本周著名医疗保健头条新闻：Viatris、Novavax和United Health成为焦点

Wall Street’s major averages ended the week slightly lower on Friday, losing gains for the week amid renewed optimism about upcoming trade deals and economic partnerships with other countries.

Week-to-date, the S&P (SP500) was -0.5%, the Dow (DJI) was -0.2%, and the Nasdaq (COMP:IND) was -0.3%.

The S&P 500 Health Care Index Sector (NYSEARCA:XLV) also slipped 2.90% during the week.

The top S&P 500 healthcare gainers and losers for the last week are as follows:

Top Gainers:

• Insulet (PODD) +20.85%
• Charles River Laboratories (CRL) +17.38%
• Centene (CNC) +4.80%
• Hologic (HOLX) +4.76%
• Henry Schein (HSIC) +4.72%

Top Losers:

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) -15.20%
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) -12.95%
• Moderna (MRNA) -12.15%
• Eli Lilly (LLY) -10.82%
• Merck (MRK) -8.70%

Here are some of the important healthcare stories from this week:

Novavax rises after massive Q1 beat, guidance raise

Novavax (NVAX) shares climbed ~35% in the premarket on Thursday after the COVID-19 vaccine maker lifted its full-year revenue outlook and reported Q1 2025 results significantly exceeding Street forecasts.

The maker of the Nuvaxovid COVID shot delivered $666.7M in revenue for the quarter compared to $94M in the prior year period, surpassing analysts’ expectations by $322.8M. The company attributed revenue growth mainly to a $603M benefit related to the termination of two Advance Purchase Agreements and cash received in previous years.

Viatris rises as Q1 beat comes with late-stage trial wins

Viatris (VTRS) shares recorded modest gains in the premarket on Thursday after the Xanax maker announced positive outcomes to several Phase 3 trials alongside better-than-expected financials for Q1 2025.

The Pennsylvania-based drugmaker, which formed in 2020 following the combination of Pfizer (PFE) spinoff Upjohn and generics drugmaker Mylan, reported $3.3B in revenue for the quarter, exceeding the analysts’ forecasts by $10M despite ~ an 11% YoY drop on a GAAP basis.

UnitedHealth sued over allegedly hiding business impact from Brian Thompson's killing

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) was sued by shareholders on Wednesday for allegedly hiding how business was impacted from backlash related to the killing of Brian Thompson, according to a proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court.

In the lawsuit, shareholders said that the company misled them after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. The insurer allegedly changed strategies that had led to higher-than-average claims denials, without disclosing how those changes affected profitability.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for shareholders who bought stock between December 3, 2024, and April 16, 2025. CEO Andrew Witty and CFO John Rex are also named as defendants.

Novo Nordisk cuts 2025 outlook. But why are its shares rising?

With its Q1 2025 results on Wednesday, Novo Nordisk (NVO) lowered its full-year outlook, but its shares were rising in European trading after the pharma giant projected a sales recovery for its blockbuster weight loss therapy Wegovy in the months ahead.

The Danish company reported DKK 78.1B ($11.9B) in revenue for Q1, implying ~19% YoY growth but signaling a ~9% decline compared to the preceding quarter as Wegovy sales plunged ~13% QoQ to DKK 17.4B ($2.7B), missing DKK 18.7B projected by analysts, according to Reuters data.

Hims & Hers struggles post market despite strong Q1 results and 2025 outlook

Although Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) handily beat Street expectations on both lines in its Q1 financial results and also reiterated 2025 guidance, shares are down ~5% in post-market trading Monday.

For the full year, revenue is projected at $2.3B-$2.4B. Consensus is $2.32B. For Q2, the company expects revenue of $530M-$550M, versus $564.57M consensus.

Trump planning on Executive Order to further cut Medicare drug prices - report

Early next week, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order that would link the prices the U.S. government pays for prescription medicines to lower prices typically paid abroad for the same drugs. POLITICO reported that the program, dubbed "most favored nation," is similar to a plan Trump tried in his first term but ultimately failed due to pushback from the pharmaceutical industry.