Key View

• Merck KGaA's Q418 financial results highlight that the firm will maintain its strong momentum across businesses and regions.
• The continued strong organic growth of the firm’s healthcare and life science businesses bodes positively for Merck KGaA’s sales growth.
• The firm will face headwinds in the form of ongoing price pressures in

Key View:

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel stepping down as head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will necessitate a major re-evaluation within the country's largest party, whether they support a continuation of Merkel's pragmatic centrism, or whether to shift towards a more conservative model.
• The two front-runners offer very different

Key View

• Imaging will remain the key growth driver and Siemens Healthineers will further strengthen the segment through product approvals such as the Cios Spine mobile 3D C-Arm.
• With respect to in vitro diagnostics, the company will aim to accelerate shipments of its Atellica analyser and challenge Roche Diagnostics' market leading position.
• D

Key View

• Bayer is expanding its presence in oncology and will enter the androgen receptor antagonist market in 2019.
• The prostate cancer market is gaining momentum with a number of novel drugs entering the market, but genericisation of Zytiga will place pressure on newer drugs.
• Bayer will undertake further deals to expand its cancer portfolio

Key View: 

• The poor results for Germany's ruling parties in the Hesse state elections will accelerate the search for Chancellor Angela Merkel's successor. However, there is a rising risk of policy drift, as Merkel is reduced to lame duck status and political parties position themselves for the autumn 2021 general election. 
• German Chancellor

Key View

• Empagliflozin has potential as an oral option to help patients with Type I diabetes, helping patients remain within their target glucose range better than insulin alone.
• However, an elevated risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in higher dosages suggests that focus will be on the 2.5mg dosage alone.
• A Type I diabetes indication will

Key View

• Bavaria's governing Christian Social Union (CSU) is likely to lose its majority in the 14 October regional election.
• The right-wing nationalist Alternative for Germany are on course to enter the regional parliament for the first time, providing representation for the party in 15 of the 16 state parliaments (all but Hesse, which holds

Key View: Sandoz's overall Q218 sales have been hampered by US sales, which continue to be troublesome for Sandoz; with several consecutive quarters of declines, US sales are now at their lowest point since before Q114. Biopharmaceuticals sales are proving to be an increasingly bright spot for Sandoz. Whilst they remain a small part of total

Bayer's lowered financial outlook for 2017 reflects a weaker-than-expected performance within the Consumer Healthcare business, which will remain a key concern among shareholders. As the US becomes increasingly saturated with consumer health products, further inroads into emerging markets and Europe will prove critical for Bayer towards securing