AstraZeneca

The global Epidermal Growth Factors (EGFs) market was valued at US$ 1.1 Bn in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% to reach US$ 3.7 Bn by 2034, driven by applications in wound healing, cancer therapies, skincare, and regenerative medicine. Key drivers include rising demand for anti-aging products, advancements in biopharmaceutical research, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and strategic investments by companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Johnson & Johnson.

Promise Bio, a Tel Aviv-based startup, raised $8.3M in Seed funding led by Awz Ventures, with participation from AION Lab’s venture seeding track and a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority. The funds will accelerate the development of their computational platform using epiproteomics and AI for predicting patient treatment responses and supporting drug R&D.

Promise Bio, a precision medicine startup, emerges from stealth with $8.3 million seed investment to develop its AI-integrated epiproteomics platform for personalized treatments and drug development. The platform, PROMISE, analyzes protein modifications to predict patient responses, aiming to eliminate trial-and-error in autoimmune disease treatments. The funding, led by Awz Ventures and AION Labs, supports scaling the technology and expanding research capabilities.

The global Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapeutics Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% during 2024-2032, driven by advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

Mereo BioPharma Group plc, a $579M market cap biopharma, focuses on rare diseases like osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD)-associated lung disease. Setrusumab, its lead asset for OI, shows promising Phase 2 results, with potential sales exceeding $750M. Alvelestat, targeting AATD, has encouraging Phase 2 data, paving the way for Phase 3 studies. With $81M in cash, Mereo's financial position supports operations into 2026/2027, and potential partnerships could enhance its financial flexibility. Analysts project significant market opportunities and upside potential for Mereo's stock.

Jonathan Faison highlights Tarsus Pharmaceuticals and SpringWorks Therapeutics as promising biotech investments. Tarsus, with its drug XDEMVY for Demodex blepharitis, shows strong launch metrics. SpringWorks, his top holding, has Ogsiveo for desmoid tumors and Mirdametinib for NF1-PN, with potential for significant market growth.

AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals are considered unstoppable healthcare stocks due to strong business fundamentals, diverse portfolios, and innovative pipelines. AstraZeneca's acquisitions and growth potential, Eli Lilly's market-leading position and blockbuster drugs, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals' monopoly in cystic fibrosis treatments and innovative therapies make them top picks for long-term investment.

Matthew Budoff, MD, discusses the rising prevalence of obesity in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its cardiovascular implications, emphasizing the need for a treatment paradigm shift to address obesity and cardiometabolic complications. New therapies like SGLT 1/2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise, with GLP-1 agonists offering significant benefits in weight reduction and cardiovascular risk mitigation. Early use of calcium scoring or CT angiography is recommended to identify subclinical atherosclerosis. Budoff highlights GLP-1 receptor agonists as a game-changing therapeutic class addressing obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular health.

AstraZeneca's Andexxa, cleared through accelerated approval, remains unapproved for full approval, with uncertainty over FDA's next steps.