Bristol’s Focus Returns To IO Following Celgene Vote

Q1 Earnings Preview: With the positive vote on its merger with Celgene behind it, Bristol now needs to focus on growing its immuno-oncology business, where several upcoming catalysts could bolster Opdivo.

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The aftermath of its now-approved merger with Celgene Corp. will be a major area of focus during Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s first quarter earnings call on April 25. But as investors look to the future, they are returning to previous concerns about the company’s strategy for maintaining or even growing its position in immuno-oncology as bellwether product Opdivo (nivolumab) is increasingly challenged by Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Analyst Alex Arfaei of BMO Capital Markets predicts Bristol’s IO franchise of the anti-PD-1 therapy Opdivo and CTLA-4 inhibitor Yervoy...

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