Pfizer Refocuses Growth Strategy as New Products Offset COVID Decline

Apple led The Irish Times' Top 1,000 rankings with €209.3bn revenue and €72bn profit. Microsoft, Meta, and Google followed. Eli Lilly entered the top 10. CRH was the largest indigenous company. Apple and Meta reduced Irish headcounts. Irish corporation taxes surged due to tech profits.

The FDA is scrutinizing REGENXBIO's RGX-202 and Solid Biosciences' SGT-003, both Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatments, for accelerated approval. The FDA requires evidence that microdystrophin expression predicts clinical benefit, citing Pfizer's failed CIFFREO trial as a cautionary example. REGENXBIO reported 93% of patients reached 10% microdystrophin expression, but functional data is limited. The FDA seeks robust evidence before approval, given the permanent nature of gene therapy.

Karnataka FDA revoked 16 pharmacy licenses, suspended 8, and Pfizer's distribution center license amid a counterfeit drug probe. Fake drugs worth ₹5.05 crore were seized. Pfizer stated it is cooperating with authorities, prioritizing patient safety and product quality.

The weight-loss drug market is growing rapidly, with analysts projecting $100B in annual sales in the next decade. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly lead the sector, but other companies like Pfizer, Viking Therapeutics, and AstraZeneca are developing new treatments. Key drugs include Novo's amycretin and CagriSema, Pfizer's PF-3944, and Lilly's retatrutide, with varying degrees of success in clinical trials.

Public Citizen disclosed 'Most Favored Nation' drug pricing agreements between the U.S. government and Pfizer (PFE), Eli Lilly (LLY), and Novo Nordisk (NVO), warning of potential global price impacts. The nonprofit raised concerns about ambiguous provisions and missing details in the deals, questioning Trump's drug policy achievements. Pfizer and Lilly shares were down in premarket trading, according to Benzinga Pro.

Studies show RSV vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer are highly effective in older adults, mirroring clinical trial results. The vaccines performed similarly, and their efficacy remained high even after adjusting for healthcare access. Researchers are now studying the need for booster shots.