Últimas noticias sobre Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:PJP)

Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF

PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare

Industrials

The Fund generally will invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index. Strictly in accordance with its guidelines and mandated procedures, ICE Data Indices, LLC (ICE Data or the Index Provider) compiles and maintains the Underlying Index, which is composed of common stocks of U.S. pharmaceutical companies. These companies are engaged principally in the research, development, manufacture, sale or distribution of pharmaceuticals and drugs of all types.

Abbvie Inc

Johnson & Johnson

Pfizer Inc

Amgen Inc

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories

Eli Lilly & Co

Merck & Co Inc

Geron Corp

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Liquidia Technologies Inc

Gilead Sciences Inc

Corcept Therapeutics Inc

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc

Ani Pharmaceuticals Inc

Innoviva Inc

Ocular Therapeutix Inc

Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF

Novo Nordisk

Equities

FTXH

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

KURE

PILL

Merrill Lynch Pharmaceutical HOLDRs Trust

RHHBY

Los aranceles de Trump podrían afectar a Novo Nordisk y otros gigantes farmacéuticos. Barclays advierte de impacto en márgenes y suministro.

Novo Nordisk, en la mira por los posibles aranceles farmacéuticos de Trump

Eli Lilly and Co.

Government

News

Markets

ABBV

AMGN

GILD

REGN

Trump quiere que las farmacéuticas vuelvan a EE. UU. ¿Cómo afectarán sus aranceles a las acciones del sector?

Trump presiona a farmacéuticas con aranceles para forzar regreso a EE. UU.

As the Donald Trump administration plans up to 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical companies, Emily Field, head of European pharma research at Barclays, has said that it&#8217;s hard to predict which firm would be affected the most by these tariffs, except for Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>).
Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVO">NVO stock here</a>.
What Happened: Explaining that the pharmaceutical companies as a whole are &#8220;out of favor&#8221; for tariffs, Field <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/14/barclays-the-pharma-sector-is-very-out-of-favor-for-tariffs.html">told</a> CNBC that it was hard to single out a company that could be the most affected by the levies.
&#8220;It&#8217;s really difficult to say because they have really complex supply chains and companies like to keep it under the wraps,&#8221; she said, adding that &#8220;Novo Nordisk has been called out just because we know a lot of active pharmaceutical ingredients for Wegovy are manufactured in Denmark, so that&#8217;s just one that investors have highlighted.&#8221;
She adds, &#8220;But that could also just be because we have a more concrete idea of how their drug flows. But for the most part, this sector is just very out of favor for tariffs.&#8221;
Talking about the European pharma companies that were planning to invest in the U.S., Field mentioned Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), Roche Holdings AG (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHHBY#OTCQX">RHHBY</a>), and AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>).
&#8220;We have seen from a number of European companies very significant announcements about manufacturing investments in the United States. We have seen that from Novartis, Roche, and we also know that the companies are working with the administration on this &#8216;Most Favored Nation&#8217; (MFN) drug pricing policy,&#8221; she said.
She also added that AstraZeneca is likely considering changing its registration to the U.S. &#8220;All of the companies based in Europe are emphasizing that they are very committed to the U.S. and manufacturing in the U.S.&#8221;
According to Field, this is all connected in some way. &#8220;It could be a combination of tariffs and drug pricing that the industry and administration can strike a deal that is favorable to both parties,&#8221; Field explained.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46400448/dan-ives-bets-on-cybersecurity-as-biggest-subsector-in-tech-for-2025-expects-strong-q2-earnings-from-crowdstrike-zscaler-palo-alto-check-point">Dan Ives Bets On Cybersecurity As &#8216;Biggest Subsector&#8217; In Tech For 2025; Expects Strong Q2 Earnings From CrowdStrike, Zscaler, Palo Alto, Check Point</a>
Why It Matters: Barclays has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46364024/trump-threatens-200-pharma-tariffs-but-analyst-says-this-stock-is-immune-and-expected-to-benefit-from-levies">cautioned that a 200% pharma tariff</a> would &#8220;inflate production costs, compress profit margins, and risk supply chain disruptions." 
&#8220;We are waiting for the results of the Section 232 investigation from the Commerce Ministry, which is supposed to come by the end of the month. Prior to Trump saying that he was going to announce 200%, I think most have been expecting 25%; however, the industry&#8217;s response is that tariffs will be negative for patients, as it could result in drug shortages,&#8221; Feild said.
These are some pharma ETFs that could be impacted as the long-awaited industry-wide tariffs would be announced &#8220;very soon,&#8221; according to Trump.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One-Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>0.45%</td>
<td>-6.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>1.01%</td>
<td>-3.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-1.22%</td>
<td>-3.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-1.95%</td>
<td>-1.55%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>29.34%</td>
<td>33.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-3.88%</td>
<td>-8.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-18.59%</td>
<td>-24.16%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended mixed on Tuesday. The SPY was down 0.43% at $622.14, while the QQQ advanced 0.092% to $556.72, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pr</a>o data.
On Wednesday, the futures of the S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq 100 indices were trading lower.
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Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Trump's Pharma Tariffs Can Hit Novo Nordisk, Says Barclays Expert, But It's 'Difficult' To Predict As Drugmakers Have 'Complex Supply Chains'

While President Donald Trump's proposed 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports could potentially squeeze the profit margins, this stock is poised to &#8220;benefit&#8221; from the levies. 
What Happened: Trump announced on Tuesday that the pharma tariffs, part of a Section 232 investigation launched in April, are expected to be detailed by month's end, with a grace period of "about a year, year and a half" before implementation.
Barclays cautioned that a 200% tariff would "inflate production costs, compress profit margins, and risk supply chain disruptions.&#8221; However, the delay offers little relief, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/trump-200percent-pharma-tariffs-threaten-to-push-up-drug-prices-hit-margins.html">as</a> CNBC reported, quoting UBS analysts that it's "insufficient time" for firms to relocate manufacturing, typically a four-to-five-year process. 
But despite the potential negative impact on pharma companies, Louis Navellier told <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga </a>that Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) is &#8220;expected to benefit from tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, since the company has been boosting its domestic manufacturing.&#8221;
Additionally, Thomas Shipp, head of equity research at LPL Financial, told <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a> that Lilly's attempt to try &#8220;to avoid PBMs,&#8221; exemplified by its direct-to-consumer model, &#8216;LillyDirect&#8217; in partnership with Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), positions it to bypass traditional pharmacy benefit managers, enhancing its resilience against tariff-related disruptions.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46361386/bitcoin-breaches-118k-but-these-btc-mining-firms-are-still-priced-like-its-at-58k-heres-how-these-mining-stocks-could-explode">Bitcoin Breaches $118K, But These BTC Mining Firms Are Still Priced Like It&#8217;s At $58K: Here&#8217;s How These Mining Stocks Could Explode</a>
Why It Matters: Additionally, Lilly's strategic moves, including a $1.3 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/25/06/45970361/eli-lilly-expands-into-gene-editing-with-verve-therapeutics-acquisition">acquisition of Verve Therapeutics</a>, signal its focus on innovation and U.S.-based growth. 
Ark Research noted that this acquisition validates gene-editing therapies for cardiovascular disease, a market with "trillions of dollars" in potential, as Lilly scales solutions like PCSK9-targeting therapies that reduce LDL-C by up to 69%.
Apart from the effects on the profitability of pharmaceutical companies, according to PhRMA, the tariffs could raise U.S. drug prices by $51 billion annually with just a 25% tariff levy, potentially increasing costs by 12.9%.
Price Action: Eli Lilly stock declined 0.078% in premarket on Friday; it was up 1.62% on a year-to-date basis but down by 15.36% over the last year.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that LLY had a weak momentum and value ranking; however, its growth and quality metrics were very strong. The details of all the important indicators are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="163" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11071005/LLY-edge-1024x163.png" alt="" class="wp-image-981662" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11071005/LLY-edge-1024x163.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11071005/LLY-edge-300x48.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11071005/LLY-edge-768x122.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11071005/LLY-edge.png 1039w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
These are some pharma stocks and ETFs that could be impacted as Trump warned on Tuesday that long-awaited industry-wide tariffs would be announced "very soon".
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</td>
<td>1.62%</td>
<td>-15.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</td>
<td>8.67%</td>
<td>14.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>)</td>
<td>-14.56%</td>
<td>19.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REGN#NASDAQ">REGN</a>)</td>
<td>-21.73%</td>
<td>-48.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>)</td>
<td>-3.12%</td>
<td>-10.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>)</td>
<td>24.66%</td>
<td>63.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)</td>
<td>-15.28%</td>
<td>-34.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>)</td>
<td>15.85%</td>
<td>-7.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>)</td>
<td>9.49%</td>
<td>5.34%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>3.50%</td>
<td>-3.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>3.15%</td>
<td>-0.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>0.68%</td>
<td>-0.49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-0.16%</td>
<td>2.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>25.74%</td>
<td>30.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-1.00%</td>
<td>-4.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-14.12%</td>
<td>-14.74%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46336115/as-trump-calls-for-3-percentage-point-rate-cut-too-late-jerome-powell-to-resign-june-fed-minutes-sh">As Trump Calls For 3-Percentage Point Rate Cut, &#8216;Too Late&#8217; Jerome Powell To Resign, June Fed Minutes Show &#8216;Uncertainty&#8217; Reigns Supreme</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shuttertsock

AMZN

Trump Threatens 200% Pharma Tariffs, But Analyst Says This Stock Is Immune And Expected To 'Benefit' From Levies

A heated debate over the U.S. healthcare system erupted on X, pitting billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) over the root causes of soaring drug prices.
What Happened: The clash, unfolding as of Friday, has reignited discussions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Big Pharma's tax practices, with the Senate poised to address reform amid rising public scrutiny.
Enter Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, who fired back with a pointed correction.
In a post quoting Warren, Cuban argued that PBMs—not Big Pharma—are the true culprits behind inflated drug prices.
&#8220;PBMs corrupt healthcare,&#8221; he wrote, explaining that these intermediaries control formularies and manipulate prices to maximize rebate revenue, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487788/trumps-drug-price-order-hits-pbms-hardest-cvs-cigna-unh-in-focus-as-experts-highlight-racket-and-pricing-distortion">three major PBMs</a> negotiating over 90% of rebates for commercial insurance plans. 
Warren, in her post, had blamed pharmaceutical giants like Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) for charging Americans the &#8220;highest drug prices in the world&#8221; while paying &#8220;zero dollars in federal taxes.&#8221;
Citing data from her Senate Finance Committee role, Warren highlighted how these companies, alongside AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), and Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), have exploited tax loopholes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to shield billions in profits.
&#8220;Republicans want to make it worse. I&#8217;m fighting back,&#8221; she declared, sharing <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/pfizer-merck-jj-others-face-scrutiny-over-tax-loophole-extension.html">a</a> CNBC headline and urging action against what she calls a &#8220;rigged tax system.&#8221; 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">No. It&#39;s because PBMs corrupt healthcare. Big Pharma wishes they could set their own pricing. They don&#39;t. PBMs control formularies and manipulate prices, in exchange for providing pharma access to patients. It&#39;s how they maximize rebate revenue. In fact, 3 PBMs NEGOTIATE… <a href="https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM">https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1935705831930298562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46013679/dan-ives-says-market-is-massively-underestimating-this-ai-play-urges-investors-to-look-beyong-mag-7">Dan Ives Says Market Is ‘Massively Underestimating' This AI Play, Urges Investors To Look Beyond Mag 7</a>
Why It Matters: Cuban has been a c<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44674382/mark-cuban-says-big-insurance-companies-and-pbms-control-healthcare-costs-everyone-has-to-kiss-their-a-and-accept-the-complications">ritic of the healthcare system</a>, saying that it should be simple. According to him, it&#8217;s become overly complicated by big insurance companies and PBMs.
These groups, he says, act as middlemen, controlling not just the costs but also the accessibility of care.
He blames PBMs for lack of transparency, inflated specialty drug prices, rebate distortion, formulary restrictions, and &#8220;Sh–ing on&#8221; on independent pharmacies.
Some significant firms engaged in the PBM business listed in the U.S. include;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td>
<td>51.15%</td>
<td>9.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td>
<td>14.54%</td>
<td>-6.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>-39.11%</td>
<td>-36.60%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Meanwhile, here is how some pharmaceutical sector ETFs have performed;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>1.69%</td>
<td>-4.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.49%</td>
<td>-1.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-3.23%</td>
<td>-1.64%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-4.06%</td>
<td>2.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>20.55%</td>
<td>22.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-5.44%</td>
<td>-6.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-23.49%</td>
<td>-14.63%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.30% at $595.67, while the QQQ was 0.015% higher at $529.07, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Insurance

Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'

After Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45384935/trump-again-promises-lower-drug-prices-by-cutting-out-middlemen-like-unitedhealth-cvs-will-it-work-this-time">executive order</a> slashing drug prices last week, experts have highlighted how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) could be hit the hardest despite pharmaceutical companies facing the potential of compressed margins amid poor pricing power.
What Happened: According to Thomas Shipp, the head of equity research at LPL Financial, the pressure that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45389750/trump-claims-drug-price-crackdown-could-slash-your-prescription-costs-by-59-but-will-big-pharma-fight-it-again">pharmaceutical manufacturers</a> are facing to lower prices domestically, &#8220;has the potential to compress margins by eroding pricing power and would provide a significant headwind to drug manufacturer share prices.&#8221;
However, he explains that the &#8220;middlemen&#8221; or PBMs that facilitate drug distribution and negotiate with pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to lower prescription costs have come under scrutiny for opaque pricing practices, like retaining rebates from drug manufacturers and "spread pricing."
&#8220;PBMs pay pharmacies less than what they charge health plan participants for drugs,&#8221; he said.
Another April 15 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions">executive order</a> signed by Trump called for increased transparency into PBM fees and requested that the role of these middlemen be reevaluated.
CVS Caremark, owned by CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Express Scripts, owned by Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), and OptumRx, owned by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), are the biggest PBM companies.
Shipp also underscored that PBM savings are expected, but direct price controls pose a longer-term risk for U.S.-heavy drugmakers. Transparency will reveal if PBM margin erosion can prevent deeper manufacturer cuts, he highlights.
&#8220;While many questions remain about how these executive orders will be implemented, after the initial news flow is digested, the net effect appears less detrimental to pharmaceutical drug manufacturers than to PBMs,&#8221; said Shipp.
&#8220;That said, reworking the way Americans buy their medicine is going to take a long time. Along the way, efforts to support direct-to-consumer sales will support both the manufacturers leading the charge and those they partner with for distribution,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/05/45465955/ark-invest-takes-swipe-at-mstr-mara-says-bitcoin-treasury-companies-dont-make-sense-fundin">Ark Invest Expert Takes Swipe At MSTR, MARA, Says &#8216;Bitcoin Treasury Companies Don&#8217;t Make Sense:&#8217; &#8216;Funding Purchases With Debt&#8230;Seems Like A Recipe For Disaster&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Meanwhile, the billionaire investor and Shark Tank fame, Mark Cuban, called PBMs a &#8220;racket&#8221; in an X post by explaining that they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44674382/mark-cuban-says-big-insurance-companies-and-pbms-control-healthcare-costs-everyone-has-to-kiss-their-a-and-accept-the-complications">negotiate rebates and not prices</a>.
&#8220;They negotiate rebates. Not prices. In fact, the big PBMs control more than 95pct of the rebate negotiations. Big brand Pharma companies can&#8217;t negotiate with anyone else. IMO, it&#8217;s a racket,&#8221; he said.
While the April 15 order calls for transparency in pricing, Cuban highlights that 30% of the $4.9 trillion in healthcare spending is attributed to the overhead insurance companies and pricing distortions big PBMs create.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">One of the great lies the big PBM industry tells us is that they are needed to negotiate lower prices. It&#39;s a lie. They negotiate rebates. Not prices. In fact, the big PBMs control more than 95pct of the rebate negotiations. Big brand Pharma companies can&#39;t negotiate with…
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1923880717420986860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Here are the aforementioned PBMs operating companies that have performed in 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One-Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td>
<td>41.41%</td>
<td>8.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td>
<td>16.92%</td>
<td>-3.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>-42.14%</td>
<td>-43.56%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Here are a few pharma-linked ETFs for investors to consider.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>-0.28%</td>
<td>-4.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-1.20%</td>
<td>-2.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-3.45%</td>
<td>-0.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-4.83%</td>
<td>-1.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>11.10%</td>
<td>1.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-6.51%</td>
<td>-6.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-23.63%</td>
<td>-24.07%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Friday. The SPY was up 0.63% to $594.20, while the QQQ advanced 0.44% to $521.51, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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Photo courtesy: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Health Care

Trump's Drug Price Order Hits PBMs Hardest: CVS, Cigna, UNH In Focus As Experts Highlight 'Racket,' Pricing Distortion

On Sunday, President Donald Trump vowed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44945973/trump-administration-considers-lowering-us-drug-prices-to-international-levels-report">slash prescription drug prices</a> through a sweeping executive order.
What Happened: Trump took to Truth Social and announced plans to sign a new executive order. Under what he called a "most favored nation" pricing policy, the President said the executive order will ensure that "the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World."
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="966" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/11221440/Screenshot-2025-05-12-at-11.14.22.png" alt="" class="wp-image-911175" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/11221440/Screenshot-2025-05-12-at-11.14.22.png 612w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/11221440/Screenshot-2025-05-12-at-11.14.22-190x300.png 190w" sizes="(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /></figure>
Screenshot From President Donald Trump&#8217;s Truth Social Account
He added that prescription drug prices would drop "almost immediately, by 30% to 80%," and called the move "one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country's history."
In response, a user on X, formerly Twitter, expressed skepticism, saying, "It would be nice if Trump&#8217;s super important post about drug prices was really achievable. I think all Democrats would agree&#8230; But like most things Trump brags about, they are pie-in-the-sky promises that can&#8217;t and won&#8217;t actually materialize."
See Also: &nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44935195/elizabeth-warren-says-if-trump-illegally-fires-fed-chair-powell-hell-crash-our-markets-cause-more-economic-p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elizabeth Warren Says, ‘If Trump Illegally Fires Fed Chair Powell, He'll Crash Our Markets, Cause More Economic Pain To American Families'</a>
That's where <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions">billionaire entrepreneur</a> and Cost Plus Drugs founder Mark Cuban stepped in. Cuban acknowledged the ambition of Trump's plan but highlighted a more attainable path forward.
"I don't know if he can force the price, but he can force transparency, and that will help," Cuban wrote.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I dont know if he can force the price , but he can force transparency , and that will help. He did it w hospitals Force transparency of contracts, pricing , rebates , claims and a lot could change Biggest thing he could do is encourage brand pharma to sell to cost plus drugs… <a href="https://t.co/vkz3Q2IFkn">https://t.co/vkz3Q2IFkn</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1921710702743417149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Last month, Trump issued a <a href="https://benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44851905/trumps-new-order-targets-drug-pricing-transparency-and-medicare-cost-reduction">multi-part executive order</a> targeting drug pricing transparency and Medicare cost reduction.
Earlier this month, he signed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45232993/trump-orders-fda-to-fast-track-us-drug-production-as-tariff-threat-looms-on-imported-medicines-cites">another executive order directing</a> the Food and Drug Administration to expedite approvals for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>) and iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>) rose 2.61% and 2.81%, respectively, over the past month.
Price Action: In after-hours trading, Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) was up 0.20%, while Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) increased by 0.32% and 0.13%, respectively. Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) also saw a modest gain of 0.12%, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: PeopleImages.com &#8211; Yuri A On Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Trump Says Prescription Drug Prices Set To Drop By 30% To 80% 'Almost Immediately' Thanks To 'Most Favored Nation' Plan, Mark Cuban Urges President To 'Force Transparency'

The Trump Administration is reportedly mulling over a policy to match U.S. drug prices with those in other developed nations. 
What Happened:&nbsp;The Trump Administration is&nbsp;contemplating a policy to align U.S. drug prices with lower rates in other developed countries. The policy is likely to be enforced by the agency responsible for&nbsp;Medicare and Medicaid health programs, reported Reuters&nbsp;citing sources from the pharmaceutical industry.
The sources highlighted this policy as the pharmaceutical industry&#8217;s primary concern, surpassing other government actions under consideration, such as tariffs on imported medicines. One source labeled it as the most significant &#8220;existential&nbsp;threat to the industry and&nbsp;U.S. biosciences innovation.&#8221;
Though the Trump Administration hasn't directly addressed reference pricing, the conservative America First Policy Institute suggested it could be included in Medicare's drug price negotiations.
The industry trade group, PhRMA, has already approached Congress earlier this year regarding this issue, known as international reference pricing. The first source expressed apprehension about the potential upheaval this policy could trigger in the healthcare market, beyond just pharmaceuticals.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44935195/elizabeth-warren-says-if-trump-illegally-fires-fed-chair-powell-hell-crash-our-markets-cause-more-economic-p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elizabeth Warren Says, &#8216;If Trump Illegally Fires Fed Chair Powell, He&#8217;ll Crash Our Markets, Cause More Economic Pain To American Families&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Under Biden&#8217;s Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. began negotiating prices for its costliest drugs. However, the negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs remain over twice as high—and sometimes five times higher—than what drugmakers charge in other wealthy nations. During his first term, President Donald Trump&#8216;s attempt to implement an international reference pricing program was halted by a court ruling.
The current report by Reuters comes on the heels of President Trump&#8217;s executive order <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44851905/trumps-new-order-targets-drug-pricing-transparency-and-medicare-cost-reduction">aimed </a>at lowering drug prices and reducing Medicare costs signed earlier this month. The order instructed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to seek guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program for the initial price applicability year 2028 and how drugmakers should implement the set prices in 2026, 2027, and 2028. 
This potential move is perceived as a major threat to the pharmaceutical industry. Boston University's Rena Conti told Reuters that drugmakers might respond to international reference pricing by raising prices in reference countries, potentially justifying higher U.S. prices and increasing global revenue.
Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>) and iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>) declined 8.6% and 7.5%, respectively over the past month.
Price Action: During the pre-market session on Wednesday, Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) gained 2.39%, Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) climbed 1.16% and 1.07%, respectively. Meanwhile, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) edged 0.48% higher.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Trump Administration Considers Lowering US Drug Prices To International Levels: Report

Even as President Donald Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days on Wednesday, he later confirmed in a conversation with reporters at his Oval Office that pharmaceutical companies would face tariffs.
What Happened: The rally in pharma stocks was short-lived after the stocks reversed course on Thursday. When a reporter asked President Trump if he would go ahead and levy tariff duties on pharmaceutical stocks, he said, &#8220;Yeah, well, I will be because we want them coming back.&#8221;
&#8220;You know, we realized during COVID-19 that we don&#8217;t make our drugs and our pharmaceuticals in this country. So, I realized that, and it was a big realization,&#8221; he added.
Citing the emergency during COVID-19, he stated that he wanted the pharma companies to produce drugs in the U.S.
&#8220;We had to go to China to get drugs, we had to go to other places, we don&#8217;t make it. That&#8217;s because we let them leave, and now if they want to come back, we&#8217;re going to put tariffs on the pharmaceutical companies, and they&#8217;re going to all want to come back,&#8221; Trump said.
The pharma stocks tumbled on Thursday after Trump&#8217;s confirmation of tariffs.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma Stocks</td>
<td>Thursday&#8217;s Performance</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</td>
<td>-4.35%</td>
<td>-7.35%</td>
<td>-5.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</td>
<td>-3.14%</td>
<td>-2.92%</td>
<td>3.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>)</td>
<td>-6.10%</td>
<td>-11.15%</td>
<td>2.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REGN#NASDAQ">REGN</a>)</td>
<td>-5.26%</td>
<td>-23.60%</td>
<td>-40.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>)</td>
<td>-3.87%</td>
<td>-18.87%</td>
<td>-18.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>)</td>
<td>-3.66%</td>
<td>10.36%</td>
<td>47.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)</td>
<td>-5.32%</td>
<td>-21.80%</td>
<td>-38.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>)</td>
<td>-3.33%</td>
<td>8.54%</td>
<td>4.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>)</td>
<td>-1.51%</td>
<td>3.24%</td>
<td>-0.07%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44755181/pentagon-slashes-5-1-billion-in-accenture-deloitte-booz-allen-contracts-thats-a-lot-of-consulting">Pentagon Slashes $5.1 Billion In Accenture, Deloitte, Booz Allen Contracts: &#8216;That&#8217;s A Lot Of Consulting&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Despite a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, base global tariffs of 10% and China tariffs of 125%, along with sector-specific tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum, auto, and auto parts remain in place. Adding to it, the President hinted that he could soon announce tariffs on pharmaceutical companies.
Here are some of the pharmaceutical industry-linked exchange-traded funds that could be impacted.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>-7.02%</td>
<td>-7.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-7.04%</td>
<td>-6.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-10.13%</td>
<td>-4.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-14.05%</td>
<td>-11.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>2.88%</td>
<td>0.35%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-11.54%</td>
<td>-10.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-41.35%</td>
<td>-43.86%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Price Action: After Thursday&#8217;s fall, following Wednesday&#8217;s rebound, the Nasdaq 100 index was 17.46% lower than its previous high of 22,222.61 points. The S&amp;P 500 index was down 14.31% from its record of 6,147.43 points, and the Dow Jones declined 12.16% from its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended lower on Thursday. The SPY was down 4.38% to $524.58, while the QQQ declined 4.25% to $446.18, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Eli Lilly, AbbVie, Bristol Myers, Regeneron, And Other Pharma Companies Slide As Donald Trump Confirms Tariffs On Pharma Companies

FDA commissioner Robert Califf&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/21/11/24301293/robert-califfs-speedy-confirmation-vote-as-fda-head-likely-delayed-see-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">second term is anticipated</a> to end in 2025, and all eyes are now on who will be the next to take the position after Donald Trump is elected president for the second time.
He was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/robert-califf" rel="noreferrer noopener">elected</a> to head the agency in February 2022. Califf was briefly the agency&#8217;s commissioner under the Obama administration beginning in 2016.
At a conference <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/hQ7rYiJTcmU" rel="noreferrer noopener">hosted</a> by the Friends of Cancer Research, Califf acknowledged the uncertainty President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s return to the White House raises for the agency workforce.
He is &#8220;disappointed&#8221; about the election&#8217;s outcome. &#8220;I think we just don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to happen.&#8221;
At the Tuesday conference, Califf added, &#8220;The gist of this administration, from everything that&#8217;s been said, is that they want to change a lot of things, and how it gets changed depends on who gets appointed into key positions and how the various policies play out.&#8221;
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41866438/donald-trumps-second-term-could-reshape-us-healthcare-system-with-major-impacts-on-affordable-care-act-and-medicare" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump&#8217;s Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare</a>
Asked whether FDA employees are eying the exits, Califf said, &#8220;people are waiting to see.&#8221;
Asked to respond to Robert F. Kennedy Jr&#8217;s statements about clearing FDA groups focused on nutrition and other issues, Califf suggested the agency is limited in addressing issues with the American diet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/11/41822473/trumps-potential-health-czar-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rattles-vaccine-stocks-shoot-first-reaction" rel="noreferrer noopener">because of Congress</a>.
In an interview Califf said, &#8220;In times of change and chaos, there&#8217;s also opportunity,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I will just comment, there&#8217;s a lot of things that I bet almost everyone in leadership positions in the health agencies would have liked to have changed but couldn&#8217;t because of the gridlock of various interests that made it difficult to change things.&#8221;
Callif said he believes the FDA is at &#8220;peak performance right now — and we&#8217;ll see what happens as the new team comes in.&#8221;
&#8220;From things that have been said, the change could happen internally or from external decisions made by the administration,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just think we have to wait and see and have some faith that hard-working, high-quality people are still going to be in place and have support from — I hope — the external regulated community, which given the dynamics is likely to be the most important factor.&#8221;
While Califf hasn&#8217;t officially announced his departure from the FDA, he said today that &#8220;this is not the first time I&#8217;ve ridden out of town after an election.&#8221;
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</ul>
Image via Adobe Stock

Biotech

Regulations

General

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

PowerShares Dynamic Healthcare Sector Portfolio

FDA Commissioner Califf Candid on Trump's Impact: 'We Just Don't Know What's Going to Happen'

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may approve <a href="http://Long Covid Remains Diagnostic Mystery, Diagnosis Remains Elusive; National Institutes of Health-Funded Study Shows">updated COVID-19 vaccines</a> this week to combat recent strains as the country endures its most significant summer outbreak in two years.
The FDA is expected to give the nod to updated mRNA vaccines from Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), which is collaborating with BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>), to fight a COVID strain called KP.2, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/health/fda-updated-covid-19-vaccines/index.html">reported</a> Sunday. 
It was uncertain whether the agency would approve Novovax, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) most recent vaccine for COVID&#8217;s JN.1 strain at the same time, the report said. 
Representatives for Pfizer and Moderna told CNN they have plenty of updated COVID vaccines ready for shipment to stores upon approval.
Novovax executives said in a conference call last week that the company&#8217;s updated vaccine would arrive in warehouses for distribution some time this month because its vaccine is based on protein technology and therefore takes longer to make.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/07/39847869/covid-activity-is-elevated-across-26-states-in-summer-surge-biden-remains-in-isolation-3-vaccine-">COVID Activity Is Elevated Across 26 States In Summer Surge, Biden Remains In Isolation: 3 Vaccine Stocks To Watch</a>
Summer COVID Wave: Levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19&#8217;s cause, measured in wastewater are at "very high" levels across the U.S., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. 
COVID waves result from waning immunity and new variants, according to experts. According to CDC data, the KP.3.1.1 strain accounts for 37% of cases over the last two weeks, tripling from a month ago.
KP.3.1.1 and KP.2 are both JN.1 offshoots, and all three are&nbsp;versions of the Omicron variant.
As of Aug. 13, COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 25 states, declining or likely declining in five states and are stable or uncertain in 17 states, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cfa-modeling-and-forecasting/rt-estimates/index.html">according</a> to CDC data.
States where infections are growing include Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia.
Price Action: Moderna, Pfizer and Novovax made gains into Monday&#8217;s late-morning trading, while most of the exchange-traded funds that track them also trended upward.
ETFs with Moderna, which gained 1.72% to $88.33.
<ul>
<li>Langar Global HealthTech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LGHT#NYSE">LGHT</a>) ticked up 0.37%</li>
<li>Amplify Treatments, Testing and Advancements ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GERM#NYSE">GERM</a>) declined 1.13%</li>
<li>Invesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBBQ#NASDAQ">IBBQ</a>) edged up 1.28%</li>
</ul>
ETFs with Pfizer, which rose 1.55% to $28.74.
<ul>
<li>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>) went up 1.19%</li>
<li>First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDL#NYSE">FDL</a>) gained 0.73%</li>
<li>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>) rose 0.10%</li>
</ul>
ETFs with Novovax, which shot up 5.98% to $13.73.
<ul>
<li>ProShares Nanotechnology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TINY#NYSE">TINY</a>) slipped 0.62%</li>
<li>iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDNA#NYSE">IDNA</a>) rose 0.89%</li>
<li>Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBP#NYSE">BBP</a>) remained unchanged</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo: Unsplash

Trading Ideas

ETFs

BNTX

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund

ETFMG Treatments Testing and Advancements ETF

GERM

IBBQ

IDNA

LGHT

MRNA

NVAX

TINY

FDA Set To Approve COVID-19 Vaccines As Soon As This Week: Stocks, ETFs To Watch

The second-quarter results of the healthcare sector have been impressive, with earnings of 78.8% of the sector participants that have reported so far up 17.1% on 7.6% revenue growth. The earnings beat ratio of 85.7% and the revenue beat ratio of 75.5% are also assuring. Combining the actual results with the estimates for the still-to-report companies, the total earnings of the sector are expected to grow 16.6% on revenue growth of 8.5%.
Many industry bigwigs reported solid results, with some beating on earnings or revenues or both. However, the recent market rout has eroded some gains from the sector. As such, pharma ETFs have delivered mixed performances over the past month. iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:IHE), VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pph#NASDAQ">PPH</a>), SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:XPH) and First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ftxh#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>) have gained 0.3%, 1.1%, 0.07%, and 0.4% respectively, while Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:PJP) has shed 0.1% in a month.
Let&#39;s delve deeper into the earnings of some of the bigwigs:
<h3>Earnings in Focus</h3>
Johnson and Johnson 
Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>) continued with its long streak of earnings beat and also outpaced revenue estimates. Earnings per share came in at $2.82, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.71 and improving 10.2% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues grew 4.3% year over year to $22.45 billion and fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.38 billion. For 2024, Johnson &amp; Johnson maintained its revenue guidance of $88-$88.4 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 4.7%-5.2%. It lowered adjusted earnings per share guidance from $10.57-$10.72 to $9.97-$10.07. 
Pfizer 
Pfizer (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) topped estimates on both the top and bottom lines. It reported adjusted earnings per share of 60 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 45 cents per share but declined 11% year over year. Revenues inched up 2% year over year to $13.28 billion and edged past the consensus mark of $13.13 billion. The U.S. drug giant raised its revenue guidance from $58.5-$61.5 billion to $59.5-$62.5 billion and adjusted earnings per share from $2.15-$2.35 to $2.45-$2.65 for 2024. 
Merck 
Merck (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>) also topped earnings and revenue estimates. It posted earnings per share of $2.28, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.16. In the year-ago period, the company had incurred an adjusted loss of $2.06 per share. Revenues rose 79% year over year to $16.11 billion and edged past the consensus mark of $15.90 billion. Merck lifted the higher end of its revenue guidance from $63.1-$64.3 billion to $63.1-$64.4 billion but lowered the earnings per share guidance to $7.94-$8.04 from $8.53-$8.65. 
Bristol-Myers 
Bristol-Myers (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE">BMY</a>) also reported better-than-expected results. It posted an earnings per share of $2.07, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64. Earnings came in higher than the year-ago earnings of $1.75. Revenues grew 9% year over year to $12.2 billion and edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.5 billion. For 2024, Bristol-Myers now expects revenues to increase in the upper end of the low single-digit range versus the previous guidance of low single digits.&nbsp; It lifted its earnings per share guidance to 60-90 cents from 40-70 cents. 
Eli Lilly and Company 
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) reported robust second-quarter 2024, beating earnings and revenue estimates. Earnings per share came in at $3.92, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.64 and improving 86% from the year-ago number. Revenues rose 36% to $11.3 billion and edged past the estimated $9.83 billion. Eli Lilly increased its full-year outlook for the second time this year. It raised the revenue guidance to $45.4-$46.6 billion from $42.4-$43.6 billion and the adjusted earnings per share guidance to $16.10-$16.60 from $13.50-$14.00.
<h3>ETF Angle</h3>
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF provides exposure to 36 U.S. companies that manufacture prescription or over-the-counter drugs or vaccines by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Pharmaceuticals Index. The in-focus five firms are the top holdings in the basket, accounting for a combined 59.4% of the total assets, suggesting heavy concentration. iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF has $670.8 million in AUM and charges 39 bps in fees and expenses. It carries a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a High risk outlook. 
VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF
VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF follows the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index and holds 26 stocks in its basket. The five firms collectively account for a 33.6% share in the fund&#39;s basket. The product has amassed $678.1 million in its asset base and charges 36 bps in annual fees. VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF provides exposure to pharma companies by tracking the S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index. With AUM of $177.9 million, it holds 43 securities, with the in-focus firms making up about 4% share each. SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF charges 35 bps in fees a year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook.
Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF
Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF offers exposure to companies that are principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture, sale, or distribution of pharmaceuticals and drugs of all types. It follows the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index and holds 23 stocks in its basket, with the in-focus firms making up at least 5% share each. Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF has AUM of about $283.8 million and charges 57 bps in fees and expenses. The ETF has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook.
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF tracks the Nasdaq US Smart Pharmaceuticals Index, holding 50 securities in its basket. The in-focus five firms account for a combined 31.4% of the assets. FTXH has AUM of $18.3 million. First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF charges 60 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2322190/pharma-etfs-in-focus-post-solid-q2-earnings?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2322190">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Large Cap

Sector ETFs

Guidance

Analyst Ratings

Pharma ETFs in Focus Post Solid Q2 Earnings

More than half of the states in the U.S. are experiencing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/07/39829417/biden-gets-covid-19-takes-a-fiesty-dig-at-tesla-ceo-im-sick-of-elon-musk-and-his-rich-buddies-trying">significant Covid-19 activity </a>in wastewater, and President Joe Biden remains in isolation after announcing Wednesday he caught the virus for the third time.
Twenty-six states are reporting either &#8220;high&#8221; or &#8220;very high&#8221; levels of the virus at various sites, according to the latest<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html"> data </a>from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
States with the highest levels include Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Texas. 
The Biden administration no longer considers Covid-19 a public health emergency and instead treats it as a routine respiratory virus to be prevented through an annual vaccination campaign, the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/07/18/biden-covid-summer-wave-symptoms-flirt-variant/">reported</a>.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/07/39823289/european-commission-faces-court-criticism-over-covid-vaccine-contract-transparency-ahead-of-vote-">European Commission Faces Court Criticism Over COVID Vaccine Contract Transparency Ahead Of Vote on Ursula Von Der Leyen&#8217;s Reappointment</a>
Biden is staying at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware while continuing to perform presidential duties.
Vaccine Stocks To Watch: Novovax, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>), Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) are all making new Covid vaccines that should be available before the end of September, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/long-covid-vaccine.html">reported</a>.
The Novavax vaccine will target JN.1, the variant that was prominent in the winter and spring.
Pfizer and Moderna are developing shots aimed at KP.2, which accounts for about one in four new cases. Two related variants, KP.3 and LB.1, are the culprint behind more than half of new cases, the Times said. 
All three variants are descendants of JN.1, so each of the vaccines is expected to be effective against them.
NVAX, MRNA, PFE Price Action: Novovax shares were down 5.7% to $14.94 late in Thursday&#8217;s session. Moderna was down 2.16% to $121.37. Pfizer is down 1.07% at $29.70. 
Exchange-traded funds that hold shares of Pfizer, which has the largest market capitalization of the group of vaccine developers at $169 billion, declined in Thursday afternoon trading. 
<ul>
<li>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTHX#NASDAQ">FTHX</a>) fell 0.35%.</li>
<li>First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDL#NYSE">FDL</a>) slipped 0.69%.</li>
<li>Invesco Pharmceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>) slid 0.55%.</li>
<li>Harbor Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDI#NYSE">MEDI</a>) lost 0.33%.</li>
<li>Invesco S&amp;P Ultra dividend Revenue ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDIV#NYSE">RDIV</a>) declined 0.66%.</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39770202/moderna-regeneron-pharmaceuticals-and-2-other-stocks-insiders-are-selling">Moderna, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals And 2 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Movers

FTHX

MEDI

RDIV

COVID Activity Is Elevated Across 26 States In Summer Surge, Biden Remains In Isolation: 3 Vaccine Stocks To Watch

The Supreme Court has rejected a bankruptcy plan for OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma that would have allocated billions from the wealthy Sackler family to combat opioid addiction, and the Sacklers would have been shielded from civil lawsuits related to their alleged <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/12/36072366/opioid-crisis-and-corporate-accountability-purdues-settlement-in-the-spotlight" rel="noreferrer noopener">role in the opioid crisis</a>.
The 5-4 decision marks a victory for a minority of opioid victims who voted against the settlement to continue pressing lawsuits against the Sackler family.
It is a setback for most victims and state and local governments who have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/34064098/purdue-pharmas-trust-strategy-supreme-court-reviews-restructuring-amidst-opioid-crisis" rel="noreferrer noopener">accepted the settlement</a>.
The Wall Street Journal notes the ruling is among the highest-profile bankruptcy decisions ever from the high court, significantly weakening the ability of corporations and their insiders to use bankruptcy to resolve mass litigation.
Purdue Pharma, which introduced OxyContin in the late 1990s and made billions from the prescription painkiller, faced thousands of opioid lawsuits by 2019.
The company filed for Chapter 11 protection, though the Sackler family did not declare bankruptcy and moved much of their wealth to offshore trusts.
They agreed to pay $6 billion to settle civil claims, denying wrongdoing and arguing their settlement was the best way to fund <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/08/33748967/sackler-familys-6b-commitment-in-spotlight-supreme-court-suspends-purdue-pharmas-settlement-over-opi" rel="noreferrer noopener">addiction-fighting initiatives</a>.
In 2021, a New York bankruptcy court approved a reorganization <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/21/07/21902857/15-states-settle-with-opioid-maker-purdue-pharma-for-4-5b-the-most-that-individuals-have-ever-pa" rel="noreferrer noopener">plan for Purdue</a>.
The WSJ report <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/supreme-court-rejects-purdue-pharma-deal-to-shield-sackler-family-7870205a?mod=hp_lead_pos1" rel="noreferrer noopener">added</a> that this plan included funds from the Sacklers&#8217; offshore trusts and ceded the company and its assets to creditors.
Most funds would go to state and local governments for opioid-related programs, with $750 million shared among roughly 130,000 individual opioid claimants.
While nearly all claimants accepted the plan, it required dissenters to accept immunity for the Sacklers from ongoing and future litigation, which many viewed as inadequate compensation.
The Justice Department opposed Purdue&#8217;s plan, arguing it would unlawfully extinguish individuals&#8217; rights to pursue civil lawsuits.
The Office of the U.S. Trustee appealed to the Supreme Court, stating that the plan gave the Sacklers an unprecedented release from liability.
Purdue lawyers argued that the third-party release was necessary under U.S. bankruptcy law to secure the Sacklers&#8217; $6 billion contribution.
Purdue lawyer Gregory Garre stated that blocking the settlement would result in the evaporation of funds for opioid abatement and compensation, leaving creditors and victims with nothing and potentially costing lives.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Legal

Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Plan Rejected by Supreme Court, Billionaire Sacklers to Face Lawsuits

The first-quarter results of the healthcare sector have been unimpressive, with earnings of 78% of the sector participants that have reported so far down 31.2% despite 4.4% revenue growth. The earnings beat ratio of 93.9% and the revenue beat ratio of 75.8% are assuring, though. Combining the actual results with the estimates for the still-to-report companies, the total earnings of the sector are expected to decline 25.1% despite revenue growth of 7.1%. 
However, many industry bigwigs reported solid results, with some beating on earnings or revenues or both. As such, pharma ETFs have delivered mixed performances over the past month. iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:IHE), VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pph#NASDAQ">PPH</a>), SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:XPH) and First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ftxh#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>) have lost 3.7%,1.9%, 2.9%, and 3.1% respectively, while Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:PJP) has added 0.8% in a month. 
Let&#39;s delve deeper into the earnings of some of the bigwigs:
<h3>Earnings in Focus</h3>
Johnson and Johnson 
Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>) continued with its long streak of earnings beat but lagged revenue estimates. Earnings per share came in at $2.71, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.64 and improving 12.4% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues grew 2% year over year to $21.38 billion and fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21.4 billion. For 2024, Johnson &amp; Johnson revised its guidance from $88.2-$89.0 billion to $87.8-$88.6 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 5.5%-6.0%. The adjusted earnings per share guidance was tightened from $10.55-$10.75 to $10.57 to $10.72. 
Pfizer 
Pfizer (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) topped estimates on both the top and bottom lines. It reported adjusted earnings per share of 82 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents per share but declined 33% year over year. Revenues declined 20% year over year to $14.88 billion and fell short of the consensus mark of $13.96 billion. The U.S. drug giant reaffirmed its revenue guidance of $58.5-$61.5 billion and raised its adjusted earnings per share to $2.15-$2.35 from $2.05-$2.25 for 2024. 
Merck 
Merck (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>) also topped earnings and revenue estimates. It posted earnings per share of $2.07, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.94 and increased 48% from the year-ago earnings. Revenues rose 9% year over year to $15.78 billion and edged past the consensus mark of $15.37 billion. Merck lifted the lower end of its revenue guidance. It now expects revenues in the range of $63.1-$64.2 billion from $62.7-$64.2 billion, while earnings per share are expected in the range of $8.53-$8.65 versus the prior expectation of $8.44-$8.59. 
Bristol-Myers 
Bristol-Myers (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE">BMY</a>) also reported better-than-expected results. It posted a loss per share of $4.40, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $4.53 per share. In the year-ago quarter, BMY posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.05. Revenues grew 5% year over year to $11.86 billion and edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.46 billion. For 2024, Bristol-Myers expects revenues to increase in the low single digits while earnings per share are expected in the band of 40 cents to 70 cents, down from the earlier estimate of $7.10-$7.40, to reflect the dilutive impact of recent acquisitions and collaborations. 
Eli Lilly and Company 
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) posted mixed first-quarter 2024 earnings, beating earnings estimates but lagging on revenues. Earnings per share came in at $2.58, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.53 and improving 59% from the year-ago number. Revenues rose 26% to $8.77 billion but fell short of the estimated $8.81 billion. Eli Lilly raised the 2024 revenue guidance to $42.4-$43.6 billion from $40.4-$41.6 billion, while the adjusted earnings per share guidance was upped to $13.50-$14.00 from the prior projection of $12.20-$12.70.
<h3>ETF Angle</h3>
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF 
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF provides exposure to 34 U.S. companies that manufacture prescription or over-the-counter drugs or vaccines by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Pharmaceuticals Index. The in-focus five firms are the top holdings in the basket, accounting for a combined 59% of the total assets, suggesting heavy concentration. iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF has $654.8 million in AUM and charges 40 bps in fees and expenses. It carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a High risk outlook. 
VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF 
VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF follows the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index and holds 26 stocks in its basket. The five firms collectively account for a 33.2% share in the fund&#39;s basket. The product has amassed $512.7 million in its asset base and charges 36 bps in annual fees. VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook. 
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF 
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF provides exposure to pharma companies by tracking the S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index. With AUM of $197.9 million, it holds 41 securities, with the in-focus firms making up about 4% share each. SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF charges 35 bps in fees a year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook. 
Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF 
Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF offers exposure to companies that are principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture, sale, or distribution of pharmaceuticals and drugs of all types. It follows the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index and holds 24 stocks in its basket, with the in-focus firms making up at least 5% share each. Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF has AUM of about $270.2 million and charges 57 bps in fees and expenses. The ETF has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook. 
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF tracks the Nasdaq US Smart Pharmaceuticals Index, holding 50 securities in its basket. The in-focus five firms account for a combined 32.2% of the assets. FTXH has AUM of $19.9 million. First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF charges 60 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2269782/a-look-at-pharma-etfs-post-q1-earnings?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2269782">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

A Look at Pharma ETFs Post Q1 Earnings

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pts9TMbsBk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pts9TMbsBk</a>

Politics

iShares Biotech ETF Up 1.2%, PowerShares Pharma ETF Up 1.4% Ahead Of Pres Trump Press Conference On Lowering Drug Prices

Each day, the Benzinga Pro news team highlights several stocks with Trading Idea potential. Be the first to see them by <a href="http://try.benzingapro.com/start-your-free-trial-tradefastertradesmarter">becoming a Benzinga Pro user</a>!
Trade Desk Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ttd#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) stock soared nearly 30 percent early Friday morning in reaction to its <a rhef="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trade-desk-stock-shoots-up-on-earnings-beat-for-adtech-company-2018-05-10">first-quarter earnings report</a>. The adtech company said it earned 34 cents per share in the quarter on revenue of $85.7 million versus estimates of 10 cents per share and $73.31 million. Management also guided its full-year 2018 revenue guidance to $433 million versus estimates of $403.96 million.
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rxii#NASDAQ">RXII</a>) gained more than 13 percent after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/05/r11693974/rxi-pharmaceuticals-enters-into-material-transfer-agreement-with-iovan">announcing a new research collaboration.</a> The immuno-oncology therapeutics company said it will partner with Iovance Biotherapeutics to evaluate the potential synergies with RXi&#39;s novel sd-rxRNA therapeutic compounds and Iovance&#39;s autologous cell therapy.
PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals(ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pjp#NYSE">PJP</a>) could see increased volatility throughout Friday&#39;s trading session. President Donald Trump is expected to deliver to the public his administration&#39;s vision on tackling drug prices.
Stellar Biotechnologies Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sbot#NASDAQ">SBOT</a>) lost more than 40 percent early Friday morning. The low-float play stock has seen high volatility over the past few weeks and announced a new offering of 2.075 million shares of its common stock at $2.65 per unit. Shares of the therapeutic vaccine pipeline maker closed Thursday at $3.88.
MoSys Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mosy#NASDAQ">MOSY</a>) gained more than 40 percent in reaction to its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/05/g11689690/mosys-inc-reports-first-quarter-2018-financial-results">first-quarter earnings beat</a> on Thursday. The provider of semiconductor solutions said it earned 6 cents per share in the first quarter on revenue of $4.208 million versus expectations of a four cent per share loss and $3.95 million.
<il>Related Links:</il>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/18/05/11694299/22-stocks-moving-in-fridays-pre-market-session">22 Stocks Moving In Friday&#39;s Pre-Market Session</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/18/05/11694059/a-peek-into-the-markets-us-stock-futures-rise-ahead-of-import-prices-consumer-se">A Peek Into The Markets: US Stock Futures Rise Ahead Of Import Prices, Consumer Sentiment Data</a>

Pre-Market Outlook

MOSY

RXII

SBOT

Benzinga Pro's 5 Stocks To Watch Today

We are halfway through 2017 and pharma stocks have recovered nicely with their performance representing a sharp contrast to 2016 when the sector was under immense pressure due to the drug pricing issue. Another factor that weighed on pharma stocks last year was the noticeably lower number of FDA approvals. 2016 saw only 22 treatments gaining FDA approval, well below 45 approvals in 2015 and 41 in 2014. The industry was also hit by some high profile R&amp;D failures as well as mixed results, slower-than-expected new product launches and increasing competition.
&nbsp;
However, the sector has fared better this yearand the NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index is up 10.1% year-to-date (YTD). New product sales ramp up, R&amp;D success and innovation, strong results, a higher number of FDA approvals and continued strong performance from legacy products are some of the factors that could contribute to a sustained recovery in the sector. Tax reforms and cash repatriation would support a recovery as well. (Read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/266090/forget-big-tech-biotech-etfs-are-soaring-higher">Forget Big Tech; Biotech ETFs are Soaring Higher</a>)
&nbsp;
Importantly, investors now seem to be more comfortable with the drug pricing scenario and are willing to look at the fundamentals of the sector. Although the drug pricing issue will remain a headwind this year as well, expectations are that steps taken by the Trump administration to drive down drug prices will not be as draconian as previously expected.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Deregulation and increased competition seem to be some of the ways that will be used to control drug prices. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently said that the agency is working on a plan to lower healthcare costs by speeding up the development of next-generation treatments, especially for rare diseases or targeted cancer therapies.
&nbsp;
Faster Drug Approval Process?
&nbsp;
At a meeting with pharma majors earlier this year, President Trump spoke about speeding up the FDA approval process. The President said that the FDA will be streamlined and the drug approval process will be much faster. The 21st Century Cures Act is a step in this direction.
&nbsp;
With the passing of this Act, expectations are that there will be more innovation in the sector and, maybe, a surge in new drug approvals. According to an IMSQuintiles report, the late-phase R&amp;D pipeline for the industry indicates that there should be about 40-45 new brand launches every year through 2021.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the FDA has already surpassed last year&#39;s total tally with 23 drugs being approved so far in 2017. &nbsp;(Read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/266846/how-to-build-a-winning-etf-portfolio-for-secondhalf-2017">How to Build a Winning ETF Portfolio for Second-Half 2017</a>)
&nbsp;
Will M&amp;As Pick Pace?
&nbsp;
There has been a lot of consolidation in the pharma industry over the last few years with quite a few deals being announced/completed in 2016. Expectations are high that M&amp;As will increase as the year progresses -- potential tax reform and cash repatriation are expected to lead to a boost in this area. While not too many deals have been announced so far in 2017, we could see several M&amp;A agreements being announced in the coming quarters though companies are wary of bidding wars leading to over-priced deals.
&nbsp;
Companies with innovative technologies and pipelines are highly sought after. Niche disease areas like nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), immuno-oncology and multiple sclerosis are in demand. Treatments for orphan diseases are also much sought after with quite a few deals being signed in these areas. (Read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/266243/best-leveraged-etfs-of-first-half-of-2017">Best Leveraged ETFs of First Half of 2017</a>)
&nbsp;
Innovative Pipelines &amp; Catalyst Rich 2017 
&nbsp;
Pharma companies continue to work on bringing innovative new treatments to market, and there could be significant catalysts in the coming quarters in the form of important new product approvals as well as major data read-outs especially in key therapeutic areas like immuno-oncology, Alzheimer&#39;s, central nervous system disorders, and immunology/inflammation.
&nbsp;
Cancer remains a key focus area. According to IMSQuintiles, 68 new cancer drugs were approved for 22 indications from 2011 to 2016 while worldwide costs for cancer therapeutics and supportive care drugs shot up from $91 billion in 2012 to $113 billion in 2016. More than 600 molecules are in late stage development with the majority being targeted therapy.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, sales of products that gained approval over the last two years as well as line extensions should ramp up and boost growth.
&nbsp;
Pharma ETFs in Focus
&nbsp;
Highlighted below are some pharma ETFs - ETFs present a low-cost and convenient way to get a diversified exposure to the sector.
&nbsp;
Powershares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF (ETF:PJP)
&nbsp;
PJP, launched in Jun 2005 by Invesco PowerShares, tracks the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index. The fund covers healthcare stocks. The top 3 holdings include Celgene Corporation (5.24%), Amgen Inc. (5.14%) and AbbVie Inc. (5.01%). The total assets of the fund as of Jul 6, 2017 were $742.1 million representing 30 holdings. The fund&#39;s expense ratio is 0.57% while dividend yield is 0.81%. The trading volume is roughly 53,041 shares per day.
&nbsp;
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (ETF:XPH)
&nbsp;
XPH, launched inJun 2006, tracks the S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index. This ETF primarily covers pharma stocks with the top 3 holdings being Akorn, Inc. (5.27%), Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (5.19%), and Endo International, plc (4.7%).
&nbsp;
Total assets as of Jul 6, 2017 were $458.5 million representing 38 holdings. The fund&#39;s expense ratio is 0.35% and dividend yield is 0.62%.The trading volume is roughly 58,019 shares per day.
&nbsp;
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals (ETF:IHE)
&nbsp;
IHE, launched in May 2006, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Pharmaceuticals Index. The fund mainly consists of pharma companies (89.8%). Biotech companies account for about 10.1% of the fund.
&nbsp;
The top 3 holdings of this fund are Johnson &amp; Johnson (9.95%), Pfizer Inc. (8.21%) and Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (7.58%). The total assets of the fund as of Jul 6, 2017 were $693.7 million representing 41 holdings. The fund&#39;s expense ratio is 0.44% with the dividend yield being 1.25%. The trading volume is roughly 19,527 shares per day.
&nbsp;
Market Vectors Pharmaceutical (ETF:PPH)
&nbsp;
PPH was launched in Dec 2011 and tracks the Market Vectors U.S. Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index. This ETF covers healthcare stocks. While the expense ratio is 0.35%, dividend yield is 1.95%. The trading volume is roughly 39,357 shares per day. The total assets of the fund as of Jul 6, 2017 were $276.8 million representing 26 holdings. The top 3 holdings of this fund are Johnson &amp; Johnson (8.63%), Novartis AG (6.4%) and AbbVie Inc. (5.17%).
&nbsp;
Conclusion
&nbsp;
Although fears regarding the drug pricing issue have waned, it will nevertheless remain a headwind until the Trump administration comes out with a policy for controlling drug prices. Meanwhile, increased pipeline visibility and appropriate utilization of cash should increase confidence in the sector.
&nbsp;
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What Lies Ahead For Pharma ETFs In Second Half 2017

Ahead of Election Day, &quot;Shark Tank&quot; investor Kevin O&#39;Leary shared a preview of a few trades he was considering in case Donald Trump <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/education/16/11/8654498/gamblers-are-hedging-their-election-bets-but-clinton-remains-heavy-f">wins the presidency</a>.

	O&#39;Leary&#39;s strategy centers around a big boost to biotech stocks given Democratic rhetoric towards the sector in the election cycle.

	Throughout the Democratic primary and general election, nominee Hillary Clinton and primary challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders frequently criticized biotech companies for increases in drug prices. Congressional hearings in recent years have found fault with price increases in the hundreds of percentage points from companies like Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vrx#NYSE">VRX</a>) and Mylan NV (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/myl#NASDAQ">MYL</a>).

	&ldquo;If you thought Trump was going to win and you&#39;re doing thematic trading, what interests me would be the healthcare sector: biotech, generics, large pharma domestic and medical devices companies,&rdquo; O&#39;Leary told Benzinga in an interview.

	O&rsquo;Leary thinks investors can take advantage of the pressure Democrats have put on the biotech sector in case of a Trump win, which he believes <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/16/11/8651901/why-kevin-oleary-thinks-trump-could-still-win">is more likely</a> than polls suggest.

	&ldquo;I think you go long for every dollar you put 25 cents into IHI (iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (AMEX: IHI)), PJP (PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals (AMEX: PJP)), IBB (iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ibb#NASDAQ">IBB</a>)), JRX,&rdquo; O&#39;Leary said. &ldquo;They have had the living stuffing kicked out of them. Bernie Sanders did another number on pharma, [and the sector&rsquo;s] down another 100 basis points. This rhetoric is really compressing PEs. That&rsquo;s a trade I will probably put on, because I the data I&rsquo;ve seen on the polling tells me I have a 50/50 chance of Trump. If I end up being wrong anyways, I&rsquo;m buying at a material discount and extremely high yields past 3%. That&rsquo;s one way to go through next week and probably thematic trade for the next quarter,&rdquo; O&#39;Leary concluded.

	On November 18, O&#39;Leary will be sharing his 2017 investment outlook at the CFA Society of Detroit&#39;s Annual Forecast Luncheon. <a href="http://www.cfasociety.org/detroit/Lists/Events%20Calendar/DispForm.aspx?ID=322&amp;Source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecfasociety%2Eorg%2Fdetroit%2Flists%2Fevents%2520calendar%2Fcalendar%2Easpx">See here</a> for more information.&ensp;

Interview

iShares Dow Jones US Medical Devices Index Fund

Mr. Wonderful's Election Week Trades For A Trump Victory

Radio frequencies frequently emitted by cellphones can cause cancer, according to partial findings of a government study on rats, reported the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a>.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has carried out extensive toxicology and carcinogenesis <a href="http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf">studies of radiofrequency radiation (RFR)</a> in rats over multiple years. The studies involved observing the effects of frequencies and modulations found in the U.S. telecommunications industry on the rodents, paying particular attention to the potential of cancer-cell developments.
<h3>The Study</h3>
The peer-reviewed study found "the occurrences of two tumor types in male Harlan Sprague Dawley rats exposed to RFR (radiofrequency radiation), malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas of the heart," according to <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/possible-cellphone-link-cancer-rat-study-launches-new-debate-n581621">the research team</a>.
<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/16/05/8040684/astrazeneca-remains-committed-to-development-of-zs-9-despite-letter-from-fda">AstraZeneca Remains Committed To Development of ZS-9 Despite Letter From FDA</a></bzrelatedlink>
"Given the widespread global usage of mobile communications among users of all ages, even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to [radio-frequency radiation] could have broad implications for public health," the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a> quoted a report of partial findings from the study.
Under these studies, rats and mice were exposed to radio-frequency "with two signal modulations [Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)] at two frequencies (900 MHz for rats and 1900 MHz for mice)," the <a href="http://biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf">NTP</a> wrote.
The study also found that "the tumors in the brain and heart observed at low incidence in male rats exposed to GSM and CDMA-modulated cell phone RFR in this study are of a type similar to tumors observed in some epidemiology studies of cell phone use."
"All RF exposures were conducted over a period of approximately 18 hours using a continuous cycle of 10 minutes on (exposed) and 10 minutes off (not exposed), for a total daily exposure time of approximately 9 hours a day, 7 days/week," according to the study.
<h3>What Does It All Mean?</h3>
"Where people were saying there's no risk, I think this ends that kind of statement," the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a> report said, quoting Ron Melnick, who ran the NTP project until his retirement in 2009.
The Journal said, "It's not clear how the results may impact the government's cellphone safety recommendations."
"Scientific evidence always informs FCC rules on this matter," an FCC spokesman told the Journal. "We will continue to follow all recommendations from federal health and safety experts including whether the FCC should modify its current policies and RF exposure limits."

Wall Street Journal

Media

BIIB

First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Health Care Provides Index Fund

iShares Trust S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund

Government Study: Cellphone Radiation Linked To Cancer

Investors that closely follow the healthcare sector are most likely familiar with the carnage at Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vrx#NYSE">VRX</a>). Shares of the controversial pharmaceuticals maker have lost nearly two-thirds of their value over the past 90 days, plaguing some hedge funds and <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/15/09/5877700/this-etf-has-a-valeant-problem">exchange traded funds</a> along the way.

	On Monday, shares of Mallinckrodt PLC (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mnk#NYSE">MNK</a>) slid more than 17.4, a decline,&nbsp;triggered by a tweet from Citron Research&nbsp;that read, &quot;At these prices $MNK has signif more downside than $VRX-- far worse offender of the reimb sys - more to follow. VRX can&#39;t live in a vacuum.&quot;

	Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/15/11/5969669/mallinckrodt-the-latest-to-feel-citrons-wrath-has-significantly-more-d">Mallinckrodt The Latest To Feel Citron&#39;s Wrath, Has Significantly More Downside Than Valeant</a>

	Clearly, Citron expects more downside for Mallinckrodt, another pharmaceuticals favorite among the hedge fund crowd, so that leaves ETF investors looking for pharmaceuticals exposure. One play? DO some homework and study healthcare ETFs&#39; holdings... or just skip to the $1.6 billion PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pjp#NYSE">PJP</a>).
<h3>
	PJP</h3>

	PJP, which is a strategic beta ETF that evaluates its 23 holdings based on price momentum, earnings momentum, quality, management action, and value, currently does not feature Mallinckrodt or Valeant on its roster. However, that does not mean Valeant&#39;s woes have not permeated PJP. The ETF has tumbled nearly 11 percent since Valeant&#39;s slide began.

	Still, PJP deserves some credit as it has popped 3.3 percent over the past month, a period in which Valeant has lost more than half its value. For the bold trader, the Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical Bull 2X Shares (NYSE: PILL) is also worth a look.
<h3>
	PILL</h3>

	PILL, which attempts to deliver double the daily performance of PJP&#39;s underlying index, debuted less than two months ago, but has managed to climbed nearly 7.7 percent over the past month. Lack of Mallinckrodt and Valeant exposure is not the only reason to mull PJP and PILL.

	PJP allocates a combined 10.7 percent of its weight to Dow component Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) and Allergan Plc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/agn#NYSE">AGN</a>), two companies that could announce one of the <a href="http:// http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/15/10/5949034/these-etfs-should-love-the-pfizer-allergan-news">biggest healthcare marriages</a> in recent memory by Thanksgiving. PILL would also be clearly levered to that a positive outcome for that deal.
<h3>
	PILS</h3>

	And if deterioration in shares of Mallinckrodt and Valeant proves too much for the broader pharmaceuticals space to handle, the Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical Bear 2X Shares (NYSE: PILS) will get its turn in the limelight. PILS, which debuted on the same days as PILL, seeks to deliver twice the daily inverse returns of PJP&#39;s index.

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Specialty ETFs

How To Avoid The Pharmaceuticals Fallout With These Three ETFs

In what could amount to the biggest takeover of a U.S. company in over a year, Dow component Pfizer Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) is reportedly mulling an acquisition of specialty pharmaceuticals maker Allergan Plc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/agn#NYSE">AGN</a>).

	&quot;Pfizer recently approached Allergan about a deal, according to people familiar with the matter, with one of them adding that the process is early and may not yield an agreement. Other details of the talks are unclear,&quot; reports The <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-allergan-considering-combining-1446079506">Wall Street Journal</a>.&nbsp;

	Allergan closed with a market value of about $113 billion on Wednesday. Pfizer&#39;s market value at Wednesday&#39;s close was nearly double that. New York-based Pfizer had nearly <a href="https://ycharts.com/companies/PFE/cash_on_hand">$30.3 billion in cash </a>on hand at the end of the second quarter.&nbsp;

	As is par for the course with healthcare sector deal-making, a batch of exchange traded funds stand to benefit, particularly if Pfizer can stomach what is likely to be a rich takeover price for Allergan. Among the ETF beneficiaries of the news, perhaps none standout more than the $917.7 million iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihe#NYSE">IHE</a>).

	Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/15/10/5947739/walgreens-rite-aid-buyout-will-hopefully-put-downward-pr">Walgreens-Rite Aid Buyout Will &#39;Hopefully&#39; Put Downward Pressure On Drug Prices</a>
<h3>
	Pharma ETF</h3>

	Really, it is about simple math for ETFs when it comes to benefiting from takeover talk and the math favors IHE. As of October 27, Pfizer and Allergan were IHE&#39;s second- and fifth-largest holdings, respectively, combining for more than 17 percent of the ETF&#39;s weight.

	Further examination of IHE&#39;s <a href="http://www.ishares.com/us/products/239519/IHE?referrer=tickerSearch">43-stock roster </a>reveals that roughly a quarter of the ETF&#39;s holdings are credible takeover targets and/or have already been rumored to be just that while a comparable amount of the ETF&#39;s lineup are legitimate buyers.&nbsp;
<h3>
	Beta Spin</h3>

	The PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pjp#NYSE">PJP</a>), <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/15/09/5871033/the-survey-says-advisors-love-smart-beta-etfs">a strategic beta spin</a> on pharmaceuticals ETFs, is another ETF that cannot be overlooked as Pfizer mulls a marriage with Allergan. Pfizer and Allergan are PJP&#39;s second- and eighth-largest holdings, combining for nearly 11 percent of the ETF&#39;s weight.&nbsp;

	PJP&#39;s underlying index &quot;is designed to provide capital appreciation by thoroughly evaluating companies based on a variety of investment merit criteria, including: price momentum, earnings momentum, quality, management action, and value,&quot;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.invesco.com/portal/site/us/financial-professional/etfs/product-detail?productId=PJP">according to PowerShares</a>.

	Like IHE, PJP is chock of healthcare buyers and sellers because the ETF allocates nearly two-thirds of its weight to large- and mega-cap stocks with the remainder going to small-caps. More than 10 percent of PJP&#39;s $1.6 billion in assets under management have flowed into the ETF over the past year, meaning only 11 PowerShares have added more new assets over that period.

	More importantly, PJP has risen more than five-fold over the past decade, making it the best-performing U.S. ETF over that span. A big reason behind PJP&#39;s decade of dominance has been, not surprisingly, healthcare mergers and acquisitions activity.

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