<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div>                                                                                                                                                <p>The pharmaceutical sector is ripe with opportunities after merger and acquisition activities continued on Monday. On Monday, AbbVie (ABBV) said it would buy Apogee (APGE) for $135.11 per share. It is paying all cash.</p><p>ABBV stock jumped by 6.25%, while APGE stock gained 46.66%. The deal strengthens AbbVie’s drug pipeline. It will add Apogee’s lead asset, Zumilokibart. This is a monoclonal antibody that targets IL-13. Treatments for APG777 include atopic dermatitis, Asthma, and eosinophilic Esophagitis. In the former two diseases, this drug could compete effectively against Regeneron’s (REGN) Dupixent.</p><p>AbbVie’s peers include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer (PFE), J&amp;J (JNJ), Merck (MRK), and Amgen (AGN). Among them, BMY and PFE shares offer good value.</p><p>In the vaccine space, Moderna (MRNA) slipped by over 7% yesterday. The breakout from the mid $45-$50 range is at risk of losing momentum. Before the drop on Monday, MRNA stock gained for six straight sessions.</p><p>On June 18, the FDA advisory panel agreed that the mRNA seasonal flu vaccine (mRNA-1010) outweighed risks for subjects who were 50 – 75 years old. This is a welcome reversal from February’s FDA decision. Back then, the FDA issued Moderna a refusal-to-file letter. It cited a lack of an adequate and well-controlled trial. Still, the agency reversed that decision in late February.<br/></p></div></div></div>

APGE

ABBV

MRNA

MRNX

MRNY

<p>AbbVie agreed to acquire Apogee Biotech for $135.11 per share in an all-cash deal, strengthening its drug pipeline with Zumilokibart. Following the announcement, AbbVie's stock rose 6.25% while Apogee surged 46.66%. Meanwhile, Moderna slipped over 7% despite a recent FDA advisory panel recommending approval for its mRNA seasonal flu vaccine for adults aged 50-75, reversing a previous refusal.</p>

Why AbbVie is a Buy As Moderna Slips