Stocks · News reference
Kalshi is expanding into biotech with contracts on FDA drug approvals from Sanofi and Gilead, as critics warn the wagers invite insider trading.
Reference Details
Poisar stores the source's headline, summary and market tags for reference. Reporting and full article text remain with the original publisher.
Keep reading
Fidelity's FHLC and Invesco's IBBQ offer different healthcare investment strategies. FHLC provides broad exposure to 365 healthcare holdings with a lower 0.08% expense ratio and 1.2% dividend yield, while IBBQ focuses on biotech with higher volatility, delivering 56.4% 1-year returns but experiencing a 37.9% maximum drawdown. The choice depends on investor risk tolerance and diversification preferences.
AstraZeneca's stock has fallen 19.5% in six months due to several clinical and pipeline setbacks, including failed studies for Wainua and Ultomiris, and FDA delays for camizestrant. However, the company maintains solid fundamentals with 16 blockbuster drugs, 15% oncology sales growth, and targets $80 billion in revenues by 2030 with 20 new medicines planned. Despite headwinds from patent expirations and China market uncertainties, analysts recommend staying invested given growth prospects.
Eli Lilly announced its 10th acquisition of 2026, agreeing to acquire Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion to strengthen its immunology pipeline. The company is strategically diversifying its portfolio across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and vaccines to reduce reliance on GLP-1 medicines (Mounjaro and Zepbound), which currently account for 65% of revenues. Other major pharma companies including Merck, Gilead Sciences, and AbbVie are also pursuing significant M&A deals to expand pipelines and enter new therapeutic areas.
Gilead Sciences received FDA approval for Bixlenvo, a once-daily single-tablet HIV regimen for virologically suppressed adults unable to take current treatments. The company raised its 2026 HIV sales growth outlook to 9-10%, driven by flagship drugs Biktarvy, Descovy, and the rapidly growing Yeztugo injectable PrEP. Bixlenvo and Gilead's expanding lenacapavir pipeline offer additional growth opportunities in HIV treatment and prevention.
Moderna secured FDA approval for mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine, establishing a foothold in the multibillion-dollar flu vaccine market. However, GSK announced plans to advance its own mRNA flu vaccine into phase III trials, which targets two viral proteins (HA and NA) and showed superior immune responses in phase II studies. While GSK's vaccine is still years away from market approval, it could pose a competitive challenge to Moderna's mFlusiva, which currently targets only HA like traditional flu vaccines.
Eli Lilly announced a definitive agreement to acquire clinical-stage biotech Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in an all-cash transaction. The deal adds MER511 for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease, along with preclinical candidates for allergy and kidney disease. This acquisition marks Lilly's 10th major deal in 2026 as the company diversifies its pipeline beyond cardiometabolic medicines, leveraging strong cash generation from its blockbuster GLP-1 drugs.