Royalty Pharma Plc

Royalty Pharma has agreed to pay Neurimmune up to $425 million for a 3% to 4% royalty on global net sales of AstraZeneca's cliramitug, an investigational antibody for transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. The deal includes $125 million upfront, another $125 million in the first quarter of 2027, and up to $175 million tied to clinical and regulatory milestones. Cliramitug is in a Phase 3 trial with data expected in 2028, and it is designed to clear existing amyloid deposits rather than just slow progression. Royalty Pharma also raised its full-year 2026 Portfolio Receipts guidance to between $3.325 billion and $3.450 billion after first-quarter receipts rose 10% to $925 million. AstraZeneca reported first-half 2026 revenue growth of 6%, with core operating profit and core EPS both up 11%, and increased its interim dividend by 3 cents to $1.06 per share.

Revolution Medicines reported second quarter 2026 financial results and provided updates on its oncology pipeline. The company ended the quarter with $3.9 billion in cash and marketable securities, including $2.2 billion in gross proceeds from concurrent offerings of common stock and convertible notes completed in April 2026 and a $250 million second royalty tranche from Royalty Pharma received in May 2026. Research and development expenses rose to $395 million from $224 million a year earlier, while general and administrative expenses increased to $110 million from $41 million. Net loss for the quarter was $644 million, including a $151 million non-cash charge related to the fair value of warrants from the EQRx acquisition. The company updated its full-year 2026 GAAP operating expense guidance to between $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion, with stock-based compensation expected between $270 million and $290 million. Management highlighted the FDA acceptance of the New Drug Application for daraxonrasib in pancreatic cancer, the initiation of a phased review by the European Medicines Agency, and the expansion of its Expanded Access Program to over 2,000 patients across nearly all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. New clinical data presented included an 82% objective response rate for zoldonrasib in combination with modified FOLFIRINOX in first-line RAS G12D pancreatic cancer and an 85% objective response rate for elironrasib in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in first-line RAS G12C non-small cell lung cancer.

Royalty Pharma raised its full-year 2026 guidance for the second consecutive quarter, now expecting portfolio receipts of $3.4 billion to $3.5 billion and royalty receipts growth of 7% to 10%. Portfolio receipts grew 6% in the second quarter to $773 million, while total receipts rose 14%, driven by strong performances from Tremfya, Voranigo, Emdeltra, and Evrysdi. The company reported a return on invested capital of 14.2% and return on invested equity of 20.1% over the last twelve months. Capital deployment reached $349 million in the quarter, primarily for royalty funding for daraxonrasib and research and development funding for Johnson & Johnson's 4804 and litufilimab. Royalty Pharma also highlighted the acquisition of a 3.75% royalty on AstraZeneca's cliramitug, a potential blockbuster for ATTR-CM, with peak annual royalty potential of $110 million to $190 million.

Several biotech stocks reached 52-week highs on July 29, 2026, driven by second-quarter financial results and clinical updates. Anika Therapeutics rose over 6% to $17.75 after reporting second-quarter revenue of $32.6 million, a 17% year-over-year increase, and net income of $3.3 million, while revising its 2026 total revenue growth guidance to 5% to 10%. Chemed Corporation climbed over 4% to $551.68 as its second-quarter revenue grew 8.8% to $673 million, with its VITAS Healthcare unit contributing $443.4 million in patient revenue and a 9% increase in admissions, and the company raised its full-year revenue growth estimate to 8.25% to 9.25%. ICU Medical hit an intraday high of $170.48 ahead of its August 6 earnings report, following a first quarter in which infusion systems product revenue grew 9% to $179 million despite a 12% overall GAAP revenue decline to $530 million due to a divestiture. Neurocrine Biosciences reached $183.50 ahead of its July 30 earnings release, after first-quarter net product sales surged 44% to $811 million and the company acquired Soleno Therapeutics in May 2026. Royalty Pharma touched $60.44, reporting a 13% increase in first-quarter royalty receipts to $887 million and projecting full-year royalty receipts between $3.32 billion and $3.45 billion, with second-quarter results due on August 5.

Royalty Pharma has acquired a portion of Neurimmune's royalty interest in AstraZeneca's cliramitug for up to $425 million, including $125 million upfront. The deal gives Royalty Pharma a 3% to 4% royalty on worldwide net sales of the Phase 3 TTR-fibril-depleting antibody, which targets ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. An additional $125 million is payable in the first quarter of 2027, with the remaining $175 million tied to clinical and regulatory milestones. Cliramitug is currently in the Phase 3 DepleTTR-CM trial, with results expected in 2028, and AstraZeneca has set a peak sales target of $3 billion to $5 billion. The ATTR-CM market surpassed $7 billion in 2025, growing over 40% year-over-year.

Royalty Pharma's board of directors has approved a third-quarter 2026 dividend of $0.235 per Class A ordinary share. The dividend will be paid on September 10, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 14, 2026.

The systemic lupus erythematosus market is at a turning point as six late-stage emerging therapies advance toward potential approval, according to DelveInsight. The market, valued at approximately USD 3 billion in 2025 across the United States, EU4, the United Kingdom, and Japan, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.4% through 2036. Among the highlighted candidates, Biogen and Royalty Pharma's litifilimab has completed enrollment in two Phase III trials with topline results expected in the second half of 2026, while Roche has submitted regulatory applications for obinutuzumab and received FDA acceptance of its supplemental Biologics License Application with a decision anticipated by December 2026. Novartis' ianalumab is in Phase III studies with results expected in 2027 and a potential regulatory submission in 2028, Johnson & Johnson's nipocalimab received Fast Track Designation in March 2026, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals and Viatris' cenerimod is in two Phase III trials and also holds Fast Track Designation, and AbbVie's upadacitinib has advanced to Phase III testing following positive Phase II results.

Meridian Hedged Equity Fund highlighted Royalty Pharma in its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, noting the stock performed well following another earnings beat and expectations for continued strength from established franchises. Royalty Pharma is the industry's largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties, partnering with innovators to co-fund late-stage clinical trials and acquiring existing royalties on approved therapies. The fund maintained its position throughout the quarter. Royalty Pharma shares gained 56.06% over the past 52 weeks and closed at $56.23 on June 26, 2026, with a market capitalization of $32.38 billion.

Eric Fry, writing for InvestorPlace, identifies Block Inc., Royalty Pharma Plc, and Equinor ASA as three forever stocks positioned to benefit from the AI age. Block, which operates the Square payment app, helps merchants transact over $200 billion annually and generated $3.2 billion in free cash flow by March 31, a 172% increase year-over-year. Royalty Pharma manages a portfolio of royalties on over 35 commercial products and 17 development-stage drug candidates, leveraging a high-margin business model. Equinor, Norway’s largest energy company and Europe’s biggest non-Russian natural gas supplier, is benefiting as European countries phase out Russian oil and gas.