A failed late stage heart drug trial at Novo Nordisk, with shares in Copenhagen down 8.6% and U.S. ADRs down 9.8% in premarket trading, has pushed cardiovascular pipelines into the spotlight. When a high profile project like ziltivekimab does not deliver a meaningful reduction in major cardiovascular events, attention often shifts to other companies exposed to the same news. This article walks through 3 stocks from our Cardiovascular Pharma Stocks With Upside From Novo Nordisk Setback screener that appear positively positioned, and explains what this shift in focus could mean for your watchlist.

Amgen (AMGN)

Overview: Amgen is a large US biotech company that develops and sells a wide range of prescription medicines for chronic conditions, including autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer and rare disorders, and distributes them globally through healthcare providers and wholesalers.

Operations: Amgen generates about US$37.2b in revenue from human therapeutics, with around US$26.5b from the United States and US$10.6b from the rest of the world.

Market Cap: US$209.2b

Amgen stands out in this cardiovascular focused screen because it already sells Repatha, a heart drug with outcomes data, and is advancing additional cardiovascular and obesity assets that could gain more investor attention after Novo Nordisk’s trial disappointment. The business is large and diversified across human therapeutics, carries a 2.6% dividend, and is described as having high quality earnings. It also uses significant debt and faces pricing pressure and biosimilar competition on key products. With forecasts pointing to moderate revenue and earnings growth and a P/E that sits above the broader biotech industry, the key question for you is whether the cardiovascular pipeline and broader portfolio justify that premium or call for more caution.

Amgen’s expanding cardiovascular and obesity story could be masking a more complex trade off between quality, debt and pricing pressure. To see how that balance really stacks up, review the 3 key rewards and 1 important major warning sign

Pfizer (NSEI:PFIZER)

Overview: Pfizer Limited is an India based pharmaceutical company that manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of prescription medicines and vaccines for cardiovascular care, oncology, respiratory conditions, internal medicine, women's health and more, serving hospitals, nursing homes and patients in India and international markets through independent distributors.

Operations: Pfizer Limited generates about ₹25.7b in revenue from its pharmaceuticals segment.

Market Cap: ₹219.6b

Investors watching the Novo Nordisk setback may find Pfizer Limited interesting because it combines a substantial cardiovascular and hospital focused portfolio with high quality earnings and analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings growth. Forecasts point to earnings growing faster than sales, which could matter if product mix keeps shifting toward higher margin therapies. At the same time, the stock trades on a relatively full P/E, has an unstable dividend track record and has recently lagged the broader Indian market, so the valuation already reflects some optimism. The recent annual dividend announcement and steady quarterly results add another layer for you to weigh against these risks as you assess Pfizer's position in cardiovascular care after Novo Nordisk's trial disappointment.

Pfizer Limited’s earnings profile and cardiovascular focus look promising, yet the stock already trades on a relatively full P/E. Before assuming the growth story is fully priced in, review the analyst forecasts for Pfizer and see what the forecasts might be missing.

Sanofi (ENXTPA:SAN)

Overview: Sanofi is a large Paris based healthcare company that researches, develops, manufactures and sells medicines and vaccines across areas such as immunology, rare diseases, neurology, oncology and pediatric and adult vaccines, often through global partnerships with biotech and AI specialists.

Market Cap: €87.5b

Sanofi stands out in this cardiovascular focused screen because it sits at the crossroads of cardiometabolic disease, diabetes and vaccines at a time when Novo Nordisk’s ziltivekimab setback reduces one source of pipeline competition. The company combines leadership products such as Dupixent with a pipeline in immunology and neurology, growing use of AI in R&D and fresh approvals in areas like multiple myeloma and autoimmune conditions. At the same time, earnings trends are affected by a recent €3.6b one off loss, weak dividend coverage and funding that relies heavily on external borrowing. For investors who believe the current discount to fair value already reflects those pressures, Sanofi’s mix of pipeline depth and cash returns may appear more attractive than the headline numbers alone.

Sanofi’s cardiometabolic story, AI powered R&D and cash returns could be hiding a sharper inflection than the headline loss suggests. Get the fuller risk reward picture in the 4 key rewards and 2 important warning signs

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.