AstraZeneca Option Alert: Jun, 2027 $70 Calls Sweep (7) near the Ask: 7843 vs 7 OI

AstraZeneca Option Alert: Jun, 2027 $70 Calls Sweep (7) near the Ask: 7843 @ $12.75 vs 7 OI; Ref=$69.79

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) Stock

AstraZeneca

A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across a number of major therapeutic areas, including oncology (about 40% of total revenue), cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (25%), rare disease (17%), and respiratory and immunology (15%). The majority of sales comes from international markets, with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.

AstraZeneca PLC - American Depositary Shares

AstraZeneca PLC

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AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's ENHERTU plus pertuzumab showed a median progression-free survival greater than three years
First trial in more than a decade to demonstrate an improvement in outcomes in the 1st-line setting for a broad population of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Positive results from the DESTINY-Breast09 Phase III trial showed ENHERTU&#xAE; (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) plus pertuzumab demonstrated a highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to a taxane, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (THP) as a 1st-line treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
Results will be presented today during a special late-breaking oral session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL (abstract #LBA1008).
In a prespecified interim analysis, ENHERTU plus pertuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% versus THP (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.71; p&lt;0.00001). Median PFS was 40.7 months with ENHERTUplus pertuzumab compared to 26.9 months for THP, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). The PFS benefit for ENHERTU plus pertuzumab versus THP was consistent across subgroups, including for the prespecified stratification factors of de novo or recurrent disease, hormone receptor status and PIK3CA mutation status.

News

AstraZeneca And Daiichi Sankyo's ENHERTU Plus Pertuzumab Shows Median Progression-Free Survival Greater Than Three Years

<ul>
<li>TROPION-Lung02 and TROPION-Lung04 phase 1b results support combination of Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca's DATROWAY with immunotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic NSCLC</li>
<li>TROPION-Lung02 results include first exploratory QCS analysis of DATROWAY in first-line setting</li>
<li>NeoCOAST-2 phase 2 results continue to show potential for DATROWAY plus durvalumab and single-agent platinum chemotherapy in neoadjuvant setting</li>
</ul>

DSNKY

Reported Sunday, AstraZeneca's DATROWAY Shows Over 55% Response Rate In First-Line Advanced NSCLC In TROPION-Lung02 Phase 1b Trial With Immunotherapy Combinations

<ul>
<li>Two-thirds (67.4%) of patients treated with IMFINZI-based perioperative regimen remained event-free at two years</li>
<li>First and only immunotherapy to demonstrate statistically significant event-free survival in a global Phase III trial in this setting</li>
</ul>

Reported Sunday, AstraZeneca's IMFINZI Regimen Reduces Risk Of Progression, Recurrence, Or Death By 29% In Early Gastric Cancer In Phase 3 MATTERHORN Trial

First pivotal trial to demonstrate clinical value of monitoring circulating tumor DNA to detect and treat emerging resistance in 1st-line therapy ahead of disease progression in breast cancer
First and only next-generation oral SERD and complete ER antagonist to demonstrate consistent progression-free survival benefit in combination with widely approved CDK4/6 inhibitors in 1st-line advanced breast cancer

Reported Sunday, AstraZeneca's Camizestrant Reduces Risk Of Progression Or Death By 56% In HR+ Advanced Breast Cancer With ESR1 Mutation In SERENA-6 Trial

<ul>
<li>Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca's ENHERTU demonstrated a median overall survival of 14.7 months</li>
<li>Results reinforce second-line use of ENHERTU globally in this setting</li>
</ul>

Reported Saturday, Daiichi Sankyo And AstraZeneca's ENHERTU Demonstrates 14.7-Month Median OS And 30% Reduction In Risk Of Death In HER2+ Gastric Cancer

WIIM

AstraZeneca shares are trading higher after the company announced it reached a settlement regarding its antitrust class action.

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/astrazeneca-agrees-51-million-settlement-seroquel-antitrust-class-action-2025-05-30/#:~:text=May%2030%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Drugmaker,to%20pay%20artificially%20higher%20prices.">https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/astrazeneca-agrees-51-million-settlement-seroquel-antitrust-class-action-2025-05-30/#:~:text=May%2030%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Drugmaker,to%20pay%20artificially%20higher%20prices.</a>
May 30 (Reuters) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $50.9 million to settle a class action lawsuit in U.S. court accusing the company of scheming to delay a generic version of its schizophrenia drug Seroquel, causing companies to pay artificially higher prices.
The plaintiffs, a group of drug purchasers including Smith Drug Co and KPH Healthcare Services, filed the <a href="https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/jnpwlnonxvw/Seroquel%20XR%20(Extended%20Release%20Quetiapine%20Fumarate)%20Antitrust%20Litig..pdf">preliminary settlement, opens new tab</a> on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The deal requires approval from U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly.
 The 2019 lawsuit alleged AstraZeneca schemed with Handa Pharmaceuticals to delay the marketing of a generic version of Seroquel XR, which is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Handa said it will pay $494,000 to settle the buyers' claims.
A trial had been scheduled for May 5.
AstraZeneca declined to comment. Handa and a lead attorney for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
AstraZeneca and Handa denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. They said the resolution avoids the expense and distraction of any further litigation.
Worldwide annual sales of Seroquel once topped $5.3 billion. The class period covers business purchases from 2015 to 2017.
In their settlement filing, the plaintiffs' attorneys called the amount an "outstanding" result for the class of drug buyers.
The plaintiffs' lawyers said they would seek up to 36% of the settlement fund for legal fees, or about $18.5 million.
AstraZeneca in 2010 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-us-settle-anti-psychotic-drug-case-idUSTRE63Q49J/">agreed to pay</a> $520 million to the U.S. government to settle claims that the company illegally marketed and promoted Seroquel for unapproved uses.
The company in 2011 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/legal/government/astrazeneca-in-685-mln-settlement-over-seroquel-idUSN10179553/">paid $68.5 million</a> to resolve U.S. states' claims over the alleged deceptive marketing of the drug.
The case is In re: Seroquel XR (Extended Release Quetiapine Fumarate) Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:20-cv-01076-CFC.

Legal

'AstraZeneca Agrees To $51 Million Settlement In Seroquel Antitrust Class Action' - Reuters News

<ul>
<li>Danaher has entered a partnership with AstraZeneca to scale precision medicine, including developing the next generation of AI-powered diagnostics</li>
<li>This partnership aims to create a framework for rapid diagnostics research, development and commercialization</li>
<li>Danaher, through its Centers for Enabling Precision Medicine, will provide support in all aspects of the development cycle across diagnostic modalities</li>
</ul>
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --&nbsp;Danaher Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>) ("Danaher"), a global science and technology innovator, announced today the launch of a partnership with AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) to develop and commercialize novel diagnostic tools and tests intended to help clinicians better determine which patients would most benefit from precision medicine treatments.
This partnership will utilize the newly opened Danaher Centers for Enabling Precision Medicine to support a more streamlined, end-to-end development process. The first product intended to be developed through this partnership will leverage technologies from Leica Biosystems, one of Danaher's subsidiaries. The initial focus will be on digital and computational pathology products and AI-assisted algorithms, to help clinicians better diagnose patients by identifying those who are most likely to benefit from targeted therapies.

Danaher Partners With AstraZeneca To Scale Precision Medicine, Including Developing Next Generation Of AI-Powered Diagnostics

AstraZeneca's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NYSE">AZN</a>) short percent of float has risen 50.0% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 7.34 million shares sold short, which is 0.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.36 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AstraZeneca Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1748545232_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AstraZeneca has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AstraZeneca's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AstraZeneca's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.04%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Looking Into AstraZeneca's Recent Short Interest

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The European Union Has Recommended Approving AstraZeneca's Imfinzi (Durvalumab) For Adult Patients With Resectable Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer In Combination With Gemcitabine And Cisplatin As Neoadjuvant Treatment, Followed By Imfinzi As Monotherapy Adjuvant Treatment After Radical Cystectomy (Bladder Removal Surgery)

<a href="https://www.cda-amc.ca/trastuzumab-deruxtecan-2" title="https://www.cda-amc.ca/trastuzumab-deruxtecan-2">https://www.cda-amc.ca/trastuzumab-deruxtecan-2</a>

Canada's Drug Agency Issues AstraZeneca's Enhertu Time-Limited Reimbursement Recommendation

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/rfk-jr-maha-commission-report-5c13696d">https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/rfk-jr-maha-commission-report-5c13696d</a>

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'What's Inside RFK Jr.'s MAHA Report'- Wall Street Journal

Based on LAURA Phase III trial results which showed patients who took&nbsp;TAGRISSO after CRT had a median progression-free survival of more than 3 years
MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Health Canada has granted a Notice of Compliance with conditions (NOC/c) for Tagrisso&#xAE; (osimertinib) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable (stage III) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations (either alone or in combination with other EGFR mutations) and whose disease has not progressed during or following platinum based chemoradiation therapy. A validated test is required to identify EGFR mutation-positive status prior to treatment.1
The conditional approval was based on results from the LAURA Phase III trial, which were presented during the Plenary Session at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and simultaneously published in&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4432011-1&amp;h=2967221920&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nejm.org%2F&amp;a=The+New+England+Journal+of+Medicine">The New England Journal of Medicine</a>.2
Tagrisso&nbsp;reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 84% compared to placebo (hazard ratio 0.16; 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.24; p&lt;0.001) as assessed by blinded independent central review. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 39.1 months in patients treated with&nbsp;Tagrisso&nbsp;versus 5.6 months for placebo.2&nbsp;Overall survival (OS) results remain immature at this current analysis. The trial continues to assess OS as a secondary endpoint.2
Each year in Canada, 32,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer3, and 80-85% of these patients are diagnosed with NSCLC, the most common form of lung cancer.4 Approximately 15% of NSCLC patients in Canada have&nbsp;EGFR mutations.5 Nearly one in five people diagnosed with NSCLC has an unresectable&nbsp;tumour.6

Global

AstraZeneca Canada Announces Tagrisso Approved In Canada For Patients With Unresectable, Stage III EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

<a href="https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/statistically-significant-clinically-meaningful-batura-phase-iii-trial-provide-evidence-airsupra-standard-care-as-needed-rescue-treatment-asthma.html" title="https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/statistically-significant-clinically-meaningful-batura-phase-iii-trial-provide-evidence-airsupra-standard-care-as-needed-rescue-treatment-asthma.html">https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/statistically-significant-clinically-meaningful-batura-phase-iii-trial-provide-evidence-airsupra-standard-care-as-needed-rescue-treatment-asthma.html</a>

AstraZeneca Announces Statistically Significant And Clinically Meaningful BATURA Phase III Trial Results Provide New Evidence For Airsupra As Standard Of Care For As-Needed Rescue Treatment In Asthma; Says Airsupra Demonstrated A 47% Reduction In The Risk Of Severe Exacerbations In Mild Asthma Compared With Albuterol Alone

While Wall Street&#8217;s mood around solar stocks has generally been cool since President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> took the oath again, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/george-soros">George Soros</a> is dialing up the wattage.
In a surprise move that bucks the broader sentiment, Soros Fund Management revealed a bold new bet on First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>), scooping up 1.6 million call options. The position, valued at over $202 million, now ranks as the second-largest holding in Soros' $6.7 billion portfolio, according to the firm's first quarter <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1029160/000090266425002391/xslForm13F_X02/primary_doc.xml">13F filing</a>.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44246100/trump-musk-slam-soros-linkedin-founder-hoffmann-over-tesla-boycotts-protests">Trump Joins Musk To Slam Soros, LinkedIn Co-Founder Over Tesla Boycotts, Protests</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clean Energy Muted, Yet George Soros Is Bullish</h2>
Call options are inherently bullish, and this wager suggests Soros is expecting a serious upside in First Solar shares — even as many investors remain skeptical amid softening demand and policy uncertainty in the clean energy space.
This contrarian bet stands out especially given recent weakness across solar names, with FSLR stock trailing broader indexes and analysts reining in expectations. But Soros, who's never been shy about going against the grain, appears to see something others don't &#8211; perhaps a regulatory tailwind, earnings surprise, or sector re-rating on the horizon.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Bets: Long-Term Treasury, Defensive Plays</h2>
It&#8217;s not Soros' only forward-leaning move this quarter. 
The fund also added call positions in the iShares 20+ Year Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) and continued to push into defensive plays like AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) and American Electric Power Company Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>). But First Solar is the crown jewel of first quarter activity &#8211; a new position, sized up fast, and sitting near the top of the portfolio.
Whether it's a signal of a clean energy comeback or just smart macro hedging, Soros' solar call is shining a spotlight on a sector many have left for dead.
And if history is any guide, it's worth asking: What does Soros know that the Street doesn't?
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Image: Shutterstock

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iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

George Soros Loads Up On First Solar Calls: What Does He Know That Wall Street Doesn't?

Merck&nbsp;&amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) on Thursday said the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 trial (also known as ENGOT-ov65), met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer whose tumors expressed PD-L1 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">and in all comers</a>.
The study also met a secondary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in patients whose tumors express PD-L1.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45418609/fda-approves-mercks-kidney-cancer-drug-for-rare-type-of-neuroendocrine-tumors" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA Approves Merck&#8217;s Kidney Cancer Drug For Rare Type Of Neuroendocrine Tumors</a>
The study is evaluating Keytruda&nbsp;(pembrolizumab), Merck&#8217;s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel) with or without Roche Holdings AG&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHHBY#OTC">RHHBY</a>) Avastin (bevacizumab) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45431872/merck-announces-phase-3-keynote-b96-trial-met-primary-endpoint-of-progression-free-survival-pfs-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">for these patients</a>.
The trial continues, and OS for the full study population will be evaluated at a future analysis.
The Keytruda-based regimen demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS regardless of PD-L1 status compared to placebo plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
The study also showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥1) compared to placebo plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
&#8220;This marks the first time a KEYTRUDA-based regimen has shown the ability to help certain patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer live longer, and the first time an immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimen has demonstrated an overall survival benefit in ovarian cancer,&#8221; said Dr. Gursel Aktan, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories.
Keytruda is not approved for ovarian cancer.
Lynparza (olaparib), jointly developed by AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) and Merck, has three approved ovarian <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42393128/merck-reveals-mixed-data-from-keytrudalynparza-regime-in-ovarian-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer indications in the U.S</a>.
In October, Merck&nbsp;announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 trial of Keytruda, as a perioperative treatment for patients newly diagnosed with stage III or IVA, resected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, met its primary endpoint of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/10/41230591/merck-touts-phase-3-success-for-20b-cancer-drug-keytruda-in-untreated-head-and-neck-cancer-pa" rel="noreferrer noopener">event-free survival (EFS)</a>.
Price Action: MRK stock is
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

RHHBY

Merck Data Shows Positive Outcomes For Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated With Keytruda

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GILD

Shares of pharmaceutical stocks are trading lower. The sector may down on continued weakness amid President Trump's drug pricing executive order.

In the current session, AstraZeneca Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) is trading at $66.27, after a 2.14% drop. Over the past month, the stock decreased by 1.16%, and in the past year, by 13.98%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are more likely to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747242024_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>A Look at AstraZeneca P/E Relative to Its Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
AstraZeneca has a better P/E ratio of 27.25 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 27.19 of the Pharmaceuticals industry. Ideally, one might believe that AstraZeneca Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747242024_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

P/E Ratio Insights for AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca's High-Level Results From POTOMAC Phase 3 Trial Showed One Year Of Treatment With Imfinzi (Durvalumab) Plus Standard-of-care Bacillus Calmette-guérin (BCG) Induction And Maintenance Therapy Demonstrated Improvement In Disease-Free Survival For Patients With High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Compared To BCG Induction And Maintenance Therapy Alone

As the drug industry is in the middle of a growing policy maelstrom in Washington, D.C., investors are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">closely watching pharmaceutical ETFs</a> to measure market sentiment and ride out the emerging volatility. 
With President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration rehashing contentious ideas on drug pricing and manufacturing policy, the stakes are increasing — not only for Big Pharma, but for the overall healthcare investment environment.
Amid the trends, pharma-targeted ETFs are being watched under a more risk-averse lens. Each of the funds provides sector exposure, but structural idiosyncrasies — and varying levels of protection from regulation-induced shocks — are gaining heightened relevance.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Slicing Up The Pharma ETF Scene</h1>
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)
The ETF offers concentrated exposure to large-cap U.S.-listed pharma companies. Its top holdings are Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), 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>) — companies with strong pipelines and international revenue streams.
Defensive Tilt: IHE&#8217;s emphasis on blue-chip names makes it a relatively defensive play during periods of political unrest.
Policy Sensitivity: But its large weighting in companies with substantial Medicaid and U.S. sales exposure renders it highly sensitive to pharmaceutical pricing reform in the domestic market.
SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)
Unlike IHE, the SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF uses an equal-weighting style, dispersing exposure across a larger segment of the industry, including mid- and small-cap companies such as Viatris (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTRS#NASDAQ">VTRS</a>).
Diversified Risk: This format caps overconcentration in a single name and increases sensitivity to prospective M&amp;A action.
Higher Volatility: As more importance is assigned to lesser-known participants, XPH can see greater price volatility, particularly as regulatory threats play out.
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)
Those in search of global exposure should look at PPH, which includes international powerhouses such as AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) on par with U.S. behemoths.
Geopolitical Hedge: International diversification renders PPH less susceptible to U.S.-specific tariff risks or reforms.
Growth Exposure: Novo Nordisk&#8217;s dominance of GLP-1-based obesity treatment provides a high-growth component, although subject to some headwinds due to compounding alternatives in the U.S.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Volatility Ahead?</h1>
These ETF dynamics are unfolding against a backdrop of sweeping proposals and heightened industry-government tension. The Trump administration's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44945973/trump-administration-considers-lowering-us-drug-prices-to-international-levels-report">revived push to tether Medicaid drug prices to lower international benchmarks</a> has sent shockwaves through the pharmaceutical sector. Industry analysts estimate the pricing framework could erase as much as $1 trillion in revenue over a decade, according to Bloomberg.
Surprised by the White House&#8217;s latest move, drug industry executives have mounted a concerted lobbying effort, trying to keep the policy from taking hold in Congress. Although some Republican lawmakers, including Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie, have reaffirmed their opposition to global reference pricing, the proposal is still a live political threat, Bloomberg reported.
And adding to investor anxiety is Trump&#8217;s latest threat of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44708204/trump-hints-at-major-tariff-on-imported-pharmaceuticals-us-pharma-stocks-tumble-in-wednesday-pre-market"> sector-specific tariffs on drugs</a>. Although the Department of Commerce&#8217;s Section 232 investigation can take months, the threat of new import tariffs — particularly on Indian generics and contract-manufactured products — has already spilled over into related stocks. Insiders within the industry say the administration might move while there is a 90-day moratorium on reciprocal tariff imposition.
Not all of Washington&#8217;s signals are bearish, though. A recently signed executive order is intended to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45215281/trump-orders-fda-to-fast-track-us-drug-production-as-tariff-threat-looms-on-imported-medicines-cites-national-security-concerns">lower FDA approval times for U.S. manufacturing plants</a> — potentially speeding up reshoring and encouraging investment in U.S.-based production. For more exposed domestic manufacturers and smaller company-focused ETFs such as XPH, this may be a long-term tailwind.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Proceed, But With Prescription-Strength Caution</h1>
For those looking for exposure to the pharma industry, ETFs are still an important tool — but their variations are more important than ever.
IHE provides stability but is heavily influenced by the success of U.S. policy.
XPH offers balanced exposure and is potentially more sensitive to reforms in domestic manufacturing.
PPH offers a global cushion, especially useful if U.S.-focused risks increase.
In the end, pharma ETFs&#8217; future may depend less on laboratory discoveries than on the political medicine doled out by Washington. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/05/45259802/vistashares-launches-qusa-etf-targeting-15-annual-yield-with-quality-us-stocks-options-overlay">VistaShares Launches QUSA ETF, Targeting 15% Annual Yield With Quality U.S. Stocks, Options Overlay</a></li>
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Photo: Aria Armoko via Shutterstock

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