Author: IQ TIMES MEDIA

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Swiss drugmaker Roche on Thursday lifted its full-year profit guidance, even after nine-month sales were burdened by foreign exchange effects to come in below expectations. In a statement, the group said it projected a gain in adjusted earnings per share in the “high single to low double digit” percentage range. The was up from a previous guidance for the figures to grow by a “high single digit” percentage. It confirmed its outlook for mid single-digit sales growth. The brighter earnings prospects, albeit excluding the foreign-exchange burden, could provide a tailwind for CEO Thomas Schinecker as he invests heavily…

By Kamal Choudhury (Reuters) -Moderna said on Wednesday it would stop developing its experimental vaccine to prevent cytomegalovirus, a virus that can cause birth defects, after it failed to meet the main goal of a late-stage trial. Shares of the drugmaker were down over 5% in extended trading following the news. The late-stage trial tested the vaccine, mRNA-1647, in about 7,500 women aged 16 to 40. The shot showed efficacy ranging between 6% and 23%, depending on how the cases were defined, which was below Moderna’s target. Cytomegalovirus is a common virus that usually causes mild illness. However, if passed…

By Sneha S K (Reuters) -Molina Healthcare shares fell 20% on Thursday, a day after the insurer cut its annual profit forecast for the third time this year, underscoring the strain of surging medical costs across government-backed health plans. The warning deepened investor worries around insurance plans related to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, dragging down shares of Centene and Oscar Health about 7%. Larger rivals UnitedHealth and Cigna also fell about 1%. Molina’s decision to lower its annual adjusted profit forecast to about $14 per share, from at least $19 per share, was disproportionately influenced by…

By Sneha S K (Reuters) -Molina Healthcare shares fell 18% in premarket trading on Thursday, a day after the insurer cut its annual profit forecast for the third time this year, driven by higher medical costs on its government-backed plans. The results also dragged down shares of Centene and Oscar Health — with large businesses focused on Affordable Care Act plans — between 3% and 7%. Larger rivals UnitedHealth and Elevance also fell about 1.5% premarket. Molina’s new annual adjusted profit forecast of about $14 per share, down sharply from at least $19 per share, was disproportionately affected by “unprecedented”…

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved British drugmaker GSK’s blood cancer drug, Blenrep, in one combination regimen, the company said on Thursday, clearing the way for its return to the market nearly three years after it was withdrawn. The FDA approved Blenrep in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma whose disease has returned or stopped responding to treatment after at least one prior therapy. A second regimen pairing Blenrep with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, tested in a separate trial, was not included in the approval. U.S.-listed shares of the company were down 4% in…

(Reuters) -Biogen said on Friday it has gained global rights to privately held Vanqua Bio’s experimental drug for up to $1.06 billion to expand its pipeline of immunology drugs. The oral drug targets a protein involved in various inflammatory disorders and is currently in preclinical testing, the drugmaker said. Biogen has been expanding into immunology and rare disease medicines through acquisitions and partnerships to drive revenue growth as sales continue to dwindle for its older multiple sclerosis drugs due to rising competition. Last year, the drugmaker agreed to buy privately held Human Immunology Biosciences for up to $1.8 billion to…

Social Security checks at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia. (William Thomas Cain / Getty Images file) The Social Security Administration announced Friday that benefit payments will increase 2.8% next year to account for the higher cost of living. The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment, knowns as the COLA, represents an increase over last year’s 2.5% figure, but it is lower than the historical average of about 3.7%. Individual retirement benefits will climb an average of about $56 per month, the agency said in a statement. The COLA is typically calculated using benchmark inflation data from July, August, and September. While…

By Siddhi Mahatole and Christy Santhosh (Reuters) -HCA Healthcare lifted its yearly profit and revenue forecasts on Friday as it expects sustained demand for medical procedures to cushion the hit from the Trump administration’s tariff policies, sending its shares up 4% before the bell. Hospital operators are expected to benefit from higher utilization this year as patients covered by Obamacare individual insurance plans make use of their benefits ahead of expected changes in 2026. Some COVID-19-era subsidies under individual Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans are due to lapse in 2026, which would lead patients to accelerate elective procedures, preventive care…

(Reuters) -HCA Healthcare raised its yearly profit and revenue forecasts on Friday as it expects sustained demand for medical procedures to cushion a hit from the Trump administration’s tariffs, sending its shares rising 5% in premarket trading. Hospital operators are expected to benefit from higher utilization this year as patients covered by Obamacare individual insurance plans make use of their benefits ahead of expected changes in 2026. Some COVID-era subsidies under individual Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans are set to lapse in 2026, which would lead patients to accelerate elective procedures, preventive care visits and diagnostic services while their insurance…

By Christy Santhosh and Siddhi Mahatole (Reuters) -HCA Healthcare raised its yearly profit and revenue forecasts on Friday on sustained demand for surgical procedures as well as strength in its Medicare business, sending its shares up 4% to $460.12. Hospital operators are benefiting from higher utilization underpinned by steady demand for surgical procedures, particularly among older adults, who are covered under the government’s Medicare insurance plans. However, HCA flagged uncertainty surrounding individual Affordable Care Act plans, also known as Obamacare, which come with COVID-19-era subsidies that are due to lapse in 2026. The company said it was actively advocating for…