Pfizer Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
April 29, 2025

There are 18 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good day, everyone, and welcome to Pfizer's First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. Today's call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Francesca DiMartino, Chief Investment Relations Officer and Senior Vice President. Please go ahead, ma'am.

Speaker 1

Good morning, and welcome to Pfizer's earnings call. I'm Francesca DiMartino, Chief Investor Relations Officer. On behalf of the Pfizer team, thank you for joining us. This call is being made available via audio webcast at Pfizer.com. Earlier this morning, we released our results for the first quarter of twenty twenty five via a press release that is available on our website at Pfizer.com.

Speaker 1

I'm joined today by Doctor. Albert Bourla, our Chairman and CEO, and Dave Denton, our CFO. Albert and Dave have some prepared remarks and we will then open the call for questions. Members of our leadership team will also be available for the Q and A session. Before we get started, I want to remind you that we will be making forward looking statements and discussing certain non GAAP financial measures.

Speaker 1

I encourage you to read the disclaimers in our slide presentation, the press release we issued this morning, and the disclosures in our SEC filings, which are all available on the IR website on Pfizer.com. Forward looking statements on the call are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, speak only as of the call's original date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. With that, I will turn the call over to Albert.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Francesca. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining our call. We are very pleased with our performance in the first quarter as we continued to execute with focus and discipline on our strategic priorities. We are strengthening our R and D organization in our efforts to advance our pipeline and productivity.

Speaker 2

We are maximizing the value of key products in our commercial portfolio. And we are improving operating margins with our continued progress in making our company more efficient. In the current volatile external environment, the underlying strength of our business and strong relationships with government leaders across the world help us navigate with agility. While we continue to engage and plan for contingencies, we are focusing day to day on what we can do to move our business forward. I want to emphasize our continued confidence that we are well positioned to enhance shareholder value.

Speaker 2

Now I will turn to our top strategic priority in 2025, improving R and D productivity as we advance our pipeline with sharpened focus. We are intensifying our rigorous commercial assessment and portfolio prioritization from early clinical development. This means we will be disciplined in managing our portfolio, directing investment and attention to potential blockbuster or mega blockbuster, and scrutinizing the total number of assets under development. Our Danube Prix announcement earlier this month demonstrates our commitment to this approach. This continued the development of Danube Prix, one of our candidates in our Obsta portfolio, although difficult was the right decision for the company.

Speaker 2

Going forward, we are committed to building our cardiometabolic pipeline, including obesity, by advancing internal programs, such as our Gipper antagonist, and pursuing external opportunities that could include partnerships or acquisitions. We will continue to be disciplined as we move through key decision points for our pipeline or our business development targets. We believe we have the potential to address significant patient needs with differentiated approaches that focus on supporting optimal weight management and related conditions. We will work on potential medicines and combination regimens that could be more accessible, better tolerated, easier to dose, and more effective in supporting the right effects on body composition and muscle mass. In addition to sharpening our focus in internal medicine, since expanding his role in January as our Chief Scientific Officer, Chris Bossov has moved both thoughtfully and quickly in reshaping our R and D organization to also center on oncology, vaccines and inflammation immunology, in addition to internal medicines.

Speaker 2

Chris has enhanced his leadership team with some terrific additions who are recognized as leaders in their field. Patrizia Cavazoni is our new Chief Medical Officer, Jeff Legos is our new Chief Oncology Officer, and Jim List is our new Chief Internal Medicine Officer. These leaders each bring many years of experience, deep expertise and proven track record in guiding the discovery, development and approval of practice changing therapies, and they are an excellent addition to our already strong cast of leaders in R and D. We are on track for a strong year of anticipated pipeline catalysts in 2025. We are making progress towards anticipated multiple key milestones, including at least four regulatory decisions, up to nine phase three readouts and significant series of pivotal program starts.

Speaker 2

With one of our key oncology programs, we are aimed to bring forward what could represent the first potential treatment advancement in more than thirty years for patients with BCG naive, high risk non muscle invasive bladder cancer. We are encouraged by a positive readout of the pivotal Phase three CREST trial of Sasanlimab in combination with BCG, a current standard of care. We presented the full data from this study this past weekend at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association. Non muscle invasive bladder cancer is a condition predominantly treated by urologists. In multiple market research and focus group studies, urologists stated a significant preference for a subcutaneous PD L1 because it can be used in their practices and eliminates the need to refer their patients to infusion centers.

Speaker 2

We also anticipate meaningful readouts this year for PADCEP and Elorexvio. PADCEV already is a core therapy in our oncology portfolio. PADCEV plus pembrolizumab is the most prescribed first line treatment for locally advanced metastatic urothelial cancer in The US. We are working toward more than doubling the total addressable patient population in The US for PADCE, with potentially registrational interim data we expect this year from ongoing pivotal studies in muscle invasive bladder cancer. We are also working to reach a significantly expanded population of patients with multiple myeloma.

Speaker 2

We are anticipating a Phase III readout this year for LREXFU in a study for double class exposed relapsedrefractory multiple myeloma. If successful and approved, this would more than double the addressable population versus the currently approved indication. In addition to the increased addressable population, moving to earlier lines of therapy is expected to increase the duration of treatment and potentially create an inflection point in elrexious growth. We expect to begin pivotal studies for our investigation of PD L1 Vedotin AADC later this year. This will be for first line metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and second line non small cell lung cancer.

Speaker 2

We also anticipate a first line pivotal study start for SV, Sigvatatab Vedotin. This is a novel integrin beta-six targeting Vedotin ADC that, if successful and approved, has the opportunity to change the standard of care globally for IBC expressing tumors. Both these ADCs, PDL-1V and SV, are potential first in class A disease using a vedodin payload that elicits immunogenic cell death. And in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor demonstrates significant results. Early data for PDL-1V and SV in combination with pembrolizumab are highly encouraged.

Speaker 2

With both ADCs, we are targeting non small cell lung cancer, the most frequently diagnosed cancer globally, and the leading cause of cancer related deaths. Lung cancer represents a substantial area of patient need and a growing market with the highest projected CAGR in oncology through 02/1930. In vaccines, another of our priority therapeutic areas, we see opportunities to enhance and augment our strong positions in the market. We are also planning a potential registrational study in adults later this year with our fourth generation PCV candidate. With our fourth and fifth generation PCV candidates, we believe we can build on our leadership in the industry.

Speaker 2

Our fourth generation candidate covers 25 serotypes, including potentially improved immunogenicity for serotype three, which is one of the largest remaining contributors of disease. We are also working to accelerate progress with our fifth generation candidate, which is in preclinical development and covers over 30 serotypes. As we continue to scrutinize the number of programs we are actively advancing, we will have opportunities to accelerate or add others to help address significant patient needs. One example is the recent accelerated start of a pivotal study for Nurtec for menstrually related migraine, which is estimated to impact more than half of women who experience migraine. We look forward to providing future updates about our pipeline progress as we continue to sharpen our focus on our most meaningful programs in prioritized therapeutic areas.

Speaker 2

Commercial excellence is our key categories in another in our key categories is another 2025 strategic priority. More than a year ago, we decided to separate The U. S. And international operations. Under the leadership of Amir Malik, our Chief U.

Speaker 2

S. Commercial Officer, and Alexandre Desarhmet, our Chief International Commercial Officer, we refined our commercial model to bring heightened focus, helping us strategically prioritize our most impactful products and regions. It is working well. In The U. S, our team demonstrated focus, the strength of our key products and continuous improvement in execution.

Speaker 2

In International, we are back to operational growth in the first quarter across all parts of the division. This was the result of prioritization and disciplined focus on key growth drivers to maximize return and accelerate new product penetration there. Our performance was strong both in The U. S. And international markets across several key products, including the Vyndaqel family, Nurtech, Patzsef and Lorbran.

Speaker 2

Our Vyndaqel family of products had robust growth in the quarter, though we are seeing the impact of competition with a new market entrant, and we anticipate this will continue through the year. We will work towards maintaining our market leading position that has come from six years of establishing credibility expertise with the cardiology community. Our team remains committed to addressing high unmet patient need by helping to improve diagnosis and ensuring appropriate patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy receive treatment. Demand continued to strengthen for Nurtech, with revenue growing 40% operationally in the quarter. Our commercial teams effectively engaged with health care professionals, and we were pleased with strong outperformance of our newly launched consumer campaigns.

Speaker 2

We are pleased with the continued strength also of our oncology portfolio. TACCEV, for example, grew 25% operationally, driven by increased market share in first line metastatic urothelial cancer. LOBRENA grew 39% operationally, as we continue to see strong adoption with its emerging as a potential first line standard of care for patients with ALP positive metastatic non small cell lung cancer. INI is another key commercial category for Pfizer, and we are drawing on our extensive experience in launching medicines in this therapeutic area. Familiarity among healthcare professionals continued to improve for Xibingo, which grew 42 operationally in the quarter.

Speaker 2

Our commercial team is continuing to work towards increased patient access for this JAK inhibitor for patients aged 12 and up with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. With Litfulo, we are encouraged by the growth we have seen today. We will seek to further unlock access to this advanced systemic treatment for patients with severe alopecia areata. These highlights show how we are positioned to further expand and sustain our performance trajectory among our key brands. And with that, now I will turn it to Dave to speak about the other two strategic priorities.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Albert, and good morning. I will begin this morning by reinforcing the fact that our solid financial results demonstrate our strong executional focus. We continue to concentrate on driving positive patient outcomes and delivering on our financial commitments while navigating an ever complex external environment. Our productivity improvement programs continue to drive a more efficient organization, enhanced by our strong operating margins in the quarter. Going forward, we expect to improve our cash flows, reduce our debt leverage and have more flexibility for our three capital allocation pillars.

Speaker 3

Our focus remains on creating long term shareholder value. We will continue to invest in our business for the long term while prudently returning capital to our shareholders. Now first, let me start with our first quarter results. Second, I'll touch on our capital allocation priorities. And then I'll touch upon our cost improvement initiatives.

Speaker 3

I'll finish up with a few comments on the macro environment and our twenty twenty five guidance, which we are reaffirming today. For the first quarter of twenty twenty five, we recorded revenues of $13,700,000,000 a decline of 6% operational. The decline was largely due to lower tax loaded revenues, in part due to last year's one time Paxlovid revenue credit recorded in Q1 of twenty four. In addition, U. S.

Speaker 3

Revenues were tempered by changes in the IRA Medicare Part D redesign, which took effect in the first quarter. Partially offsetting the decline was growth in several in line products in The US and overall growth internationally. On the bottom line, we reported first quarter twenty twenty five diluted EPS of $0.52 a share and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.92 ahead of our expectations due to overall strong gross margin and cost management performance. Our performance continues to show that our refined commercial approach is working. We continue to focus on key products and geographies, the deployment of our commercial field resources globally, and the continued optimization of our marketing resources into key priority areas.

Speaker 3

We saw strong contributions across our product portfolio portfolio, primarily driven by the Vyndaqel family, Commerity, Patseb, NerdTech and Labrenna, which were more than offset by declines in Paxlovid, Eliquis, Xeljanz and Ibrance. Adjusted gross margin for the quarter expanded to approximately 81%, primarily a result of favorability in crude royalties, partially offset by unfavorable product mix. Focus on cost management across our manufacturing network will remain a priority. Total adjusted operating expenses were $5,200,000,000 for the first quarter of twenty five, a 12% decline operationally versus last year. Now looking at the components, adjusted SI and A expenses decreased 12% operationally, primarily reflecting our ongoing productivity improvements, driving a decrease in marketing and promotional spend for various products, as well as lower spending in corporate enabling functions.

Speaker 3

Adjusted R and D expenses also decreased 12% operationally, driven primarily by a decline in spending due to our pipeline optimization efforts expected to be reinvested later this year and into next year. We continue to be disciplined with our operational expense management. Q1 reported diluted earnings per share were $0.52 and our adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.09 2¢, which benefited from our efficient operating structure in addition to favorable global income tax resolutions in multiple tax jurisdictions spanning multiple tax years, as well as a favorable change in the jurisdictional mix of earnings. With that, now let me quickly touch upon our capital allocation strategy, which is designed to enhance long term shareholder value. Our strategy consists of maintaining and growing our dividend over time, reinvesting in our business at the appropriate level of financial return, and making value enhancing share repurchases.

Speaker 3

In Q1, we returned $2,400,000,000 to shareholders via our quarterly dividend, invested $2,200,000,000 in our internal R and D, and completed business development activity as expected was minimal. We achieved our 3.25 gross leverage target at the end of twenty twenty four, a key priority towards improving our capacity for business development. In addition, the monetization of our Halion investment has contributed to our improved cash position. As a reminder, in January, we monetized approximately $3,000,000,000 of our Halion shares. And in March, we monetized the last tranche of our Halion shares, receiving approximately $3,300,000,000 in net cash proceeds.

Speaker 3

With this sale, we have now fully exited our ownership in Halion. Overall, our objective remains to delever our balance sheet over time, which will further support our return to a more balanced allocation of capital between reinvestment and direct return to our shareholders. We continue to be disciplined on our operational expense management, progressing multiple improvement programs as we remain focused on driving long term margin improvement over the coming years. We expect we continue to expect initial savings from phase one of our manufacturing optimization program in the latter part of this year with approximately 1 and a half billion dollars in savings from phase one that's expected by the end of twenty twenty seven. In addition, we are progressing the evaluation of other strategies to improve our network structure and product portfolio, respectively.

Speaker 3

As part of our goal to return to a pre pandemic operating margins, we remain on track to deliver on our goal of at least $4,500,000,000 in cumulative net cost savings from our ongoing cost realignment program by the end of this year. And today, we've announced our expectation that this program will deliver an additional $1,200,000,000 in net savings, primarily in SI and A, and in part by leveraging digital tools, including automation and AI, as well as simplification of our business processes. The savings are expected to be fully realized by the end of twenty twenty seven. Furthermore, we have identified additional opportunities to drive improvements in productivity and operational efficiency in our r and d organization, again, through enhanced digital enablement as well as automation. We expect approximately $500,000,000 in savings associated with these efforts to be realized by the end by the end of twenty twenty six with the savings reinvested within our r and d program.

Speaker 3

Now in total, we expect approximately $7,700,000,000 in savings by the end of twenty twenty seven to drive operational efficiency, strengthening our business with the potential of contributing significantly to our bottom line over this period. Now let me turn to our full year 2025 guidance. As you are aware, the pharmaceutical industry is currently navigating a complex global landscape shaped by rapidly evolving trade and tariff policies. To help navigate this fluid environment, we've established a cross functional team to analyze a range of potential outcomes while developing strategies to help us mitigate the potential impact to our business in both the short as well as the long term. These actions include the management of current inventory levels in certain jurisdictions, leveraging our domestic manufacturing footprint, and the potential production of certain API and products in The US.

Speaker 3

Should we be impacted by further tariffs in the future, we will assess the impact of these policies enacted and provide information at the appropriate time. Let me now spend just a few minutes on our 2025 guidance, which remains unchanged and, to be clear, does not include the potential impact of future changes in trade and tariff policies. We expect total company full year 2025 revenues to be in the range of $61,000,000,000 to $64,000,000,000 and full year 2025 adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.8 to $3 a share, which reflects our expectation of strong contributions across our product portfolio and our focus disciplined on cost management. As we finish Q1 with earnings strength and excluding the potential impact related to future trade changes, we are currently trending toward the upper end of our adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance range. In closing, let me emphasize several key aspects of our business.

Speaker 3

We will continue our focus on executing to maximize the commercial value of our product portfolio, and we remain committed to driving value creating innovation while strengthening our pipeline. Additionally, our cost improvement programs are set to deliver operating margin expansion. Expected productivity gains will be driven by leveraging our digital capabilities and simplifying our business processes. Our improved balance sheet set the stage for more balanced and enhanced capital deployment focused on creating value for our shareholders. And with that, I will now turn it back over to Albert for Q and A.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Dave. Operator, please assemble the queue and let's start the Q and A.

Operator

We'll go first to Vamil Divan with Guggenheim. Please go ahead.

Speaker 4

Great. Thanks so much for taking the questions. Maybe two, if I could. One, just appreciate your prepared remarks. We mentioned the dividend, your commitment to maintaining and growing the dividend over time.

Speaker 4

But I think we've just gotten sort of increasing questions about this from investors over the last few months, especially with some of the tariff uncertainty and how that might impact cash flows and obviously not talking about maybe getting more active on the business development side. Maybe just to reinforce that if not even one more time and nothing else, just the the level of commitment you have there. And even if there is an impact from the tariff side, you still feel comfortable in being able to maintain and grow that. And then my

Speaker 2

second question is around your go ahead, Vamind. Sorry.

Speaker 4

Okay. Yes. I just had one other, if I could. Just on the COVID business and just your views, obviously, understand the nuances around the Paxlovid sales this quarter and the vaccine sales will come later in the year. But do you still see that business being relatively stable this year relative to last year?

Speaker 4

Or has that changed from what your expectation for at beginning of the year? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Vamy. Dave will tell you about dividend and then Amir and Alexander about the copper business.

Speaker 3

Yes, Vamil, clearly consistent with my prepared remarks, the dividend remains a critical component and a key component of our capital allocation strategy. As you can tell, we have been very focused on improving the operating margin performance of our business, thus improving our cash flow yield over time. This is all in support of all of our capital allocation priorities with dividend being a key component of that.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Dave. And let's start with Amir.

Speaker 5

Thanks, Vamil. So, you asked about Paxlovid. Paxlovid utilization trends very closely to infection rates, and we see a fifty percent treatment rate and close to an eighty percent fulfillment rate when there's infection. And we've set up a very good commercial model to do that. I think what you saw in Q1 was largely the function of the fact that we have a lower winter wave, but we still treated over seven hundred and fifty thousand patients starting the year with about one hundred thousand a week and tapering off at around thirty five thousand to forty thousand.

Speaker 5

And while these numbers are lower than the consensus numbers, they're very much in line with our expectations and what we track for the business. And what we've seen in multiple years now is that over the course of the year, you have two COVID waves: one in the summer and one in the winter. The peaks and valleys and the timing of those vary, but we have had consistently multiple waves. And our baseline assumption is that we will have those waves this year as well, and that we will be able to execute our business, including PACS utilization in the way that I described, consistent with those waves. We've also set up a model where we can successfully transition the Medicare patients out of USG and into our traditional Medicare model beginning March first of this year.

Speaker 5

And so, we can't predict exactly what the timing and shape of those waves will be, but we're ready to execute against it.

Speaker 6

I will start with community. As you know, community is bigger than PAX COVID. On Community, we beat consensus quite nicely by CHF130 million, essentially driven by execution. As you know, in International, December is in the Q1 of twenty twenty five. So in December, we continue to execute our contract in The UK and in Europe and in competitive setup like in Japan, maintain very strong leadership there until the end of the vaccination.

Speaker 6

Now as we move into Q2 and Q3, we will start actually shipping our vaccine into thousand hemisphere countries where vaccination campaign is going to start and in particular in Brazil where we won the two year contract for adults which is a very important vaccination country. Now, we talk about Paxlovid, you know Paxlovid is smaller internationally and we performed as we were expected. We have now Paxlovid commercially sold in 49 markets, so there is no more advanced purchasing phenomenon. So it's really associated with utilization. The point is, in international we have actually low utilization compared to The US, we still need to do some work in terms of utilization and treatment.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Alexander. Operator, please the next question.

Operator

We'll go next to Evan Seigerman with BMO Capital Markets.

Speaker 7

Hi, guys. Thank you so much for taking my question. And I didn't want to touch on the reasons for the Danube discontinuation, but I more want to look forward, as you think about a potential obesity asset, what are some key aspects of the profile that you're looking for, either from an internal perspective or potentially externally? Thank you so much.

Speaker 2

Let's start with Chris and then go to Andrew.

Speaker 8

Thanks very much. Thanks for the question. Yes, as Albert has stated, daniglucron was the right decision for Pfizer based on totality of data. And as we stated previously, a single asymptomatic participant in a dose optimization study with rapid dose titration experienced a potential drug induced liver injury which recovered rapidly after treatment discontinuation. Although we're not 100% sure this is due to Dariglupron, the risk was high enough for us to discontinue the program while still being committed to obesity and employing our global resources for other opportunities.

Speaker 8

Cardiovascular metabolic is one of our core strategies within internal medicine, an area with significant remaining unmet need. And just a reminder for obesity alone, up to sixty percent of patients discontinue current approved medicines after twenty four months. We will continue to apply our global capabilities to advance our pipeline of differentiated oral medicines, including our oral GIPA antagonist currently in phase two and advancing our preclinical portfolio to the clinic. We believe the future will be more fragmented based on differentiated or unique combinations with an emphasis on tolerability, accessibility, and convenience. The future will also become more personalized based on combinations addressing specific diseases associated with obesity and with metabolic dysfunction including neurology, cardiovascular and respiratory.

Speaker 2

And Andrew? Yeah, I mean I think

Speaker 9

Chris gave you a very full answer. I would just underline that although you referenced obesity, the role of incretins and potentially other modalities or targets more broadly needs not to be underestimated. And obviously, this extends beyond cardiovascular medicine. And we're interested in all the potential opportunities that exist with these molecules. In terms of which assets or which portfolio of assets we're seeking to build, I think there's two axes.

Speaker 9

Number one, obviously, is clinical differentiation. And Albert referenced some of the ways you can do that in terms of scheduling, tolerability, muscle preservation, but there are others too. But then separately, there's commercial differentiation, which really references the indications that we pursue. So I hope that gives you some idea of our direction of travel. When we have something to say, you'll be the first to know.

Speaker 2

Good to know. Thank you. Next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Tim Anderson with Bank of America.

Speaker 10

Thank you. I have a question on tariffs. I figured if anyone's close to this, it's probably Pfizer, Singh as your Chairman of Pharma. If sector specific tariffs come through, do you think that's likely to be through the February investigation route?

Speaker 11

Or do you think it

Speaker 10

could still happen somehow through the IEPA route? To me, it seems like it would be two thirty two, but not everyone agrees. And your best sense of timing for when everyone might have more information from the administration? And then last question, is it an absolute pipe dream to think that sector specific tariffs might really only be applied to countries that could, in fact, pose threats of national security like China? It's hard to see Ireland being an enemy of the country.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Tim, and I would agree with the last comment that you made also. But let me tell you where we stand with that. First of all, we had on April 2 an executive order about basically placed tariffs across the board to everything we can see or feel or dream, except two things: pharmaceuticals and semiconductor. Clearly there is risk going forward, but it's a very, very different ballgame if you are part of a tariff and you hope to be excluded than if you are not part and you try not to be included. Then on April 14, the administration made even more clear what is their concern with the pharmaceutical sectoral investigation.

Speaker 2

And they made it clear by launching it through a two thirty two, which as you pointed out, it is an investigation that is connected with national security threats. This is not something new. The first Trump administration had expressed serious concerns about the several essential medicines that they are made outside The US. The Biden continued with his concerns. Actually, the Trump administration had also a list, but had created with those medicines in the first one.

Speaker 2

And now with the second Trump administration, not only through the February, but through my discussions with the highest level of the government, they are confirming that this is their primary concern. And I think it's legitimate. I think no country wants to have critical medicines produced outside of the country, particularly they don't want to have critical medicines produced in countries that tensions are high or can be escalated. So there is, I think, a very clear distinction in the way that they look at it in terms of what products they are talking about. And there is a very clear distinction as to what comes from friendly countries or what comes from adversary countries.

Speaker 2

So with all of that in mind, and knowing that we are engaging and we have very productive discussions with all the secretaries that are involved and the White House staff that are involved into that, I'm cautiously optimistic, as I said, given the data that we have not been there, And I hope that we will weather it successfully. We will work with the administration to make sure that their concern on national security will be addressed with the best possible way. I think that was the only question, right? Yes. Let's go to the next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Steve Scala with P. D. Cowen.

Speaker 12

Thank you. And two questions. The first one is very similar to the one that Tim just asked, and that is, Albert, given your unique insights into the thinking in Washington, do you think MFN legislation is only the most remote of possibilities or even simply not going to happen? And then secondly, what is the percent utilization of The U. S.

Speaker 12

Plants? It is great to have this vast network in The US, but if there's little or no excess capacity or flexibility, then it's a more limited advantage. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you very much for both questions. Look, on the MFN, first of all, I can't speak about what would be the intentions of the government, but I can comment on what I have seen so far. And the President issued an executive order that was focusing on pharmaceutical, that was very, very extensive, so covered a lot of topics over there. MFN was not mentioned over there. On the contrary, what was mentioned over there was the pill panel that he instructed so that we will find ways to resolve.

Speaker 2

What was mentioned over there was PBM reform and transferring of rebates to the PACE. What was mentioned over there was 340B reform. So I would say that clearly one can say that when the president issues an executive order, then you can read into what are the priorities of the administration. And I think that so far, the way I have seen it, it is the bill penalty. It is the 340B.

Speaker 2

It is the PBM reform, and it is to lower the cost for the patients, because right now in The US, the patients, are paying disproportionately out of pocket for their medicines compared to other medical interventions. So that's my 2¢ on that. And again, I'm cautiously optimistic, but nothing is certain. And we are working continuously to influence the thinking and the decision making, and particularly understanding what is it that they want to achieve so that we can provide productive solutions. On the percentage of utilization of our manufacturing sites, first of all, it is quite good.

Speaker 2

I don't want to go to the details, but there is ample room if there is a need to transfer production to accommodate. We have huge manufacturing capacity right now in The US, particularly for everything that is injectable. And our ability, if there is a need, is clearly there. And without the need to build new facilities, just utilize the current ones and transfer production there. With that, let's go to the next question.

Operator

We'll go next to Umer Raffat with Evercore ISI.

Speaker 13

Hi, guys. Thanks for taking my question. I have two here, if I may. First is on dividend and second is a follow-up to something Albert mentioned. Perhaps first on dividend, I know there's obviously LOEs coming up over the next three to four years with net income and free cash flow pressures.

Speaker 13

How much of that pressure could be offset by potential OpEx cuts that you're taking underway? I guess said differently, can you hold net income at or near the current levels? That's part one of the question. And then also, if a tariff impact approaching, I don't know, 15 to 20% of bottom line kicks in, can you still confirm your your commitment to dividend? And finally, Albert, you mentioned the distinction between friendly versus unfriendly countries.

Speaker 13

But in the initial tariff announcement, that didn't necessarily seem to hold true. So why should that apply in the case of pharma? Thank you very much.

Speaker 2

You. Dave, why don't you take the dividend question?

Speaker 3

Yes. So Umer, clearly, in my prepared remarks and what we said very consistently is our objective is to improve our operating margin performance over time. And we've said that knowing quite well that we have LOEs approaching. Some of the improvements in productivity that we are making are designed to improve operating margin in the face of those LOEs. At the same time, our business is actually evolving such that, particularly in the oncology space, where we're leaning into that business and those products actually yield a very high gross margin and operating margin performance.

Speaker 3

So the short answer is yes, we can withstand that. And secondly, we're very focused on improving our operating margin over time in the face of those LOEs. Clearly, you've also heard us reiterate very specifically our focus on maintaining and growing our dividend over time, and we would continue to do that. And we work hard to understand the environment looking forward, and I don't want to hypothesize on what could happen, but clearly we're watching the situation closely and our commitment to dividend is steadfast.

Speaker 2

And I think, David, you made also very clear quantitative calculations of what we expect. And when we put a number out there, we know that we can hit it. And David spoke about $7,000,000,000 by year 2027, while maintaining the R and D at the current levels of investment, which which I think it is a key strategy to offset, first of all, to navigate in a certain environment. That's the best way to do it, is to be productive. Another comment I want to make on that is that the cuts are not across the board, or they are not by just reducing resources that are valuable.

Speaker 2

They are very strategic. And they are happening, first of all, with the deployment of technology. AI right now has dramatic impact in the ways that we have able to secure cost reductions and digital technology in general, but also through significant business simplification that we are implementing. And we looked at every single thing of how we do things. And, you know, when you find simpler things of doing it, there is a significant cost element associated.

Speaker 2

So all in all, I think, as Dave said, we have our targets and we are very confident. You can calculate that we made them public, and we are very confident that we will achieve them by the year 2027. Now, as regard to the tariffs, if that will be on friendly or non friendly countries, look, it's up to the government to decide what they want to do, but it's very, very clear in my discussions that the national security concerns is very clear to my discussions. Least national security concerns are pretty much associated not with friendly countries. Okay, thank you.

Speaker 2

Next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Chris Schott with JPMorgan.

Speaker 7

Hi, great. Thanks so much. Just my first question on guidance. Pfizer's gross margins for this year, are we should we still think about full year gross margins in the mid -70s range? Or has that changed at all following some of the upside with 1Q?

Speaker 7

And maybe just on a second part of that, I'm just interested in the level of conservatism that's baked into the guidance here. It seems like the year is off to a very strong start, particularly on the cost side. And just as we think about the progression in the rest of the year, should we think about any offsets from the upside we saw this quarter? Thank you.

Speaker 3

Yes. Thanks, Chris. Dave here. Clearly, we are very confident in our outlook for 2025. As you noted, we entered we finished Q1 in a position of strength, both from a top line and a bottom line perspective.

Speaker 3

As I look at our operating plan, we have exceeded both top line and bottom line in q one based on our expectations internally. So we're off to a very solid start. Secondly, as I look forward, we're in q one. We have a three quarters left to go. I look at us maintaining our guidance range by giving you some color that are top of it.

Speaker 3

We are essentially derisking the balance of the year from a financial delivery perspective. We are still faced with some uncertainty from a macro environment perspective, so we are watching that cautiously. At the same time, we are prepared to go into the vaccination season in a position of strength, but really with still some uncertainty around how the macro environment might play out in that space as well. So I hope that helps. I think from a gross margin perspective, off to a nice start.

Speaker 3

We have not changed our guidance and our color on that, but we are continuing to focus on improving our gross margin over time and improving our operating margin over time, which I think is even a more critical component for us. And if you look, in Q1 we posted a little over 40% from an operating margin perspective, which is really solid performance. So again, off to a really solid start.

Speaker 2

Thank you. So you don't have any conservatives in your guidance? I don't. He is the best. Let's move to the next question.

Operator

We'll go next to Jeff Meacham with Citi.

Speaker 7

Hey, guys. Good morning. Thanks for the question. I had two quick ones. Albert or Andrew, just from a strategy perspective, what would you say ranks as a higher priority just with respect to how you tier what would be multiple BD options?

Speaker 7

Is it the TAM? Is it sales through LOE? Is peak sales after? Wasn't sure how much that's evolved in the current macro backdrop. And then, I guess a question for Albert.

Speaker 7

What incentives would you want to see in tariff negotiations that would maybe tip the balance for Pfizer to increase manufacturing investments here in The US? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Yes. On the strategy, maybe I make some comments and then I ask also Andrew. It is very clear that we are facing, everybody knows LOEs. Those LOEs are starting in '26, '20 '7, '20 '8, '20 '6 is smaller number, 27 is a bigger number, 28 is the biggest number, then goes down. LOEs are one time events, right?

Speaker 2

So to prepare for that, we had significant number of new launches that they are growing, and we did significant business development, but it is growing because they were all early assets what we bought. So they were, let's say, having in front of them the growth period. So what we project, it is that those growing assets will offset the LOEs in 'twenty six, 'twenty seven, 'twenty eight, more or less. So, and then following that, because of course, LOEs are a one time event, they continue growing. And then we have a significant step up in the growth when the last LOE is going out.

Speaker 2

Now, what is our strategy in addition to having business development new product launches? As we know that with the LOEs, we are not going to be a strong top line growth story for the next three years, given the LOEs. We expect to become an EPS growth story. And this is why you see here right now the very acute focus on our improvement of margins. Also, we expect, even more importantly, that will be a pipeline story during the next three years.

Speaker 2

We are very focused on the R and D productivity. We are, if you have learned from past mistakes in the R and D productivity, we are moving with very decisive steps to bring new phase three studies. And I think once the studies start, also people will start modelling in their models or upgrading their probabilities of success as we are moving to phase three studies to reflect what I just told you that as the pipeline matures, the growth post '28 should look among the top tier of the industry. So that's more or less the strategy. Now, within that, we have $10 to $15,000,000,000 of capital to allocate, but we are very prudent in how to do it and Andre will speak about it.

Speaker 2

But the bottom line, it is that we would like to see in the first three years a multiple expansion, given the maturation of our pipeline. And of course, an EPS growth, given our strong focus on the costs. And Andrew, the PD will be a bonus to all of that. What do you think?

Speaker 9

So just on I think Albert gave you a very clear answer. In answer, just picking up on the explicit question that you asked, I think it's all of the above: TAM, LOE, as well as obviously as value. I think the other thing I would also add that perhaps you didn't mention is I'm very keen that we build sustainable franchises. And I'm thinking more of the longer term than the shorter term, but we need to have breadth and durability just as we've done internally with expanding and building on our Ibrance franchise with our novel CDK4s, CDK2s and we have other assets as well within breast cancer and similarly with ADCETRIS. BD is another tool within our arsenal to build on the internal discovery and development that we have with our existing pipeline.

Speaker 2

On the tariff negotiations that you said, what would you expect to see so that you will invest in The US? I think it's certain. If I know that there will not be tariffs and a heavy certainty, then there are tremendous investments that can happen in this country, both in R and D and manufacturing. And the reason is that the tax environment that has forced a lot of manufacturing outside The US has significantly changed now. We have a global minimum tax around 15% that has been established right now.

Speaker 2

So it's not as good in The US, although when President Trump did the first tax, we had a huge inflection of capital coming back from Pfizer and others. And now he I'm sure, and I know because I talked to him, that he would like to see even a reduction in the current tax regime, particularly for locally produced goods. So that would be a huge incentive to also bring manufacturing here, right? And it's not that bad, but that requires a lot of capital. And when in periods of uncertainty, everybody is controlling their costs as we are doing, and then is very frugal with their investments as we are doing so that we are prepared for rainy day.

Speaker 2

So that's what I want to see. Thank you very much. Next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Trung Nguyen with UBS.

Speaker 14

Great. Hi, guys. Thanks for the question. Just another one on costs and guidance and one on BD. So on your cost realignment program, you announced an additional $1,200,000,000 saving by 'twenty seven.

Speaker 14

How much of that can come out in 'twenty five? And how should we think about the step up of costs for the rest of the year following what seems to be you guys exceeding savings targets but also reiterating a guide? And then on BD, you've mentioned external opportunities. How much is that macro environment impacting your decision in the timing of BD given the volatility and unknowns? And then on the other side of the table, do you think sellers are hesitating given valuations are meaningfully lower than the start of the year?

Speaker 14

Thanks.

Speaker 2

Thank you. Dave, why don't you take the guidance, and then Andrew, you can speak to the BD a little bit, and I will also comment.

Speaker 3

Yes. On the cost side, keep in mind that we are focused on taking $4,500,000,000 out by the end of this year, well on track with that. The additional 1,200,000,000.0 that we've identified, probably modest delivery of that in 2025, most of that in '26 and '27, but maybe a little bit. I think from an R and D perspective, the $500,000,000 that we are saving in improving productivity in R and D, largely that will happen this year to be reinvested in R and D late this year or maybe even bleed into next year to some degree.

Speaker 2

Thank you. And on BD, Andrew, valuations are low, uncertainty though is high, so how do you see things?

Speaker 9

Yeah, mean, think, as you might imagine, we're very awake to the external environment, but we're comfortable with the ten to fifteen billion budget that Dave effectively forecasted or gave at beginning of this year. In terms of the question of have sellers adjusted to the new valuation the market's applying, I think it depends. I think generally it takes some time in some categories where there is increasing therapeutic density because there's an ever expanding array of assets mainly coming from China. I think there's an additional force which is causing companies to become more amenable to lower valuations, but I think it really depends.

Speaker 2

And Frank, what I tell my team constantly is never let a good crisis go to waste. And with crisis, there are risks, but also there are tremendous opportunities, because things are changing, the status quo is changing. So you need to be strategic, you need to be smart, you need to be disciplined, but you need, as Warren Buffett said, sell when prices are high and buy when prices are low, and, you know, price alone. Next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Carrie Holford with Berenberg.

Speaker 15

Thank you. A couple of questions for me, please. Firstly, in the context of U. S. Tariffs, and the debate there, I wonder if you might tell us what proportion of your U.

Speaker 15

S. Drug sales are currently made end to end in The U. S. Can you give some examples of brands that are end to end in The U. S.

Speaker 15

Today? And then a question for David around COGS. Can you just quantify the U. S. Dollar impact of that revision of estimated accrued royalties in Q1?

Speaker 15

Can you tell us what that specifically relates to? And just to confirm that's intended to be a one off adjustment. Thank you.

Speaker 2

No. Thank you, Kirsch. Look, around which percentage of production we have here, etcetera, we are not disclosing this information. So we won't go into those details. When it comes to the impact of the U.

Speaker 2

S. Dollar, I will ask Dave to comment. And Dave, also, you speak about the impact of IRA so that people can get a good picture of the puts and takes of the first quarter sales.

Speaker 3

Yeah, sure. So maybe let's take this in points here. First, I know there's been a lot of volatility in FX, in currency fluctuations. If you we're probably an outlier in the sense that we gave guidance in December. So if you look point to point from December to now, FX is largely immaterial to us given the fact there's been a lot there's been a roller coaster ride to get from point a to point b.

Speaker 3

But right now, FX is largely not an impact to q one and for the balance of the year. Secondly, if you look at Medicare Part D redesign, in q one, it dampened our US revenues by approximately $650,000,000 as we expected. That dampening will lessen in the back half of the year as we continue to offset that a bit with incremental prescriptions. Third, included in our guidance that we did not really speak about is there are some tariffs in place today. We anticipate those tariffs to be approximately $150,000,000 for 2025.

Speaker 3

We are contemplating that within our guidance range and we continue to again trend to the top end of our guidance range even with those costs to be incurred this year. Thank you Dave. Next question please.

Operator

We'll go next to Akash Tewari with Jefferies.

Speaker 7

Hey, thanks so much. I realize there's a lot of uncertainty on tariffs, but hearing Merck give color on Q1, it seems like some of your peers are hinting the bottom line impact of tariffs could be manageable. So let's say the tariffs are broadly 25% on your transfer price, which I'm sure is a scenario your teams planned for, would it be fair to say that the bottom line earnings impact would be a single digit percent basis with reasonable mitigation steps? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Akash. I will never go to that statement, and we have made statements in the past that I we have been burned. So I'm very cautious and careful about that. If there are tariffs, we have detailed contingency plans that are minimizing the impact. But I'm right now focusing more on the fact that we should not have tariffs.

Speaker 2

And only if we have, we should try to implement measures. I'm sure all companies are doing the same. Sorry, I can't be more specific. I know you're interested in that. Let's go to the next question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Terence Flynn with Morgan Stanley.

Speaker 7

Great. Thanks for taking the question. Maybe two for me. Another one on tariffs. I know Scott Gottlieb, who's on your Board, referenced a Grand Bargain on the news a couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 7

And you've given a lot of color here, Albert, in terms of your discussions with the administration. So can you confirm if something along those lines is in the works? And the second question is on the pipeline that you guys and your partner, Arvenus, recently reported some Phase III data for Vepdag from the VeriTAC-two study. Just wondering how that data changed or impacted your strategy for this drug in the frontline setting. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you very much. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of Scott's comments on the ground, a bargain after, of course, I follow him on TV, but also more importantly, I speak with him very regularly, very often, and he advised me on several topics. But I don't know his comments on grand bargain. And clearly right now, there are two things in the horizon. One, it is an executive One, it is a two thirty two process on tariffs or pharmaceuticals that have been excluded from overall tariffs, geographical reciprocal tariffs, and that's on national security.

Speaker 2

There is also an executive order of the president that is focusing on 340B, reducing the cost of patients, PBM reform, removing the pill penalty. Those are the things that we are engaged right now, not in any other type of market. And then on Arvinas, will ask Chris to comment on that.

Speaker 8

Thank you for the question. As you know, phase three top line results, VERITECH two was reported in March, the last two months. We met the primary endpoint in the estrogen receptor one mutant population, which was statistically significant and clinically meaningful for progression free survival. Overall survival still too early, very immature, but we did not reach statistical significance and improvement in PFS and the intent to treat overall population. We plan to present detailed results at ASCO.

Speaker 8

It's a late breaking oral presentation and we'll also start sharing the data with global regulatory authorities to potentially support regulatory filings. We are continuing the combinations with CDK4 atomocyclip, which we're excited about, as well as with CAT6. On this project with veptegastrant, the combinations with veptegastrant, and shall then work with Arvenous to not just only file but work with Arvenous to discuss future plans for the Phase three program.

Speaker 2

Okay, thank you Chris. Next question please.

Operator

We'll go next to Dave Risinger with Leerink.

Speaker 7

Thanks very much and thank you for all the updates. So I have two questions, Albert. First, current Washington leadership is very supportive of the traditional technology sector, but is taking the opposite approach towards biotechnology. So notwithstanding a few of the things that you mentioned that might be marginally positive, such as the pill penalty, Washington is actively degrading proven medical science, collapsing the NIH and driving reduced investments in the biotechnology sector in The United States. Could you please comment on that and how you and other biopharma companies are responding when you engage with Washington?

Speaker 7

And then separately, with respect to the two thirty two investigation, since we can't see what's going on outside, could you just explain exactly how that investigation is progressing? How Pfizer is engaging on the two thirty two investigation front, and what we should watch and when. When should we see news on February? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Yes, thank you, Emmanuel. Look, we are clearly concerned about several of the statements that we have seen and approaches regarding FDA and some statements that they are not in correlation with what science has proven over the decades and what the vast majority of the scientific community, when I say vast, I'm talking 99.9%, are behind it. And sometimes they are used this 0.1% as a point to challenge the remaining. So I think there is scientific truth, and that scientific truth, it is well presented. And this is not only a US thing, it's not only the CDC and the FDA and the NIH, but it is The UK health authorities, and it is the French federal authorities, the Spanish health authorities, and the Korean health authorities, the Japanese and the Israeli, and I can go on and on.

Speaker 2

So this thing of a conspiracy theory, you know, someone is not that the whole world and the whole authorities of the world want to implement wrong science. So I am very convinced that we are in the right side of history, and those people are in the wrong. But I want to tell you that those views are not expressed by the entire administration. And there are many people that they don't serve those views. And I would say that we had also a president that he spearheaded the war speed operation, and he created this miracle that was saved.

Speaker 2

I mean, there was no other country that had done something like that in the world. And the entire world was able to save their economies and survive based on what operational work speed did. But the president and members of his cabinet at that time, and and Jared and all of them, they worked with us to do. Actually, I told him that he should have received the Nobel Prize for that, and that was unfair, but he didn't. It was severe, serious contribution.

Speaker 2

But the thing that I discuss with everyone in the administration, and I think that resonates a lot with Democrats and with the Republicans, with everybody in the administration, including HHS and everywhere. It is that Chinese right now are progressing with the speed of light in their science. Biotech, it is dominant. The US has the dominant scientific position in biotech because we have created this ecosystem of biotech and pharma and academia and all of that. This is exactly what the Chinese have replicated in the last four years.

Speaker 2

And in the last four years, IRA was a significant setback for us that took down a lot of funding for the private sector towards biotech. So the biotechs now currently, also because of tariffs, but also because of the four previous years, they are at historical low. And as a result, there is very little money going to the biotech. The scientists doing the opposite. And right now they are having very, very good science.

Speaker 2

And I think that's something that they should everybody be concerned. And they should be concerned not only from commercial, but also from national security point of view. Imagine if in the next pandemic, the medicines that will help will not be invented in this country, but in another country. That will be a problem. Now, the two thirty two investigation, it is an investigation that is basically is launching and then the Secretary of Commerce is running it and is gathering information to see if there is any national security risk with the way that medicines are available in The US, the supply chain of the medicine.

Speaker 2

The process has been launched, they have requested information publicly, and companies will submit information, the pharma association will submit information, everybody who has an interest on that will submit information and probably proposals, and those things will be assembled. Although the time, this process is time limited, which I think it is two seventy days, I don't recall well, but it is, I think they need to complete it with two seventy days, knowing how fast this administration works, I think they will do the work faster. So let's go to the next question.

Operator

We'll go next to Mohit Bansal with Wells Fargo.

Speaker 11

Great. Thank you very much for taking my question. And Albert, one more for you. So pharmaceutical manufacturing is a little bit more complex. There are layers of API, manufacturing of drug substance, as well as fillfinish.

Speaker 11

And to my understanding, a fillfinish majority of part is already in The US. But would love to understand from your conversations, is there a specific focus of the administration to bring the API part of it or the drug substance manufacturing part of it to The US? And how feasible it is to bring API or move it to some friendly countries, if not if not America? Would love to get your perspective on that. Thank you.

Speaker 2

I think for things that they are considered national security, are looking at entire value chain. So they want to see the precursors, the APIs, and where the products are made. And they are making very clear distinction, I think, on where those products are made so that they can assess their risk. Transferring manufacturing, even under the most lucrative investments available and even under the most favourable regulatory framework to provide approvals, etcetera. It's a multi, multi year process.

Speaker 2

So it's not something that can be resolved within a year. So I believe they will focus on a manageable number of products, which are the most important so that they can have that built and secure the national security. But I think their questions right now is on everything, on APIs, precursors, where products are made. Question, please.

Operator

We'll go next to Courtney Breen with Bernstein.

Speaker 16

Hi, everyone. Thanks for taking the time for our question today. A couple that we had. One clarification on tariffs, and apologies if we missed it, but this was just kind of if you can provide any comments on inventory and kind of work that you're doing already to bring inventory into The US. And then the second question is just on the pipeline.

Speaker 16

I know kind of you could have some details about the things that you're looking to prioritize. But can we expect an R and D Day, through at some point this year that will help us better understand the overall pipeline strategy and help us understand that reallocation and perhaps even better assess and evaluate that pipeline in our sell side models. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Kortner. I will ask Chris to comment on the pipeline, but on the tariffs, as David also said, I think in the beginning, you can imagine we have done everything that we have to do to make sure that we mitigate. So that includes inventories, of course, and many other things that we have built into the country so that we can weather any scenario that is needed. Every month also we're increasing those positions. So to make sure that, as I said, in rainy days, we are well positioned.

Speaker 2

Chris, on pipeline. So thank you for

Speaker 8

the question. Just a reminder, we've got a number of products that we're currently excited about that will read out later this year, for instance, PADCEV, muscle invasive triple if that's positive, will triple the population. Alrexfio, Albert mentioned double class exposed will double the population. Cisanlimab obviously read out just now potentially up to thirty eight thousand patients eligible in The US. And then a number of phase three programs we're accelerating all that already started or will start later this year.

Speaker 8

On the next six to nine months including for oncology the two ADCs Albert mentioned ciclotide, clodotine, PD L1V, atomocycline continuing phase three in first line ER positive breast cancer and vaccines PCV fourth generation, but also potentially starting first and only to market opportunity with the C difficile vaccine. And for internal medicine, ponsagromab, which again discovered in house potential brand new opportunity. This is opening a new field in cancer kyhexia. In terms of an R and D day, we're not planning it, but as you know, we currently have the flashes which is organized by our IR team. The next one coming up will be on breast cancer and we will continue throughout the year these flash

Speaker 2

events. And in general, our intention is to provide as much visibility on our data as possible without undermining publications, of course. So I think the flashes are making very good job right now, and we can intensify also how we do that so that we have smaller bites of information that are referring to a specific product, and then after a month, another product, and then after a month, another product, rather than sour everyone with a lot of data and information in one day. But, you know, we will find the best way and we are listening right now. We are listening to all the analysts that they are giving us ideas on that.

Speaker 2

We are listening all our investors that they are giving us ideas on how best to communicate our pipeline. Let's go now to the next question.

Operator

We'll go next to Assad Hadir with Goldman Sachs.

Speaker 17

Thanks for taking the questions and thanks for all the color on the macro and tariff side. I'll ask a couple of product specific questions. First on Vyndaqel, can you just double click on how competitive dynamics are playing out in that market relative to your own expectations? Second, on the internal oral Kippa agonist, can you remind us of the timelines on when we'll start to see more data? And then third, on these nine Phase III readouts that you're highlighting other than Alevrexio, which you've highlighted in the past, where do you see the biggest disconnect in analyst models relative to your own internal expectations?

Speaker 17

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Amir, you talk about Vyndaqel. Chris, maybe you explain on Gipper. And Andrew, if you can speak about where the biggest differences are. Thanks

Speaker 5

for the question. On Vinda in The US, I think we are off to a very good start in the new year. We've grown revenue at 31% and that is a combination of multiple things, including the fact that diagnosis rates are improving, we've improved access, and therefore have had strong new patient starts, certainly versus last year, more than 70%. And versus Q4, almost 20% new patient start growth. And continued compliance with our existing base of patients.

Speaker 5

And all of that has driven very, very strong volume growth year over year and sequentially, and we are managing that revenue growth despite offset of the impact of IRA Part D redesign that Dave spoke to. Now, we're obviously seeing impact of competition, principally Atruby and principally on newly diagnosed patients. We'll continue to stay close and monitor that and how that evolves and Umvutra settles into the market as well. But the year is off to a good start. Our team is executing well and we have confidence that we will grow for the balance of the year.

Speaker 2

Thank you. Alexander, can you comment also on Vyndaqel in the international markets that is growing very healthy over there?

Speaker 6

Yes, absolutely. So we had also a good growth of 36% this quarter, above expectations from the analysts. What's driving that is essentially a significant increase in our treated population. We have actually reached a 52% growth in patients treated on Vynda in Q1 versus Q1 last year. Very healthy trends.

Speaker 6

And we see that this trend will continue for essentially three reasons. One, because our diagnosis rate has potential to expand in pretty much all our key markets outside of The US. Two, because our profile, our clinical profile is differentiated and will support our standard of care status. We believe in our key market. And three, which is often underestimated, we after three years of hard work have finally reached access, reimbursement in 46 markets.

Speaker 6

We just received actually reimbursement in Korea in March of twenty twenty five. So that will kind of flow into our business and will continue to sustain a significant growth we believe.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Alexandre.

Speaker 8

Chris, Gipper? Oral small molecule GIPA antagonist was discovered in house. It's potentially first in class oral small molecule GIPA antagonist and the phase two study is now ongoing. This is a study in obesity in combination with laraglutide with a GLP-one. The PCD is listed on clinicaltrials.gov at the end of twenty twenty five, so expect beginning 2026 potential data.

Speaker 8

If the data are positive in the phase two study, then it could be a potential to be used in combinations to drive weight loss both with internal or external opportunities.

Speaker 2

Thank you very much Chris. And then, Andre, this connect between our projections that you came to interrogate very carefully and your colleagues in your previous life. All right, well thank

Speaker 9

you for the opportunity, Albert. So I'd start with the two ADCs which are now in phase three first line trials for non small cell and hepNEC, so SV and PD L1V. Now part of the reason I think that street may have these may have flown under the radar is they move very, very quickly on the back of very strong phase one data straight into phase three. And so I think some some focus on that will be useful. We obviously have the benefit of having seen access to more data than you have, but we look forward to sharing that with you in the near future and hopefully that would align your expectations closer to us internally.

Speaker 9

Chris already mentioned C. Diff, which will begin our phase three end of this year, beginning of next year, a very significant unmet medical need. And then and this is not by any means a comprehensive list, but the two other ones I would mention is the CDK4, which I name checked previously, which builds on our legacy with Ibrance. It's the first in class. It promises much better tolerability and efficacy.

Speaker 9

Again, it's in our frontline head to head trial versus the current standard of care. And that is a $15,000,000,000 plus market, so very sizable, an area that we have a lot of expertise in. And then the final one is ponsegrimab, which I've addressed before. Look, we need to see how the data pans out. If it translates into a meaningful progression free survival benefit or even a survival benefit, then obviously it's a home run-in terms of the value to both patients but in addition the revenue potential.

Speaker 9

Alternatively, it's supported care therapy then it's still a significant product albeit of a different price point in a different order of magnitude. But nonetheless, there is a very substantial delta when we look further out between what I can see or we can see and how the Street is modeling some of those forecasts. So we look forward to hopefully narrowing the gap in the months ahead.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Andrew. That was the last question and just a couple of comments. We had a very solid performance in the first quarter. Keep in mind that already CHF650 million negative in The US have been already absorbed in the results of the first quarter because of IRA. And that's from a total of 1,000,000,000 net, 1,500,000,000.0 gross for the year.

Speaker 2

But so it's a very strong start. I think in the strategic priorities, we continue to guide us in acting on our greatest opportunity. The discipline will continue. I think the team that we have running right now, the company, probably the best I have ever seen in Pfizer, and Pfizer had traditionally very, very strong teams. So I'm cautiously optimistic that we will turn this around and we will translate the very good operational performance of the last five quarters at least into also meaningful shareholder value.

Speaker 2

Thank you very much and till the next earnings call.

Operator

This does conclude today's program. Thank you for your participation. You may disconnect at any time.

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Earnings Conference Call
Pfizer Q1 2025
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