The latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

0809 GMT - Sanofi's expanded alliance with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals represents the French drugmaker's first step toward addressing its long-term outlook and should be seen as a clear sign of progress under new CEO Belen Garijo, Jefferies analysts write in a research note. "While the assets are early-stage, the expansion should be viewed positively, as it signals the new CEO's proactive focus on the most important yet addressable uncertainties investors face, as well as the speed of progress," the analysts say. Potential acquisitions and a settlement to delay the arrival of copycat versions of the alliance's blockbuster drug Dupixent are other key steps Sanofi needs to take to address the sales hole left by that medicine's patent expiration between 2031 and 2032, the analysts add. Sanofi shares rise 0.6%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0709 GMT - Sanofi's deal to expand its alliance with U.S. peer Regeneron Pharmaceutical provides a boost to the French company's early-stage drug pipeline, J.P. Morgan analysts write in a research note. The conclusion of the negotiations with Regeneron is positive for Sanofi, the analysts say. Sanofi will pay Regeneron $1 billion upfront, and up to $7 billion subject to certain targets to get access to four new drug candidates invented by its partner. Now that an agreement with Regeneron has been reached, Sanofi investors are likely to switch their focus to the company's moves to strengthen its business through dealmaking, the analysts say. Sanofi shares rise 2%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

2318 GMT - A more than 20% fall in the share price of Imricor Medical Systems since it entered the ASX 300 index in early September creates a great buying opportunity for investors, according to its bull at Morgans. Imricor ended Wednesday at A$1.585, having traded as high as A$2.07 in August. Morgans suggests seasonal weakness and rising interest rates may have contributed to the share-price fall. Recent news flow has been positive. "As we move into a seasonally stronger part of the year, together with our view that material news flow (NorthStar orders, submit clinical data, FDA approval) is expected, we believe the share price should move back over A$2.00," Morgans' analyst Scott Power says. Morgans has a speculative buy call on Imricor. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)

0908 GMT - Investors are dialing up their bets on the life-sciences industry as AI-related demand emerges as a growth driver for lab-tools makers and other companies in the drug supply chain, RBC Capital Markets analysts say. Recent comments from company executives suggest the AI demand is moving from theoretical to evidenced, according to RBC. Traditional pharma companies and AI-native drug discovery startups are investing at a scale that will require a jump in biological data generation, the analysts say. "The demand signal differs by position in the value chain: research and labs now, with instruments first and consumables a few quarters after, preclinical [contract research organizations] picking up volume as new assets progress faster through the research phase, and then [contract drug manufacturing organizations] and bioprocessing companies last," they add. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0844 GMT - AstraZeneca is hedging against a key threat to its antibody drug conjugate portfolio through its collaboration with Summit Therapeutics, Citi analysts say in a research note. The agreement has limited immediate impact, but it is a sensible move by the U.K. drugmaker in case medicines like Summit's ivonescimab--known as PD-1/VEGF--become an alternative backbone therapy to existing treatments called PD-1 and PD-L1, the analysts say. AstraZeneca is testing its Datroway antibody drug conjugate in combination with its PD-L1 medicine Imfinzi for lung cancer in a late-stage clinical trial. Moreover, AstraZeneca's stake in Summit gives it exposure to PD-1/VEGF in the event the drug class takes off, the analysts add. AstraZeneca shares rise 0.1%.