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Kenvue shares dive ahead of Trump autism claims
Shares of Kenvue slid more than 7% before United States President Donald Trump linked its pain medication Tylenol to autism. Trump advised pregnant women and parents of young children not to use or administer the over-the-counter painkiller although this is not supported by medical advice. "I want to say it like it is, don't take Tylenol. Don't take it," Trump told a news conference. "Fight like hell not to take it. There may be a point where you have to, and that you'll have to work out with yourself, so don't take Tylenol." The advice from Trump, who admitted "I'm not a doctor", is counter to medical advice, which cites studies showing acetaminophen, the generic name for the drug branded as Tylenol, plays a safe role in the well-being of pregnant women. In an extraordinary news conference at the White House, the President also linked autism to childhood vaccines. Kenvue shares fell $1.37 (7.47%) to $16.97, capitalising the consumer health company at $32.57 billion, before recovering to $17.74 in after-hours trade. The stock fell ahead of the announcement because investors were expecting the announcement. The share price had fallen to a record low earlier this month after a newspaper report that United Sta
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Novo Nordisk to cut workforce amid Eli Lilly competition
The maker of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, announced that it will be cutting its workforce amid stiff competition from United States rival Eli Lilly. In a statement, the Danish company said it intends to reduce its global workforce by around 9,000, with 5,000 of these reductions expected in Denmark. Novo Nordisk President and CEO Mike Doustdar said the move is to keep in line with the ever-evolving market of obesity and diabetes products. “Our company must evolve as well,” he said. “This means instilling an increased performance-based culture, deploying our resources ever more effectively, and prioritising investment where it will have the most impact – behind our leading therapy areas.” The company said the workforce reduction is expected to deliver annualised savings of around DKK 8 billion (A$1.8 billion) by the end of 2026. The savings will be redirected to growth opportunities, with the reductions to begin within the next few months. Doustdar said while it is sad to see talent go, the company believes it is the right decision for the long-term success of Novo Nordisk. “Our transformation plan is designed to deliver this,” he said. “By realigning our resources now, we will be ab
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Report gives Tylenol maker a share price headache
The share price of the company that sells Tylenol plunged to a record low on Friday on reports that the over-the-counter pain medication was being connected to autism in children. The price of Kenvue Inc fell more than 19% after a newspaper report that United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to announce the use of Tylenol in pregnant women was potentially linked to autism. This is inconsistent with medical advice that it is safe to use, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which cited people familiar with the matter. Kenvue responded with a statement saying it had continuously evaluated the science and continued to believe there was no causal link between autism and the use of acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol, during pregnancy. “Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products,” a Kenvue spokeswoman was quoted as saying. “We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism.” Kennedy will also suggest a medicine derived from folate called folinic acid can be used to treat symptoms of autism in some people, the WSJ reported. H
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Ansell shares jump on profit lift; uncertain on tariffs
Ansell shares jumped after it announced a strong increase in profit for the 2025 financial year (FY25) and forecast more growth in the current year, but indicated the impact of higher United States tariffs was unclear. The global protective products manufacturer said net profit after tax jumped 32.8% to US$101.6 million (A$156.5 million) on revenue, which increased 23.7% to $2.003 billion in the 12 months to 30 June 2025. Directors declared an unfranked final dividend of US 28.00 cents per share to be paid on 18 September to shareholders registered on 1 September, compared with 21.9 cents in the previous corresponding period (pcp), bringing the full year payment to 50.2 cents, up from 38.4 cents in the pcp. At the time of writing, Ansell (ASX: ANN) shares had risen $3.21 (10.26%) to $34.51, capitalising the company at $5.04 billion.Source: Ansell“We delivered strong top and bottom-line growth in FY25 in challenging trading conditions, particularly in industrial end markets,” Managing Director and CEO Neil Salmon said in an ASX announcement. He said this was enabled by growth and productivity investments. Investments in innovation and manufacturing capacity supported product success that accelerated sales growth in t
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CSL lifts profit, reveals spin-off and restructuring
CSL has announced a major restructuring including a spin-off of its influenza vaccine business and a workforce reduction after posting a 17% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) for the 2025 financial year (FY25). The global biotechnology company said the 'transformation initiatives’ included: demerging CSL Seqirus as a substantial ASX-listed entity before the end of FY26combining the medical and commercial functions of CSL Behring and CSL Vifor consolidating its research and development (R&D) footprint and integrating its R&D, business development and commercial teams, and reducing its headcount by up to 15% of its 32,000 person workforceCSL said NPAT climbed 17% to US$3.0 billion (A$4.6 billion) and underlying profit (NPATA) rose 14% to US$3.3 billion in the 12 months ended 30 June 2025 on revenue which grew 5% to $15.6 billion. A final unfranked dividend of US$1.62 per share, up 12% on the previous corresponding half, will be paid on 3 October to shareholders registered on 10 September, bringing the full year payment to $2.92, up 11%.Source: CSLThe company also said underlying profit, excluding the non-recurring restructuring cost, was expected to rise by 7-10% to $3.45 billion to $3.55 billion in FY26. CSL also ann

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ResMed tops Q4 earnings; shares dip in overnight trade
Despite beating fourth-quarter earnings forecasts with net profit up 30% to US$380 million for the three months ended 30 June, shares in ResMed (ASX: RMD) may struggle to open higher this morning after shares in the sleep health products group were sold off by 1.5% in New York trading overnight. Due to strong demand for its sleep apnoea devices and a predicted higher-than-expected improvement in gross margins for the year ahead the dual-listed California-based stock announced a 37% jump in full year profit to June 30 to $1.4 billion (A$2.2 billion) while revenue was up 10% to $5.1 billion. Also beating consensus expectations, June quarter sales were up 9% on a constant currency basis to $1.35 billion, while operating income increased 19% to $455 million due to above-market rest of world growth. Operating cash flow increased by 22% to $539 million, supporting a net cash position of US$541 million. The group will pay a 13% higher quarterly dividend of 60 cents per share and will increase its share buyback scheme to $150 million per quarter. Commenting on today’s market update Resmed’s Chairman and CEO, Mick Farrell reassured the market that the company was confident of maintaining sales growth for its breathing mach
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'Volatile': P&G lifts profits as it takes razor to costs
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has announced a jump in net earnings for the fourth quarter (Q4) and the 2025 financial year (FY25) as cost reductions offset weak sales revenue. The American consumer products giant said net earnings were US$3.615 billion (A$5.543 billion) in Q4, 15% higher than $3.137 billion in the previous corresponding period (pcp). Diluted earnings per share (EPS) soared 17% to $1.48 on net sales which grew just 2% to $20.889 billion in the final quarter of FY25. For the full financial year, net earnings increased 7% to $15.975 billion and diluted EPS rose 8% to $6.51 on net sales which were flat at $84.284 billion. The company returned more than $16 billion to shareholders in FY25 via dividends and share repurchases.Source: Procter & Gamble“We grew sales and profit in fiscal 2025 and returned high levels of cash to shareowners in a dynamic, difficult and volatile environment,” Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jon Moeller said in a press release. The company said the lift in FY25 EPS was the result of a reduction in selling, general and administrative costs and a non-cash impairment charge in the prior year and despite higher non-core restructuring charges in the current year.
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Novo Nordisk revises outlook, names new CEO amid shift
Novo Nordisk has lowered its full-year 2025 guidance, citing slower-than-expected growth for its flagship GLP-1 therapies Wegovy and Ozempic in the United States market. Sales growth is now forecast at 8–14%, down from 13–21%, while operating profit growth has been revised to 10–16% from 16–24%. Despite an 18% sales increase and 29% operating profit growth in the first half of the year, compounded competition and sluggish market expansion have weighed on performance. After falling as much as 26%, shares pared losses slightly.Credit: Novo NordiskWegovy prescriptions via NovoCare Pharmacy average 11,000 weekly, with an additional 20,000 in retail cash channels. Ozempic continues to face pressure from rival offerings, and a regulatory decision on Wegovy’s MASH indication is expected later this year. Financial expectations have also been adjusted. Free cash flow is now projected at DKK 35–45 billion, reflecting reduced volume growth in GLP-1 treatments. Novo Nordisk anticipates a net gain of DKK 3 billion from currency hedges, though the acquisition of three Catalent manufacturing sites is expected to have a mid-single-digit negative impact on operating profit growth. These revisions come amid broader strategic re
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Sanofi buys vaccine developer Vicebio for $1.15bn
Sanofi will acquire London-based biotechnology company Vicebio for more than US$1.15 billion, adding its vaccine technology to Sanofi's portfolio. Vicebio is developing a combination vaccine candidate for two respiratory viruses with its Molecular Clamp technology, which will allow vaccines to be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures. "Vicebio's ‘Molecular Clamp’ technology introduces a purposefully simple but thoughtful approach to further improve vaccine designs at a time when respiratory viral infections continue to impact millions globally”, said Sanofi vaccines global head of research and development Jean-François Toussaint. “This acquisition furthers Sanofi's dedication to vaccine innovation with the potential to develop next-generation combination vaccines that could provide protection to older adults against multiple respiratory viruses with a single immunization." Sanofi will acquire Vicebio’s share capital for US$1.15 billion, with additional payments of up to $450 million based on development or regulatory achievements, the company said. The deal is set to close in 2025’s fourth quarter. Vicebio’s Molecular Clamp strategy, developed at the University of Queensland, stabilises viral proteins in the