GSK has just announced a £1.9b cost cutting program alongside fresh investment in UK life sciences, and the market reaction has been quick, with the stock up 6% on the news. When a major pharmaceuticals and biotechnology group reshapes its R&D footprint and focuses on phase 3 trials, it can ripple across the sector. Some companies may see new competitive pressure, while others may benefit from partnership, supply chain or sentiment shifts. This article looks at 3 stocks from our Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology screener that appear positively exposed to this GSK news.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)
Overview: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals develops and sells RNA interference medicines that switch off disease-causing genes, targeting serious conditions such as hereditary amyloidosis, hypercholesterolemia, hemophilia, acute hepatic porphyria and rare kidney and liver disorders in the US, Europe and other markets.
Operations: Alnylam generates about US$4.3b from discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing RNAi therapeutics, with revenue concentrated in the United States at roughly US$2.6b and supported by Europe at about US$670m and the rest of the world at around US$309m.
Market Cap: US$36.3b
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals sits at the heart of the RNAi theme that GSK is leaning into with its renewed focus on later stage drug development, which keeps it closely aligned to where large pharma budgets are heading. The company already sells multiple RNAi drugs across rare diseases and cardiovascular risk and is pushing a broad late stage pipeline into areas such as ATTR cardiomyopathy, hypertension and neurodegeneration, supported by AI driven commercial partnerships. At the same time, the stock trades on a high P/E and depends heavily on its TTR franchise, so pricing pressure, trial setbacks or tougher payer terms could be important considerations. For investors watching the Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology screener, that mix of scale, pipeline depth and concentration risk is a key aspect to analyze further.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals sits at the center of RNAi excitement, yet the full story behind its TTR dependence and late stage ambitions is not obvious from headlines. Read the analysis report for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to see how that balance could tilt next.
Repligen (RGEN)
Overview: Repligen supplies the equipment, filters and analytics that biopharma companies use to develop and manufacture biologic drugs and cell therapies, from early research through to commercial production. This gives investors exposure to the “picks and shovels” side of advanced therapeutics rather than exposure to any single drug.
Operations: Repligen generates about US$763 million in revenue from medical products, with roughly US$367 million from North America, US$264 million from Europe and US$133 million from Asia Pacific and the rest of the world.
Market Cap: US$7.4b
Repligen is positioned where activity in biologics and cell therapy can translate into equipment orders, which aligns with GSK’s efforts to accelerate phase 3 trials and upgrade R&D capacity. The company has been refocusing on higher margin product lines, tightening costs and consolidating facilities to support margin expansion. Recent Q2 2026 results and the planned US$1.5b BioLife acquisition indicate management’s intent to scale its cell therapy offering. At the same time, the stock carries a very high P/E, relies on external borrowing and is exposed to funding pressures at smaller biotech customers, so execution and capital discipline are important considerations. That mix of growth exposure and balance sheet risk is what may make Repligen worth a closer look for investors using this Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology screener.
Repligen’s push into higher margin gear and the planned US$1.5b BioLife deal suggest a story that many investors may only be half seeing. Review the analyst forecasts for Repligen to see what the market might be missing next.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND)
Overview: Ligand Pharmaceuticals develops and licenses a wide mix of biopharmaceutical assets, earning royalties and milestones from partnered drugs that span infectious disease, oncology, kidney and liver disorders, autoimmune conditions, respiratory disease and more across global markets.
Operations: Ligand generates about US$274.5m in revenue from developing and licensing biopharmaceutical assets, with this revenue currently reported entirely from the United States.
Market Cap: US$6.0b
Ligand Pharmaceuticals stands out in this screener because it is less a single drug story and more a collection of over 200 royalty interests that can benefit as global R&D spending rises and partners push more assets into late stage trials. The GSK plan to double phase 3 trials reinforces that backdrop. Ligand’s asset light model and earnings turning positive give you exposure to that activity through a relatively focused cost base. Set against that, the stock trades on a rich P/E, depends heavily on a handful of key royalty streams and carries funding and concentration risk, with recent insider selling adding another flag for investors who want to understand what they might be missing.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals sits at the junction of high margin royalties and rising phase 3 activity, yet the real swing factor may be hiding in plain sight. Read the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign
The three Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology stocks in this article are only a starting point, since the full Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology screener surfaces 13 more companies with equally compelling narratives around scale, pipelines and royalty streams. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts and storylines that matter to you, so you can focus on the highest conviction opportunities in this space.
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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.
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