New York, Jan 25, 2026, 10:56 EST — Market closed
AbbVie shares ticked up 0.5% to $219.26 on Friday, despite news from India that its patent application for the blood-cancer drug venetoclax was rejected by the country’s patent office. (The Economic Times)
The India decision carries less weight for Monday’s open than the larger issue it raises: how fast competitors will push prices down beyond the U.S. Meanwhile, investors are gearing up for fresh guidance from a company still finding its footing after Humira’s decline.
AbbVie announced it will release its full-year and Q4 2025 earnings on Feb. 4, ahead of U.S. market open. A webcast conference call is set for later that morning. (AbbVie News Center)
India’s Patent Office slapped down AbbVie’s patent application, citing a lack of an “inventive step” — legal jargon meaning it wasn’t new enough. The office also flagged the filing under Section 3(d), a provision aimed at curbing patents based on minor modifications without a significant therapeutic improvement. According to the Times of India, the application faced opposition from seven different parties over several years. (The Times of India)
Venetoclax is marketed in India as Venclexta. A move to generics would probably hinge on price cuts rather than increased volume and might face delays due to ongoing appeals and potential litigation.
AbbVie climbed during Friday’s U.S. session, even as the S&P 500 finished almost unchanged. Johnson & Johnson saw gains, while Pfizer slipped, MarketWatch reported. (MarketWatch)
Investors have also been buzzing about patents more generally. Barron’s highlighted AbbVie’s decade-long climb, crediting the firm with dodging the dreaded Humira “patent cliff” by extending exclusivity and shifting focus to successor drugs. (Barron’s)
Looking ahead to Feb. 4, investors want a clear update on how quickly the newer growth drivers are gaining momentum. They’ll also watch closely to see if the company maintains its outlook, especially after a turbulent start to the year in the drug sector.
Pricing remains a chief concern. Earlier this month, AbbVie announced a three-year agreement with the Trump administration to lower Medicaid drug prices and boost direct-to-patient programs, committing $100 billion in U.S. investment over the next ten years. (Reuters)
At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, AbbVie’s management outlined some longer-term strategies. Chief medical officer Roopal Thakkar highlighted the company’s focus on “tolerability and durability of weight loss” as it pushes to develop an obesity platform. Meanwhile, chief commercial officer Jeffrey Stewart noted the connection to AbbVie’s aesthetics division. (Reuters)
Near-term risks are clear: the India patent ruling might face delays from appeals, the margin effects of the pricing deal are still uncertain, and a misstep in the February 4 guidance could weigh on the stock after its strong year-end rally.
Monday’s session will focus on company reactions to the India ruling and whether the patent news breaks beyond local headlines. The real trigger, though, is AbbVie’s Feb. 4 earnings and outlook report.
