (TEM), (TMO)

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-08-29 12:02:022024-08-29 12:16:30August 29, 2024
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

One Test To Rule Them All

Biotech Letter

“One test to rule them all, one test to find them, one test to bring them all, and in the lab bind them,” the scientists at Illumina (ILMN) whispered – probably.

Their latest creation just got the FDA nod, and it's set to turn the world of cancer diagnostics on its head. It's as if Gandalf himself handed oncologists a palantír that reveals tumors' deepest secrets.

For those less versed in Middle-earth lore, this is like inventing a universal remote for tumor profiling, and oncologists can't wait to start channel surfing.

Now, you might be thinking, "What's the big deal?" Well, let me break it down for you.

This test, called TruSight Oncology Comprehensive (TSO for short), is the first FDA-approved genomic in vitro diagnostic kit that can make pan-cancer companion diagnostic claims.

In plain English, that means it's a single test that can be used across multiple cancer types. We're talking about a game-changer in precision oncology here.

Let's get into the nitty-gritty. This TSO test is a beast. It screens for a whopping 517 genes and provides comprehensive information on tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI).

These are crucial biomarkers that help determine how a patient might respond to immunotherapies. The breadth of data this single FDA-approved test can collect is unprecedented.

Now, you might be wondering, "Haven't we had companion diagnostics before?" Sure, but they've typically been limited to specific drugs or cancer types.

This pan-cancer test from Illumina is different. It can be applied to a wider range of solid tumors, and let me tell you, oncologists are loving it.

In fact, about 39% of U.S. oncologists have already said they strongly prefer using multi-gene panels over single-gene tests for guiding treatment decisions. That's a clear signal that there's demand for comprehensive diagnostic solutions like TSO.

Illumina's been busy across the pond, too. A version of this test has been available in Europe since 2022. But the U.S. version's got some new tricks up its sleeve.

It can help identify patients who might benefit from specific immunotherapies, including Bayer's (BAYRY) Vitrakvi and Eli Lilly's (LLY) Retevmo. The latter is a new addition compared to the EU version of the test.

Let's talk about these therapies for a second. Vitrakvi is used for adult and pediatric patients with certain NTRK mutations, regardless of their type of cancer. That's pretty cool, right?

But here's the kicker - these NTRK gene fusions are only found in about 0.1% to 0.3% of solid tumors, and they're tough to detect.

TSO's ability to scan both RNA and DNA means it can find multiple forms of this biomarker. That's a big deal for companies like Bayer, who've sometimes struggled to find eligible patients for this targeted therapy.

But Illumina's not resting on its laurels. They've got a growing pipeline of companion diagnostic claims in development, working hand in hand with drugmakers. They're planning to seek these in future regulatory submissions.

You see, Illumina's been playing the long game, forging partnerships with big pharma to co-develop companion diagnostics that align with targeted therapies.

Take their 2019 partnership with Merck (MRK), for instance. They teamed up to develop and commercialize a companion diagnostic using Illumina's TruSight Oncology 500 assay.

The goal? To identify genetic mutations in cancer patients that would respond to Merck's cancer drugs like Keytruda. This partnership boosted the adoption of Illumina's NGS platform in clinical oncology settings, contributing to both companies' growth.

The market liked what it saw at the time. Illumina's stock got a nice bump following the partnership announcement. And why wouldn't it?

The deal strengthened Illumina's position in the oncology diagnostics market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2023 to 2030.

But Merck's not the only dance partner Illumina's got. They've also teamed up with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) to use their TSO 500 assay as a companion diagnostic for immuno-oncology therapies.

This collaboration expanded Illumina's reach into new oncology applications, allowing BMY to use the TSO platform to identify patients most likely to benefit from its immune checkpoint inhibitors.

And there's more - Illumina's also forged partnerships with AstraZeneca (AZN), Roche (RHHBY), and Novartis (NVS) to develop companion diagnostic tests.

Next, let's talk numbers. Each new FDA-approved indication could potentially add $100 million to $200 million annually to Illumina's revenue. That's no chump change.

Unsurprisingly, Illumina's not the only player in this game.

Companies like Foundation Medicine (a Roche subsidiary), Guardant Health (GH), Tempus (TEM), Caris Life Sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), and GRAIL (another Illumina subsidiary) are all working towards pan-cancer or multi-cancer diagnostics.

Still, Illumina's TSO test is the first to secure FDA approval for pan-cancer companion diagnostic claims. This lead could translate into a significant market advantage.

Actually, Illumina already holds more than 70% market share in the global NGS market as of 2022. This means it’s well-positioned to benefit from this growth, and this latest FDA approval could further consolidate its market dominance.

Speaking of the FDA, they’ve been busy too. They've ramped up their support for precision medicine in recent years, approving a growing number of companion diagnostics and genomic tests.

From 2017 to 2021, they approved over 25 new companion diagnostics, a significant increase from the 5-10 approvals per year in the early 2010s. And a substantial portion of these approvals has been for oncology-related tests.

In 2021 alone, 68% of the FDA's new drug approvals were for cancer treatments.

Now, let's zoom out and look at the bigger picture. According to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2020.

The global cancer burden is expected to rise to 28.4 million cases by 2040, a 47% increase from 2020.

In the U.S., about 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2023.

The economic impact is also staggering. The economic burden of cancer in the U.S. was estimated at $157 billion in 2020, and it's projected to increase to over $246 billion by 2030.

These numbers stress the growing need for early detection and personalized treatment solutions.

But, unlike other companies, here's where advanced diagnostics like Illumina's TSO can make a difference. By ensuring patients receive the most effective treatments based on their genetic profiles, these tests can reduce unnecessary treatments and improve outcomes.

Studies have shown that using precision diagnostics can lower overall healthcare costs by 15% to 20% by avoiding ineffective therapies and hospitalizations.

Essentially, what we're seeing here is more than just a new test. It's a glimpse into the future of cancer treatment - more precise, more personalized, and potentially more effective.

For patients, it could mean better outcomes. For healthcare systems, it could mean more efficient use of resources. And for us? Well, it could mean significant opportunities in a rapidly growing market.

As Gandalf might say, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Illumina's chosen to use their time crafting this powerful new tool.

The quest to conquer cancer continues, and Illumina’s TSO might just be the ring-bearer we've been waiting for.

Keep your eyes peeled, fellow adventurers. The journey into precision oncology is only just beginning, and it promises to be an epic saga indeed.

 

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-08-29 12:00:362024-08-29 12:16:19One Test To Rule Them All
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

June 18, 2024

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
June 18, 2024
Fiat Lux

 

Featured Trade:

(PHARMAGEDDON AVERTED)

(ILMN), (NVTAQ), (NTRA), (GH), (EXAS), (TMO), (QGEN), (NVS), (RHHBY), (AZN), (CRSP), (EDIT), (FATE)

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-06-18 12:02:502024-06-18 12:20:07June 18, 2024
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

Pharmageddon Averted

Biotech Letter

For far too long, we've been playing a dangerous game of biotech roulette - throwing our hard-earned dough at stocks solely based on who's peddling the latest drugs and vaccines to the biggest crowds.

We tiptoe around those dreaded "patent cliffs", living in fear of the moment our cash cows turn into generic, discount-bin duds overnight.

As I've loudly proclaimed before, Big Pharma is fundamentally a tightrope act - milking those lucrative exclusives for all they're worth while bracing for the inevitable day those monopolies go kaput.

It's an anxiety-inducing cycle, one that's been running the show for decades.

But enough is enough. It's high time we tossed that musty old playbook straight into the trash. Why? Because the reign of Pharma's legacy model is fading faster than my hairline.

A new revolutionary force is taking over – personalized medicine.

Don't kid yourselves, this tectonic shift is the real deal. We're witnessing a paradigm upheaval in how drugs are developed and treatments are administered.

Advanced, genetically-tailored therapies are muscling their way to the frontlines, employing each patient's unique DNA blueprint to craft bespoke care strategies like never before.

Leading this charge are gene sequencing pioneers like Illumina (ILMN), equipping healthcare with bleeding-edge tech for genetic profiling and research.

Companies like Invitae (NVTAQ) and Natera (NTRA) are making genetic intel accessible and actionable for diagnosing and treating inherited nightmares like cancer and heart disease. This isn't a drill, people. It’s the new reality.

But the innovation train doesn't stop there. Guardant Health (GH) is upping the ante with its non-invasive blood tests that capture tumor genetic data, allowing physicians to map treatment plans without those pesky, invasive procedures.

And let's hear it for Exact Sciences (EXAS), championing molecular diagnostics to laser-focus cancer regimens based on each person's biological fingerprint.

Speaking of cancer, we'd be remiss not to spotlight the game-changing progress happening on the personalized medicine front.

At the latest American Society of Clinical Oncology shindig, the best oncology minds showcased their latest advancements in tailored treatments.

Get this – over the last four years, over a third of the FDA's new drug approvals were personalized meds. With the White House doubling down, those numbers are only going up.

Obviously, personalized medicine is this century's gold rush. In fact, a global biopharma race is already underway, and everyone’s practically frothing at the mouth.

After all, this half-trillion-dollar market is barreling towards the $1 trillion mark by 2031.

And in this blossoming field, outfits like Thermo Fisher (TMO) and Qiagen (QGEN) are indispensable, provisioning crucial tools and services.

Thermo covers the full genetic research and diagnostics gamut, while Qiagen specializes in sample prep and molecular testing – two linchpins for delivering personalized therapies.

But it's not just the upstart trailblazers making waves. Biotech titans like Novartis (NVS), Roche (RHHBY), and AstraZeneca (AZN) are going knees-deep into advanced, commercially-viable personalized treatments – especially in oncology, where understanding Individual genetic mutations can literally mean life or death.

Let's pour one out for the real pioneers here, too – groundbreakers like CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Editas Medicine (EDIT), and Fate Therapeutics (FATE).

These mavericks are lighting up the gene editing and cell therapy arenas, hand-crafting hyper-personalized treatments that smite genetic diseases at the source.

Now, for those of you eagerly wondering where to splash your investment cash, I suggest you don't fall into the trap of banking solely on the next patented "winner" therapy.

Those old-school patent monopolies that once ruled the roost? Their significance is waning rapidly.

With the flurry of personalization tech out there, it's a Wild West – one company churns out a new treatment, another can swiftly follow suit.

Patent feuds and skyrocketing costs loom on the horizon like storm clouds. The gravy train of eternal patent profits is running out of steam.

But make no mistake, this arms race isn't cooling off anytime soon. The battleground's scope is simply shifting. It's no longer just about formulating the latest miracle drug – it's about delivering unbeatable services and customer experiences.

Because here's the cold hard truth – the biggest roadblock to getting these revolutionary therapies to patients is obtaining all the genetic data and personal insights needed to make it happen.

Healthcare providers are going to need to invest heavily in new data management systems, training, and education just to keep pace with these rapidly evolving personalized meds.

The pharma players that thrive? They're the ones going beyond prioritizing drug development to obsessing over best-in-class customer service and care delivery.

They'll cement customer loyalty, forge lasting partnerships – and in doing so, actualize personalized medicine's boundary-shattering promise. Those are the winners I'm betting big on.

So wake up and smell the coff-gene. The personalized biotech goldrush is kicking into high gear.

And those wise enough to stake an early claim? Well, let's just say they'll be dishing out more than genetics-guided therapy – they'll be minting a new generation of biotech fortunes.

 

 

 

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-06-18 12:00:312024-06-18 12:19:56Pharmageddon Averted
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

May 28, 2024

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
May 28, 2024
Fiat Lux

 

Featured Trade:

(GET YOUR GEIGER COUNTERS READY)

(NVS), (LLY), (BMY), (AZN)

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-05-28 12:02:552024-05-28 12:00:05May 28, 2024
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

Get Your Geiger Counters Ready

Biotech Letter

Hang on to your Geiger counters because we're about to dive deep into the world of radiopharmaceutical therapy. I bet even Marie Curie would be impressed by the mind-blowing leaps we've made since her ground-shattering discoveries a century ago.

Now, don't get me wrong, she's a tough act to follow. But the big guns in pharma have taken up the challenge, piling up billions on the roulette table of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy.

And from where I'm sitting, the odds are looking pretty darn exciting.

Just picture the scene: Radiation that directly takes the fight to those nasty tumor cells, like a microscopic missile strike that zaps cancer cells while ignoring the innocent bystanders.

How? By hitching a radioactive particle to a targeting molecule - think Uber, but for cancer therapy.

This healthcare game-changer, dubbed radiopharmaceutical therapy is projected to become a whopping $25 billion goldmine.

Forget the clunky radiation therapy your grandparents endured – this is precision, it's innovation, and it could potentially enrich your investment portfolio.

Actually, everyone seems to be piling into the radiopharma race. Experts say we're merely at the start line and these next-gen technologies could bring a windfall.

Evidence? The recent flurry of acquisitions, with no less than four deals being sealed just these past months.

Now, let's put some names to this game.

Novartis (NVS) is leading the pack with two radiopharmaceutical showstoppers under its belt. With their drugs Pluvicto and Lutathera, they're forecasted to rake in a whopping $5 billion by 2028 – that's more zeros than I can count on two hands.

Not just resting on their pile of success, they've scooped up Mariana Oncology in a $1 billion deal. This strategic move solidifies Novartis' dominion in the radiopharmaceutical arena – and you can quote me on that.

Inspired by Novartis' success, other pharmaceutical titans are catching the FOMO fever.

Eli Lilly (LLY), for instance, handed over $1.4 billion to acquire Point Biopharma and its promising radiation drug, PNT2002.

The investors’ darling this year with a near 38% surge in stock price (thanks to the overwhelming success of its obesity drugs), Eli Lilly is set to maintain its upward trajectory by venturing into the radiopharmaceutical space.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) isn't about to be left out of the radiopharmaceutical race either.

They ponied up a cool $4.1 billion for RayzeBio, snagging a promising pipeline of treatments. One standout is RYZ101, a late-stage targeted radiopharma therapy already making waves in trials for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and small-cell lung cancer.

This acquisition followed closely on the heels of their $14 billion buyout of schizophrenia drug developer Karuna Therapeutics. Clearly, they’re feeling the heat as patents on some of their older cash cows are set to expire.

So, sure, BMY’s stock has been a bit sluggish lately, but this radiopharmaceutical gamble could be the shot in the arm they need.

And the acquisition spree doesn't stop there. AstraZeneca (AZN) also dove headfirst into the radiopharmaceutical pool, shelling out $2.4 billion for Fusion Pharmaceuticals in March.

Fusion's pipeline, including their Phase 2 candidate FPI-2265 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, adds another potential blockbuster to the mix.

Meanwhile, several biopharma companies are still standing tall, catching the eye of investors.

In fact, the venture capital poured into radiopharmaceutical drugs surged to $518 million last year, a cool 722% increase from 2017.

The race isn't slowing down anytime soon either. Researchers are exploring the use of radiopharmaceuticals alongside other treatments like immunotherapy, and even envision a future where this technology could be applied to any cancer, including ovarian, breast, or brain tumors.

And with only two products currently in the market, the potential for growth in targeted radiotherapies seems almost infinite.

So, I'll say it one more time – get your Geiger counters ready. The radiopharmaceutical revolution is just getting started, ladies and gentlemen. It’s time to zero in on this hotbed of innovation and watch your investments go nuclear.

 

 

 

 

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-05-28 12:00:522024-05-28 11:59:05Get Your Geiger Counters Ready
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

April 4, 2024

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
April 4, 2024
Fiat Lux

 

Featured Trade:

(A HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD BIOTECH)

(VYGR), (SNY), (ABBV), (NBIX), (NVS), (AZN), (SGMO), (BIIB), (RHHBY), (IONS)

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-04-04 12:02:172024-04-04 12:29:48April 4, 2024
april@madhedgefundtrader.com

A High Risk, High Reward Biotech

Biotech Letter

Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR) has put investors through the wringer. Since going public in 2015, their chips have swung wildly, from a high-rolling $30 down to a "you've got to be kidding me" $2.50. Why? Well, their early bet on curing neurological diseases hit some snags.

But, things seem to be turning around for them these days. Word on the street is Voyager's new Alzheimer's drug could be a total game-changer. If those clinical trials get the FDA's blessing, their stock could skyrocket from its current $9.30 to $22 a share.

Before anything else, let's take a stroll down memory lane.

Voyager started out with big dreams – using fancy gene therapies to tackle tough brain diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's.  Sadly, those early programs didn't quite deliver.

But hey, they caught the eye of some big pharma players. Sanofi (SNY) came knocking with a sweet deal – $100 million upfront and promises of up to $745 million if things worked out. Unfortunately, the science wasn't cooperating, and Sanofi bailed in 2019. Ouch.

Not to be discouraged, Voyager hooked another giant, AbbVie (ABBV), with a $1.2 billion deal for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drugs. But then, more bad luck – their Parkinson's drug stumbled, and their Huntington's disease trials got put on hold. So, AbbVie decided to cut their losses in 2020.  Double ouch.

And while the pandemic may have cured our boredom, it killed investor patience with unproven biotechs. Voyager's stock price cratered, leaving them worth about as much as a used napkin – barely more than their own $500 million cash pile.

But Voyager, bless their stubborn hearts, refused to become a biotech graveyard. 

Despite having zero products actually making money, they have a secret weapon: their TRACER capsid tech. Think of it as a tiny Trojan Horse that can sneak drugs past that blood-brain barrier and deliver them directly to their target. Pretty impressive, right?

This tech, along with Voyager's brainpower, caught the eye of some pharma giants. 

We're talking big names like Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX), Novartis (NVS), AstraZeneca (AZN), and Sangamo (SGMO). If everything goes according to plan, these partnerships could be worth a whopping $8 billion. Now that's what I call a vote of confidence — or maybe just a collective case of gambling fever.

For Voyager, however, its biggest gamble is on Alzheimer's – and they're going all-in.  Their star player is an antibody that tackles those nasty tau tangles that mess up brain cells.

Here’s a bit of context to understand why treatments for this are crucial.

Tau is like the scaffolding inside your neurons, keeping everything organized. But in Alzheimer's, that tau goes rogue, clumping into nasty tangles. Think of it like a giant hairball clogging up the brain's communication system. These tangles are called neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) if you want to sound super smart.

This is something that Big Pharma like Biogen (BIIB), AbbVie, and Roche (RHHBY) are trying to target, too. But Voyager claims theirs is a precision weapon, zeroing in on just the bad stuff. If clinical trials prove that, their drug could blow the competition out of the water.

Plus, Voyager's got another trick up their sleeve: a gene therapy that hits the “off” switch on those tau tangles. They've shown it works in animals, and Biogen and Ionis (IONS) are already testing something similar in humans. But Voyager's got the edge – theirs is a one-time shot, so no more of those painful spinal taps.

That’s not all. Voyager is also tinkering with these new virus capsules that can sneak gene therapies straight into brain cells. And get this – they're even working on ways to ditch the viruses altogether and target nerves directly. Pretty cutting-edge stuff.

So, is Voyager a surefire win? Heck no.

Let's be realistic. It's going to be a while before Voyager actually makes money from these drugs. But there'll be exciting news along the way—science proving their ideas work.

Remember, the tricky thing with gene therapies is that everyone's chasing the same dream: how to get these treatments where they need to go quickly, cheaply, and safely.  It's tough to predict who'll crack the code, even for the experts.

What's noteworthy about Voyager is that they keep reeling in those big pharma partners. Sure, the first two deals fizzled out, but not before Voyager pocketed a ton of cash.  That kept them afloat, and now their stock's not such a dumpster fire.

But, let’s face it. Voyager's track record isn't exactly a parade of victories. Progress has been slow, and that's just the way it is in this industry.

If they pull off a miracle cure, they'll be worth billions, maybe tens of billions. Remember when Intellia Therapeutics (INTL) hit that $10 billion mark? That's the kind of payoff we're talkin' about.

Still, Voyager needs to deliver some serious wins, or those partners will vanish again. However, it’s worth considering that when a big player like Novartis, who knows this gene therapy game, partners up... that's gotta mean something, right? Even without results from human trials, it's a sign Voyager might be onto something big.

I know it's hard to justify investing in small biotechs with a losing streak, especially when they're tackling the toughest diseases out there. But after digging into Voyager, I can see its potential.

Worst case scenario? Their drugs flop. But that can happen to any biotech, even those with huge valuations and decades of trying.

As for Voyager, this biotech has been around the block. They've clearly got some promising science, and their stock is cheap.  For me, that's enough to take a small position and see what happens.

 

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april@madhedgefundtrader.com

January 23, 2024

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
January 23, 2024
Fiat Lux

Featured Trade:

(PHARMA'S AI PLAY: A MASTERSTROKE OR MISFIRE?)

(AZN), (ILMN), (NVDA), (SDGR), (EXAI), (SNY), (BAIVF), (SNY), (GOOGL), (PFE), (IBM), (NVS), (BAYR), (RHHBY), (VRTX), (JNJ)

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april@madhedgefundtrader.com

Pharma's AI Play: A Masterstroke or Misfire?

Biotech Letter

Faced with an aging blockbuster pipeline and a competitive landscape where some of its rivals are sprinting ahead, AstraZeneca (AZN) is making a bold move - doubling down on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This isn't just about keeping up with the Joneses (or in this case, their industry rivals); it's a calculated gamble with the potential to redefine drug discovery. The million-dollar question is: will this tech-savvy move send its shares soaring or just keep it in the running?

Let's address the elephants in the room of drug development. It's a long and winding road, with more dead ends than a maze in a horror movie. The usual grind? Spend ages finding a glimmer of hope in therapy targets and molecules, only for a paltry 21% to get the regulatory thumbs up after clinical trials.

So, you can bet your bottom dollar that if there’s a technology promising to up those odds and speed things up, companies will be jumping on the bandwagon faster than you can say "biotech boom."

And AstraZeneca? They are fully committing to AI, making significant waves in the field.

Case in point: their recent team-up with Absci, an AI drug discovery outfit. They're talking about developing a cancer-fighting antibody, with a potential payout of up to $247 million in milestone payments. If this pans out, it could be the first of many high-fives between the two.

But AstraZeneca's history with AI extends beyond this collaboration. Last September, they put up to $840 million on the line with Verge Genomics, aiming to tackle neurodegenerative diseases.

Add to that their work with Illumina (ILMN) and Nvidia (NVDA) in 2021 for some supercomputing firepower, and you've got a company that's serious about its AI game. They’ve even got a couple of AI-bred candidates in their pipeline, though it’s hush-hush on how those are faring.

And before you think it’s all about the new kids on the block, AstraZeneca has been rubbing elbows with Schrodinger (SDGR) since before 2020, working on making their biological medicine modeling sharper than a tack.

However, AstraZeneca is far from being the lone ranger in this new frontier.

Exscientia (EXAI) and Sanofi (SNY) are pairing up to take on COPD with an AI-driven approach. Meanwhile, BenevolentAI (BAIVF) played matchmaker between baricitinib and its new role as a COVID-19 treatment contender.

Over at Google’s (GOOGL) DeepMind, they’ve cooked up AlphaFold, an AI program adept at unraveling protein structures – a feat that’s akin to finding a map to hidden treasure in drug design.

And let's not forget the big guns. Pfizer (PFE) has teamed up with IBM’s (IBM) AI and supercomputing prowess, a partnership that’s been pivotal in accelerating the development of COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid.

Novartis (NVS) is another key player, wielding AI to shave years off its drug development timeline, a strategy that could redefine the pace of pharmaceutical innovation.

Not to be outdone, Roche (RHHBY) is utilizing AI for a spectrum of tasks, from target identification to the virtual screening of molecules, illustrating the technology’s versatility in the drug discovery process.

Bayer (BAYRY) is also making a significant bet on AI to uncover new therapies, focusing on areas like immuno-oncology and cardiovascular diseases, areas with immense potential for groundbreaking treatments.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) are part of this evolving landscape as well, leveraging AI to enhance various stages of drug development. Their involvement underscores the widespread adoption of AI across different phases of the pharmaceutical process, from initial research to clinical trials.

Now, let’s go back to AstraZeneca. Best-case scenario? They cut their R&D budget, which was a cool $9.8 billion in 2022 while keeping the pedal to the metal on their clinical trials.

Worst case? Their AI bets don't pay off big time. But let's be real, with AI tech moving faster than a New York minute, that's looking less and less likely.

So, should you invest in AstraZeneca stocks right now? Not so fast. Jumping on the AI bandwagon isn't a golden ticket on its own.

Remember, everyone and their mother in big pharma is chasing the same AI dream. For now, it’s a case of watch, wait, and see how this fusion of AI and pharmaceuticals reshapes the landscape of drug discovery and development. Keep your ears to the ground – this is one race you don't want to miss.

 

https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png 0 0 april@madhedgefundtrader.com https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png april@madhedgefundtrader.com2024-01-23 12:00:332024-01-23 11:15:28Pharma's AI Play: A Masterstroke or Misfire?
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