The latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0900 ET - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy weight-loss pill continues to perform strongly and SB1 Markets thinks the company currently has a clear lead in oral treatments for obesity, while Eli Lilly has a corresponding lead in injectable treatments. At the recent American Diabetes Association conference, Novo Nordisk confirmed that oral Wegovy has generated 3 million prescriptions since launch. "A full 82% of prescribers are new to weight management, which in our opinion shows that the oral treatment is helping to expand the market." The conference also highlighted several new studies that indirectly strengthen support for GLP-1 treatments in weight management, which might facilitate access to treatment in markets where insurance companies and authorities have so far been more restrictive, such as Sweden, SB1 Markets says. Shares fall 1% to 280.20 Danish kroner. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)
0608 ET - AstraZeneca's biopharma unit has several drugs in late-stage development that could deliver multibillion-dollar annual sales and have a high probability of hitting targets, Bank of America analysts say in a note. While the U.K. drugmaker's success in recent years has been driven by oncology, its biopharma business is due to provide updates on key products over the next year and a half that could unlock significant sales opportunities, the analysts say. Bank of America sees five drugs in AstraZeneca's biopharma pipeline that could generate up to $5 billion in annual peak sales each--Wainua, tozorakimab, laroprovstat and two follow-on products to its blockbuster cardiovascular medicine Farxiga. All target substantial markets and are underappreciated by investors, the analysts add. Shares rise 0.2%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
0434 ET - Novartis's results of an early and midstage study for a neuromuscular-disease drug candidate suggest its $12 billion acquisition of Avidity is starting to pay off, Jefferies says. The study for the drug, del-brax, in the treatment of rare genetic disease facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy met the primary goal and reduces risk on the technology platform the Swiss drugmaker acquired through the Avidity deal to some extent, Jefferies says. Still, the main proof point for the Avidity acquisition will be a late-stage study for another drug, del-desiran, in myotonic dystrophy type 1, according to Jefferies. Novartis shares trade 0.15% higher. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
0310 ET - AstraZeneca's data on its experimental obesity pill look surprisingly competitive, even if the U.K. drugmaker comes somewhat late to the market, Deutsche Bank's Emmanuel Papadakis says in a research note. The update on AstraZeneca's midstage study for the pill, elecoglipron, was probably one of the most awaited presentations from European pharma companies at this year's meeting of the American Diabetes Association, the analyst says. While AstraZeneca is late to move into the obesity space, it aims to differentiate its portfolio through combinations of different drugs and by looking to commercialize its assets beyond the U.S., he adds. This means there is more competition on the distant horizon for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill, and whether Roche joins the fray will be seen later this year, Deutsche Bank says. AstraZeneca shares open largely flat. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
0249 ET - Industri Jamu Dan Farmasi Sido Muncul's earnings margins are likely to remain pressured into 2Q, CGS International analysts say in a research report. Given higher oil prices, the Indonesian company's oil-linked costs are mainly reflected in packaging, which accounts for around 20% of its cost of goods sold. Given underlying cost pressures, the company revised its 2026 revenue and net-profit-after-tax guidance from a 5%-8% increase to flat. The brokerage reduces its 2026-2028 sales forecasts for the herbal medicine producer by 5%-6%. It downgrades the stock's rating to hold from add and lowers the target price to 370.00 rupiah from 580.00 rupiah. Shares are 2.1% lower at 366.00 rupiah. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0240 ET - Novartis plans to talk with regulators to advance the launch of a neuromuscular-disease drug after releasing results of a clinical trial, but the outcome of the discussions is unclear, Vontobel's Stefan Schneider says in a research note. The Swiss drugmaker said an early and mid-stage study for the drug, del-brax, in rare genetic disease facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy met its primary goal. "It remains to be seen, whether approval of the drug can be accelerated--for now we continue to assume launch in 2029 with peak sales estimates of $2 billion at a probability of success of now 60%, up from 50%," the analyst says. Del-brax is one of the assets Novartis gained through its $12 billion acquisition of Avidity Biosciences completed in February. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 11, 2026 12:20 ET (16:20 GMT)
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