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Monday, June 9, 2025

Pfizer at Goldman Sachs Conference

 On Monday, 09 June 2025, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) participated in the Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Healthcare Conference. CEO Albert Bourla and U.S. Pharma Analyst Assad Heather discussed Pfizer’s strategic outlook amid evolving drug pricing policies and market conditions. The dialogue highlighted Pfizer’s resilience and growth strategies, balanced by the challenges of regulatory changes and market competition.

Key Takeaways

  • Pfizer is actively navigating potential impacts from the Most Favored Nation (MFN) executive order, focusing on regulatory strategies to mitigate risks.
  • The company is committed to maintaining its financial guidance for 2025, with significant emphasis on cost control and revenue streams.
  • Strategic acquisitions, including the 3S Bio deal, are crucial for expanding Pfizer’s product portfolio, particularly in cardiometabolic and obesity sectors.
  • Pfizer’s product pipeline is robust, with promising developments in treatments for multiple myeloma and bladder cancer.
  • The company remains dedicated to shareholder value, prioritizing dividend growth and disciplined capital allocation.

Financial Results and Outlook

  • 2025 Guidance: Pfizer is confident in meeting its 2025 financial targets, driven by strong cost management and diverse revenue streams. The impact of COVID-19 remains uncertain, with revenue projections heavily reliant on late-year performance.
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: Despite disagreements with CDC recommendations, Pfizer anticipates minimal disruption in vaccine demand, though future COVID-19 waves pose potential challenges.
  • Cost Cuts: The company aims to achieve $1.7 billion in operational expense savings and $1.5 billion in manufacturing efficiencies through technology and process improvements over the next two years.

Operational Updates

External Environment and Drug Pricing: Ongoing discussions about the MFN executive order could significantly influence U.S. and international drug pricing. Pfizer advocates for increased European spending on innovative medicines and is prepared to adjust operations based on tariff outcomes.

  • M&A and Business Development: Pfizer’s acquisition of a PD-1 VEGF bispecific asset from 3S Bio for $1.2 billion is expected to enhance its ADC portfolio. The company is exploring additional acquisitions in the $10 billion to $15 billion range, with a focus on cardiometabolic and obesity markets.

Future Outlook

  • Product Pipeline Updates: Key developments include the anticipated Phase 2 readouts for Oral GLP-1 next year and a new indication for Elrexfio in multiple myeloma, potentially tripling its patient base. Vyndaqel remains strong despite competitive pressures, and a new subcutaneous PD-1 treatment for bladder cancer offers improved patient convenience.

Q&A Highlights

  • CEO Albert Bourla emphasized the importance of innovation and strategic capital allocation, stating, "Uncertainty always punishes," while reiterating Pfizer’s commitment to maintaining and growing its dividend.
  • Bourla reassured investors of Pfizer’s disciplined approach to acquisitions, noting, "We don’t want to overpay," highlighting a cautious yet strategic investment stance.

For more in-depth insights, readers are encouraged to refer to the full conference call transcript.

Full transcript - Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Healthcare Conference:


California fuel imports rise to four-year high; reliance seen growing with planned refinery closures

 California's fuel imports climbed to the highest in four years in May to 279K bbl/day, as refiners turned to trading partners in Asia to make up for shortages in the state, Reuters reported Monday, citing shipping data and traders.

Recent outages in California at refineries owned by Chevron (CVX), PBF Energy (PBF) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) caused a supply crunch in markets along the West Coast that prompted the need for more imports, traders and analysts said.

The state's reliance on fuel imports likely will grow after Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) and Valero (NYSE:VLO) close two major refineries in the state by next year, thanks to growing regulatory and cost pressures.

"California's refining capacity is shrinking faster than its fuel demand is declining, forcing the state into a long-term import-dependent position," Kpler analyst Sumit Ritolia said.

Retail gasoline prices averaged $4.68/gal in California on Friday, while the national average was $3.12/gal, according to data from GasBuddy.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/california-fuel-imports-rise-to-four-year-high-reliance-seen-growing-with-planned-refinery-closures/ar-AA1GoIUq

Billionaire Johnson Family’s VC Fund to Exit China Tech Holdings

 


A venture capital fund backed by Fidelity Investments’ billionaire Johnson family plans to unload its Chinese technology holdings amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington, according to people familiar with the matter.

Eight Roads, Abigail Johnson’s family firm that was an early investor in China’s internet sector, began exploring the sale of all its investments in about 40 Chinese tech companies earlier this year, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-10/billionaire-johnson-family-s-vc-fund-to-exit-china-tech-holdings

Autoimmune biotech Odyssey Therapeutics withdraws $100 million IPO

 Odyssey Therapeutics, a Phase 2-ready biotech developing precision therapies for autoimmune diseases, withdrew its plans for an initial public offering on Monday. It originally filed in January 2025 with a proposed deal size of $100 million.


Focused on patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, Odyssey is developing medicines that are designed to precisely target disease pathology with an initial emphasis on the innate immune system. Its most advanced candidate, OD-07656, is a small molecule scaffolding inhibitor of receptor-interacting protein kinase 2. The company plans to commence a Phase 2a monotherapy trial for ulcerative colitis in the 1Q25 and a Phase 2a combination trial with vedolizumab in the 1H26. Its pipeline also contains two preclinical programs: a small molecule scaffolding inhibitor of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4, and an agonistic protein therapeutic targeting tumor necrosis factor receptor 2.

The Boston, MA-based company was founded in 2021 and booked $3 million in collaboration revenue for the 12 months ended September 30, 2024. It had planned to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol ODTX. Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and TD Cowen were set to be the joint bookrunners on the deal.

'NYC opens new front in war on rats as contraceptive program kicks off in Harlem'

 Rats, not tonight, honey.

The city just opened its latest front on its war against its most hated rodents — lacing rat bait around the city with birth control.

The program kick-started on city property in Harlem last week — and is expected to cost nearly $600,000 annually for the anti-procreation pellets and a staff of five full-timers, including a city research scientist and pest-control aide, according to City Council documents.

The city is pulling out all the stops to contraception to try to curb its rat population.Christopher Sadowski

The move comes a week after UFO-like “Empire Bins’’ were put in the same Manhattan neighborhood to try to end curbside feasts for the relentless rodents.

“We’re incredibly excited and optimistic about all the containerization work we’re seeing in the city because that’s reducing food competition — and really reducing a rat’s ability to reproduce by cutting off its food source,” city rat czar Kathleen Corradi told The Post in an exclusive interview Monday.

“What the science tells us is removal of a food source, removal of those conditions that allow them to thrive, is how we get to achieve sustained production — and we’re seeing really great results in that regard,” she said. 

Big Apple officials from Mayor Eric Adams on down have declared war on the rodents.Kevin C Downs for The New York Post

The rodent ”contraceptive stations” rely on bait designed to specifically woo rats.

The contraceptive pellets slow egg production in female rats and sperm mobility in males.

The effort is part of “Flaco’s Law,” which the council passed after rat poison was linked to the death of the Central Park Zoo’s beloved escapee Flaco the owl.

The contraceptives are in tamper-resistant contraptions and pose an extremely low risk to humans, pets or “non-target” wildlife, a city rep said.

The city Health Department will conduct monthly inspections to track signs of rats in the area, according to the legislation.

Hundreds of “Empire Bins” designed to get residential waste off of city streets were installed in Harlem this year.Kevin C Downs for The New York Post

Once the pilot wraps in 12 months, workers will report to the mayor and council on whether the approach has been effective at curbing rats.

Citywide rat sightings reported to 311 are down each of the past six months when compared to the same time period last year, coinciding with the city’s new requirements for closed-lid trash containers.

But not all areas around the city have seen a decrease in rat sightings.

The community-board district where the contraception pilot program is in West Harlem has seen a 7.8% jump in rat sightings compared to this time last year, according to a Post analysis of 311 data.

Corradi argues that the city’s efforts are only as good as property owners’ compliance from waste containerization to outdoor dining regulations.

A rat-chewed New York City Department of Sanitation trash bin shows how pesky the critters are.Gabriella Bass

“[Human] behavior change is hard,” she said.

“We are doing integrated pest management on city-owned properties, but then the 98% remaining of the tax lots that are privately owned properties, that’s up to the property owners to choose what mechanisms they’re doing when it comes to [rat population] control.”

Corradi added that when one area has success combatting the rodents, she doesn’t expect hungry rats to simply migrate to other parts of the city in search of food because the rodent species is “by nature, hyperlocal. 

“Typically, these animals don’t travel 100 to 300 feet from where they’re living to their food source,” she said.

https://nypost.com/2025/06/09/us-news/birth-of-a-new-era-as-nyc-plants-rat-contraceptives-in-harlem/

The Doomsday-Plot-Dots Congress Refuses to Connect

 


While there is no record of how many bills have passed the U.S. Senate without any opposition, it is undoubtedly a rarity. Obviously, for this to happen, an issue must be straightforward and clearly understood by all to be in the best interests of the country. One of the only times such a vote was successfully cast on a major national security issue was the day after Pearl Harbor as the senate voted 82-0 to declare war against Japan. The total would have probably been greater had all senators been present for the vote.

History tells us there was an earlier time as well when politicians were able to put their differences aside to cast a unanimous vote on a defense bill in the best interests of our country.

It was 1794 and, following the U.S. defeat of the British in 1783, the Barbary pirates were attacking American shipping and enslaving the crews. In 1786, then-U.S. minister to France—Thomas Jefferson—met with the Barbary minister in London to negotiate a treaty.

Jefferson was told by the Barbary minister that, as Muslims, it was their right to attack and enslave non-believers and the U.S. would, therefore, have to pay a tribute. Having no navy, the U.S. agreed to an annual tribute of $25,000. However, by 1794, the Senate had had enough and voted unanimously to fund construction of six ships to start the U.S. Navy. Thus, in 1805, a much more confident President Jefferson stopped paying the tribute, defeating the pirates after they declared war against the U.S.

In 1794, our Senate worked the way it was designed to work. Recognizing an active threat to the U.S. would not make it go away, necessitating action by Congress to confront it, and the Senate did so—arming itself with a navy capable of neutralizing such a threat.

Unfortunately, Congress today lacks the qualities of our Founding Fathers. Our politicians are incapable of recognizing an obvious threat to the nation and addressing it, regardless of politics. This is despite an incident reported to have occurred last year, providing yet one more “dot” to be connected to substantiate the game plan China masterminded in 2003 to achieve the destruction of America. Congress fails to connect these dots, blinded by political motivations rather than our best interests.

While the incident occurred in 2024, charges against those involved were just recently filed. Two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were caught smuggling a “dangerous biological pathogen” into the U.S. Liu attempted to smuggle the fungus, known as Fusarium graminearum, through Detroit’s airport, allegedly to study it at a University of Michigan lab where his girlfriend, Jian, worked. The fungus is capable of creating a plant disease that destroys wheat, barley, maize, and rice. The two individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods, false statements, and visa fraud.

But this is not an isolated event. And it all began twenty-two years ago as a gleam in the eye of a Chinese defense minister.

In 2003, a secret meeting was held–the message of which was unknowingly recorded. Numerous members of the Chinese Communist Party were addressed by Defense Minister General Chi Hoatian. He laid bare his diabolical doomsday plan for America.

It was not a conventional war against the U.S. that Chi advocated, or a nuclear one, saying, “Only by using non-destructive weapons that can kill many people will we be able to reserve America for ourselves.” He praised the “rapid development of modern biological technology and new bioweapons” that China had made, claiming it is such weaponry that must be further developed, “cleaning up America.” And, solving the “issue of America” is key to solving all other issues.

Thus, Chi sought to kill Americans biologically in order to preserve their land for China’s colonization.

Chi noted that China still needed America for “their capital and technology.” So, he continued, in conducting its foreign affairs with America, it is important to put on,

[A] smiling face in order to please them…The United States is the most successful country in the World today. Only after we have learned all of its useful experiences can we replace it in the future. Even though we are presently imitating the American tone ‘China and the United States rely on each other’…we must not forget that the history of our civilization repeatedly has taught us that one mountain does not allow two tigers to live together.

There are two other dots that can now be linked to Chi’s speech.

First, we know that COVID-19 was leaked by China’s Wuhan research lab in late 2019. While the leak was probably accidental, it raises the issue of China’s involvement in gain-of-function development, giving an animal virus the capability of jumping to humans. And, with China’s focus on DNA, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that human transference could be made race-specific. After all, Beijing has amassed the largest genomic holdings in the world.

Second, further suggesting Chi’s plan may be in the works was the discovery in 2023 of a secret Chinese bio lab in Reedley, California, located near a military airbase. The building contained 900 genetically engineered mice which had been engineered to catch and carry COVID-19. Investigators also discovered blood, tissue and Ebola samples as well as thousands of vials of unlabeled fluids. The lab was owned by a Chinese national with the addresses of authorized agent offices either vacant or unverifiable in China. It appears nothing was done to further investigate the building’s unlicensed activities.

Despite the dots that are out there suggesting a Chinese doomsday scenario awaits America, Democrats opt to play party politics rather than act in the best interests of the country. This was vividly demonstrated in Arizona recently.

China has been buying up vast amounts of land in the U.S. Arizona’s Republican majority legislature proposed a bill to limit Chinese ownership to safeguard the state’s “military, commercial and agricultural assets” from risk of “foreign espionage and sabotage,” possibly leading to national security threats. Passed by the legislature, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed it, claiming the bill was “ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets.’’ As this would have been a start to banning Chinese land acquisition in the state, Hobbs ridiculously chose to act politically against the Republican majority rather than in America’s best interests.

Chi retired the same year he gave his 2003 speech. He is still alive today at age 95, perhaps motivated by the desire to see his doomsday plan become a reality.

Over two centuries ago, we were blessed to have patriots serving in Congress who acted solely in the nation’s best interests. Today, we have a Congress incapable of doing so—instead choosing to act purely based on political priorities.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/06/the_doomsday_plot_dots_congress_refuses_to_connect.html