Peter Loftus
Verified
Wall Street Journal @WSJ reporter - pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare. peter.loftus@wsj.com. Author of The Messenger
Articles by Peter Loftus
These influencers are on a mission to stop people from paying medical bills
Ian Howard was shocked to get a $1,000 bill for a brief visit to the emergency room that determined he sprained his ankle in a fall last year. Instead of fighting the bill, he just didn't pay it. “I went in for a sprained ankle. All's they did was look at it and say, the bitch is sprained” the 28-year-old yells in a rant on TikTok.
These Influencers Are on a Mission to Stop People From Paying Medical Bills
As costs to patients explode, so do social-media posts suggesting people think twice about paying high bills Ian Howard was shocked to get a $1,000 bill for a brief visit to the emergency room that determined he sprained his ankle in a fall last year. Instead of fighting the bill, he just didn’t pay it. “I went in for a sprained ankle. All’s they did was look at it and say, the bitch is sprained” the 28-year-old yells in a rant on TikTok.
These Influencers Are on a Mission to Stop People From Paying Medical Bills
Equinor 19 hours ago Equinor may stop investing in UK if oil and gas fields do not get go-ahead bbc.co.uk - Simon Jack • 19h Oil giant Equinor has warned it may shun further investments in the UK if new oil and gas fields at Rosebank and Jackdaw are not approved. "The question will be: is the UK investable in the future?
GE HealthCare to Buy Sofie for Nearly $1 Billion to Grow Medical-Imaging Business — WSJ
GE HealthCare to Buy Sofie for Nearly $1 Billion to Grow Medical-Imaging Business — WSJ GEHC GE HealthCare Technologies is expected to announce Monday a $945 million cash purchase of a manufacturer of radioactive substances used in medical-imaging procedures. The deal marks a continued push by medical-equipment maker GE HealthCare into the growing market for radiopharmaceuticals, which have uses for both diagnosing and treating diseases including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.
GE HealthCare to Buy Sofie for Nearly $1 Billion to Grow Medical-Imaging Business
Deal expands GE HealthCare’s footprint in radiopharmaceuticals, its fastest-growing segment The deal marks a continued push by medical-equipment maker GE HealthCare into the growing market for radiopharmaceuticals, which have uses for both diagnosing and treating diseases including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 Subscribe Now Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why more hospitals and doctors are asking patients to pay first
Have a costly medical procedure coming up? Odds are, you're going to be asked to pay ahead of time. This year, about 92% of U.S. health providers either encourage prepayment, require it or collect a payment method on file during the estimate process, according to a survey conducted by PayZen, a patient payment service provider, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Last year, it was 81%.
Why More Hospitals and Doctors Are Asking Patients to Pay First
Hospitals and doctor’s offices are increasingly asking patients to foot the bill ahead of medical procedures Daisy Korpics/WSJ, Getty, iStock Have a costly medical procedure coming up? Odds are, you’re going to be asked to pay ahead of time.
US workers are paying more for healthcare, and next year will be worse
Surging healthcare costs are walloping U.S workers, and they will only worsen next year. For 2027, employers may be facing the biggest health-insurance increase in at least two decades. Americans with workplace coverage spent an average $5,297 this year on healthcare, $388 more than 2025, according to a new estimate from benefits-consulting firm Aon. The spending represents a combination of payroll deductions for premiums and out-of-pocket charges like deductibles and copays.
U.S. Workers Are Paying More for Healthcare, and Next Year Will Be Worse
For 2027, employers face their biggest health-insurance increases in at least two decades Michelle Gustafson for WSJ Surging healthcare costs are walloping U.S. workers, and they will only worsen next year. For 2027, employers may be facing the biggest health-insurance increase in at least two decades. Americans with workplace coverage spent an average $5,297 this year on healthcare, $388 more than 2025, according to a new estimate from benefits-consulting firm Aon.
Pfizer's quarterly results beat expectations on cancer, heart drugs
Pfizer reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, as rising sales of drugs for cancer and heart disease helped offset steep declines for Covid-19 products. The New York company also slightly raised the bottom end of its forecast range for full-year 2026 revenue. Pfizer shares were largely unchanged in premarket trading. Pfizer is trying to recover from a postpandemic hangover in which demand for its Covid-19 vaccine and treatment have plummeted.
Pfizer’s Quarterly Results Beat Expectations on Cancer, Heart Drugs
Sales of Pfizer's Comirnaty Covid vaccine dropped 34% in the quarter. - hannah beier/Reuters Pfizer reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, as rising sales of drugs for cancer and heart disease helped offset steep declines for Covid-19 products. The New York company also slightly raised the bottom end of its forecast range for full-year 2026 revenue. The AI Boom Is Transforming the American Economy Beyond Recognition Whirlpool Abandoned Its Global Ambitions.
経口減量薬シェア争いはノボ優勢、リリーも反撃へ
製薬業界で今、最も熾烈（しれつ）な争いが繰り広げられているのは経口肥満症治療薬だ。今のところは、米製薬大手イーライリリーがデンマークの製薬大手ノボ・ノルディスクにリードを許している。 リリーは経口肥満症治療薬「ファウンダヨ」を4月に発売したが、最新の週次データによると、新型経口薬の処方件数にファウンダヨが占める割合は約11％にとどまる。残りを占めているのは、1月に発売されたノボの経口肥満症治療薬「ウゴービ錠」だ。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Merck's first-of-its-kind cholesterol pill approved, ushering in new wave of treatment
Peter Loftus U.S. regulators approved a first-of-its kind pill from Merck that is designed to help lower cholesterol levels beyond what statins alone can achieve. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Lipfendra to treat high cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
FDA Approves First-of-Its-Kind Cholesterol Pill, Ushering In New Wave of Treatment
U.S. regulators approved a first-of-its kind pill from Merck that is designed to help lower cholesterol levels beyond what statins alone can achieve. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Lipfendra to treat high cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
In the weight-loss wars, Novo's obesity pill is pulling way ahead of Lilly's
Peter Loftus The launch of weight-loss pills is the hottest battle in pharma. So far, Eli Lilly is losing to rival Novo Nordisk. Since its obesity pill Foundayo hit the market in April , Lilly has captured about 11% of the prescription volume for new pills, according to the latest weekly data. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill, which launched in January, commands the rest. It is a remarkable turn of events for the near $80 billion anti-obesity market, among the hottest in the industry.
减肥药大战：诺和诺德口服药遥遥领先礼来
减肥口服药上市是制药行业竞争最白热化的战场。目前来看，礼来公司(Eli Lilly)在与竞争对手诺和诺德(Novo Nordisk)的较量中处于下风。 根据最新一周的数据，自其减肥口服药Foundayo于4月上市以来，礼来公司占据了新型口服药处方量约11%的份额。诺和诺德于1月推出的维秀美(Wegovy)口服药则占据其余份额。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
In the Weight-Loss Wars, Novo’s Obesity Pill Is Pulling Way Ahead of Lilly’s
The market leader in obesity shots, Lilly hasn’t made a major dent in the pill market yet Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill is the market leader for new oral weight-loss drugs. George Frey/Bloomberg News The launch of weight-loss pills is the hottest battle in pharma. So far, Eli Lilly LLY -2.48%decrease; down pointing triangle is losing to rival Novo Nordisk NOVO.B -1.45%decrease; down pointing triangle.
The Latest Senior-Citizen Special Is Here: Cheap Weight-Loss Drugs
Wegovy will be one of the three weight-loss drugs Medicare will start covering. Hannah Beier/Reuters Millions of older Americans are on the cusp of more affordable access to popular weight-loss drugs when a major Medicare coverage expansion kicks in July 1. Medicare will pilot a program, dubbed Bridge, to offer three weight-loss drugs for eligible members, who would pay $50 monthly copays.
AbbVie to Buy Immunology Drugmaker Apogee for $10.9 Billion
AbbVie ABBV 6.36 %increase; up pointing triangle has agreed to buy Apogee Therapeutics APGE 46.84 %increase; up pointing triangle for about $10.9 billion to bolster the pharmaceutical company’s core immunology franchise. AbbVie on Monday said it would pay $135.11 a share in cash, a 49% premium to Thursday’s closing price of $90.38 for the Waltham, Mass., biotechnology company. It is one of the industry’s largest deals so far this year.
New GSK CEO’s Cancer Deal Signals Bigger Ambitions
After shedding its oncology business just over a decade ago, GSK is building it back with $10.6 billion deal GSK CEO Luke Miels GSK/Reuters Not long ago, it would have been hard to imagine GSK GSK 0.29%increase; green up pointing triangle doing one of the industry’s biggest deals of 2026.
Your Weight-Loss Drugs Are Next on the Corporate Chopping Block
Daisy Korpics/WSJ, Eli Lilly/Reuters Coverage for Ozempic and other drugs used for weight loss has fast become one of the most coveted workplace benefits—so much so that companies say they can no longer afford to provide it. With as many as one in eight American adults taking the pills or injectables now, big employers from Cigna to PricewaterhouseCoopers are dropping coverage of so-called GLP-1s in droves.
科学公信力断崖式下跌，一位演员给出了解法
神经科学家安娜丽莎·西梅米(Annalisa Scimemi)在她的实验室里如鱼得水，每天与小鼠和精密仪器打交道，潜心于对脑细胞的研究。 因此，在5月的这个下午，当她不得不为一个凭空虚构出来的荒诞产品“锤子加湿器”进行即兴推销时，她完全走出了自己的舒适区。这是一项即兴表演练习，旨在帮助科学家提升演讲感染力。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Alan Alda’s Solution to Eroding Trust in Science: More Improv
‘M*A*S*H’ star’s program to help researchers overcome their communication challenges now draws thousands. We sat in on a class. Josh Rice, a theater actor, helped run the two-day workshop in May. Peter Loftus/WSJ ALBANY, N.Y.—Neuroscientist Annalisa Scimemi is in her element at her laboratory, where she works with mice and sophisticated instruments to better understand brain cells.
Lilly Agrees to Buy Trio of Vaccine Developers
Eli Lilly LLY 2.24 %increase; green up pointing triangle agreed to acquire three vaccine developers in deals worth up to nearly $4 billion combined, the company told The Wall Street Journal. The deals, to be announced later Tuesday, mark a new push by the weight-loss drug market leader into infectious-disease prevention.
Lilly Agrees to Buy Trio of Vaccine Developers
Updated May 26, 2026 8:29 am ET Eli Lilly LLY 0.42 %increase; green up pointing triangle agreed to acquire three vaccine developers in deals valued at up to nearly $4 billion combined, the company said Tuesday. The deals mark a new push by the weight-loss drug market leader into infectious-disease prevention.
汉坦病毒战疫下一程：寻找疫苗与疗法
多年来，药物研发人员一直在致力于寻找治疗罕见传染病——汉坦病毒的方法；近日，一艘邮轮上暴发了汉坦病毒，全球公共卫生官员目前正争分夺秒地加以遏制。 最新一轮病毒暴发已致三人死亡、数人患病，这使得相关研发工作更显紧迫。汉坦病毒通常通过接触受感染的啮齿动物传播，但当前疫情中的毒株却能在人际间传播。一些极具前景的项目此前因缺乏持续资金而被搁置，如今正寻求新的资金注入，以推进进一步的测试和其他研究，从而有望催生新的治疗方案。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy The next frontier for hantavirus: Finding vaccines and treatments
Peter Loftus Drug hunters have searched for years for a treatment for the rare infectious disease hantavirus, which caused an outbreak on a cruise ship that global public-health officials are now racing to contain. The latest outbreak, which has killed three people and sickened several others, adds increased urgency to those efforts. While hantavirus is generally contracted through exposure to infected rodents, the strain in the current outbreak can be transmitted from person to person.
The Next Frontier for Hantavirus: Finding Vaccines and Treatments
Some promising candidates are sitting on the shelf, awaiting funds before human tests Scientists have spent years looking for an effective drug to treat hantavirus. ARGENTINE HEALTH MINISTRY/AFP/Getty Images Drug hunters have searched for years for a treatment for the rare infectious disease hantavirus, which caused an outbreak on a cruise ship that global public health officials are now racing to contain.
Än har AI inte förändrat ”Big Pharma” – men hoppet lever
Att artificiell intelligens kommer att driva igenom stora genombrott inom läkemedelsforskningen har varit ett av techentusiasternas främsta argument ända sedan AI slog igenom brett i samhället. Än så länge är de konkreta resultaten dock få. Men ambitionerna finns, skriver Wall Street Journal. Globala läkemedelsjättar som amerikanska Eli Lilly och brittisk-svenska Astra Zeneca har investerat miljarder i samarbetet med AI-bolag.
Pfizer posts better-than-expected revenue, profit
Higher sales of cancer treatments helped fuel better-than-expected first-quarter sales and profit for drugmaker Pfizer. Pfizer also reaffirmed its sales and profit forecast for full-year 2026. Its shares rose 0.7% in premarket trading. Pfizer is trying to recover from a postpandemic hangover in which demand for its Covid-19 vaccine and treatment have plummeted .
The quest to use AI to help find new drugs
Peter Loftus Eli Lilly Chief Executive Dave Ricks was on stage with Nvidia founder Jensen Huang earlier this year in San Francisco touting the company's tech prowess when Huang teased him about the painstaking process of developing new drugs. “I'm really hoping that your industry moves from drug discovery which is kind of like wandering around the forest looking for truffles,” Huang said, in front of a crowd of biotech and pharma investors.
The Quest to Use AI to Help Find New Drugs
Eli Lilly LLY 3.07 %increase; green up pointing triangle Chief Executive Dave Ricks was on stage with Nvidia NVDA -0.56 %decrease; red down pointing triangle founder Jensen Huang earlier this year in San Francisco touting the company’s tech prowess when Huang teased him about the painstaking process of developing new drugs.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Eli Lilly shares jump 10% as Mounjaro, Zepbound fuel massive growth
Peter Loftus Booming sales of weight-loss shots fueled strong revenue and profit growth for Eli Lilly in the latest quarter, as robust consumer demand helped offset falling prices for the drugs. The results blew past Wall Street expectations, and Lilly raised its forecast for full-year 2026 sales and profit. Lilly shares rose nearly 10% in midday trading. The results cement the Indianapolis company's dominance in the anti-obesity drug market as it seeks to extend that to weight-loss pills.
Eli Lilly Shares Jump as Mounjaro, Zepbound Fuel Massive Growth
Eli Lilly released its new weight-loss pill Foundayo this month. - Eli Lilly/Handout/Reuters Booming sales of weight-loss shots fueled strong revenue and profit growth for Eli Lilly in the latest quarter, as robust consumer demand helped offset falling prices for the drugs. The results blew past Wall Street expectations, and Lilly raised its forecast for full-year 2026 sales and profit. Most Read from The Wall Street Journal Lilly shares rose 7.5% in premarket trading.
Eli Lilly Shares Jump as Mounjaro, Zepbound Fuel Massive Growth
Booming sales of weight-loss shots fueled strong revenue and profit growth for Eli Lilly LLY 8.86%increase; green up pointing triangle in the latest quarter, as robust consumer demand helped offset falling prices for the drugs. The results blew past Wall Street expectations, and Lilly raised its forecast for full-year 2026 sales and profit. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Sun Pharma to buy US healthcare firm Organon in $11.75 billion deal
P.R. Venkat, Peter Loftus India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has agreed to acquire U.S. drugmaker Organon in an $11.75 billion deal aimed at helping the Mumbai-based drugmaker grow beyond lower-margin generic drugs. Sun Pharma agreed to pay $14 a share in cash for New Jersey-based Organon, the two companies said in a joint statement late Sunday.
Boston Scientific Shares Rise on Updated Guidance as it Navigates Challenges
Medical-device maker Boston Scientific slashed its forecast of full-year 2026 revenue Wednesday, citing softer-than-expected sales in areas like kidney-stone devices and its Watchman heart-rhythm device. Yet the company’s share price surged 8% Wednesday, on pace for its largest percent increase since March 2020. It turns out investors were already expecting a guidance cut and the revised, lower targets now appear achievable.
Medicare Delays Full Obesity-Drug Program Rollout After Insurers Push Back
Without big Medicare insurers, future of program to cover popular obesity drugs had been in question An Eli Lilly Zepbound injection pen. Shelby Knowles/Bloomberg News The Medicare agency will extend a short-term program that will pay for weight-loss drugs such as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s NOVO.B -4.19%decrease; red down pointing triangle Wegovy, guaranteeing access to the popular medications will continue for seniors next year.
製薬大手、中国に求める「新薬の手掛かり」
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J&J's first-quarter sales grow on cancer-drug strength
Peter Loftus Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson reported nearly 10% revenue growth for the latest quarter on strong cancer drug sales that offset a steep decline from one of its bestselling drugs, Stelara. J&J said its first-quarter sales rose to $24.06 billion, topping the mean estimate of $23.62 billion from analysts surveyed by FactSet. Adjusted quarterly earnings also beat Wall Street expectations.
J&J’s First-Quarter Sales Grow on Cancer-Drug Strength
Drug and medical-device maker managed to offset declines from its blockbuster Stelara losing patent protection Johnson & Johnson’s first-quarter sales beat expectations. brendan mcdermid/Reuters Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson JNJ -0.21%decrease; red down pointing triangle reported nearly 10% revenue growth for the latest quarter on strong cancer drug sales that offset a steep decline from one of its bestselling drugs, Stelara.
全球大型药企转向中国寻找新药
寻找创新癌症疗法是辉瑞公司(Pfizer)的头等大事。为了寻求尖端技术，该公司的高管们前往了中国沈阳。去年夏天，辉瑞斥资12.5亿美元，在那里从中国的三生制药(3SBio)手中购买了一款候选抗癌药物的权益。 曾几何时，中国还是药物研发领域的落后地区。那时中国公司主要生产药物原料，或低成本的仿制药。中国的患者群体则为大型药企销售在西方研发的药物提供了机会。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Big pharma is turning to China for the newest drug ideas
Peter Loftus Finding innovative ways to treat cancer is Pfizer's biggest priority so to boost cutting-edge technologies, Pfizer executives went to Shenyang, China. There, last summer, Pfizer paid $1.25 billion to China's 3SBio for rights to a cancer drug candidate. Not long ago, China was a backwater for drug research. Its companies made pharmaceutical ingredients or lower-cost generic drugs. Its patients offered an opportunity for big drugmakers to sell medicines developed in the West.
Big Pharma Is Turning to China for the Newest Drug Ideas
At GluBio, Adrian Contreras works in the tissue culture room in San Diego. By Peter Loftus | Photography by John Francis Peter for WSJ Finding innovative ways to treat cancer is Pfizer’s biggest priority so to boost cutting-edge technologies, Pfizer executives went to Shenyang, China. There, last summer, Pfizer paid $1.25 billion to China’s 3SBio for rights to a cancer drug candidate. Not long ago, China was a backwater for drug research.
Lilly’s New Weight-Loss Pill Approved For Use
The weight-loss pill wars start now. Eli Lilly’s once-daily pill for weight loss got approval from U.S. drug regulators. The all-clear sets up a battle with rival Novo Nordisk, which has been selling a pill version of its Wegovy since the start of this year. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Big drug companies hunting for deals are lowering their sights
Peter Loftus, Xavier Martinez Big drugmakers on the deal hunt aren't opening their wallets as wide as they used to. The industry's latest acquisitions, well below $10 billion, reflect a more tightfisted approach to dealmaking than previous periods, when big companies regularly spent tens of billions.
Big Drug Companies Hunting for Deals Are Lowering Their Sights
About three quarters of pharmaceutical deals so far this year have been between $1 billion and $10 billion Biogen’s headquarters in Cambridge, Mass. Steven Senne/AP Big drugmakers on the deal hunt aren’t opening their wallets as wide as they used to. The industry’s latest acquisitions, well below $10 billion, reflect a more tightfisted approach to dealmaking than previous periods, when big companies regularly spent tens of billions. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Weight loss drug frenzy: What's here and what's likely coming next
Peter Loftus, Stephanie Stamm The obesity drug market has long been dominated by two shots, Wegovy and Zepbound, and their diabetes versions, Ozempic and Mounjaro. That is about to change. Pills have just started to enter the market, and drugmakers are racing to develop next-generation medications in hopes of helping people lose even more weight with fewer side effects . Some of the drugs in development are designed to be taken less often than those already out there.
Weight Loss Drug Frenzy: What’s Here and What’s Likely Coming Next
Obesity drug availability On market now What’s next On the horizon Shot Pill NOVO NORDISK Ozempic weekly weekly weekly weekly daily 2017 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 weekly Possibly in April Possibly end of 2026 Five additional companies could join the market within the next few years.
Merck reaches nearly $6 billion deal for cancer biotech Terns
Peter Loftus Merck has reached a nearly $6 billion cash deal to buy the cancer biotech Terns Pharmaceuticals and its promising leukemia treatment. If it proves to work safely, the experimental drug would give Merck a boost as the company prepares for its top-selling drug, Keytruda, to lose patent protection. Under the terms, Merck would pay $53 a share for Terns, Merck said Wednesday. The deal is worth $5.7 billion including the cash that Terns has on hand.
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