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.

1018 ET - Roche Holding is expected to move quickly to file for an accelerated approval for its sefaxersen drug candidate, a direct competitor to Novartis's Fabhalta, RBC Capital Markets analysts say. The Swiss drugmaker reported positive interim results for a late-stage study of sefaxersen in autoimmune disease IgA nephropathy and the company had previously said it hoped the data would lead to an accelerated approval, consistent with the Fabhalta precedent, RBC says. "We think the muted reaction in [Roche] shares downplays the impact of a positive early interim readout from this study in an indication where we model [1.5 billion Swiss francs] in 2034 sales," the analysts say in a research note. Nevertheless, the study results reduce the risk on that estimate and bode well for the Swiss drugmaker's pipeline, they add. Shares rise 0.8%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0844 ET - Roche Holding is showing signs of improving its research-and-development productivity, Berenberg analysts say in a research note. The returns on the Swiss drugmaker's research-and-development investments this year are on track to reach 10%, above the 9% bar that is the average of both the sector as a whole and the company's own historic track record, Berenberg says, citing its own analysis. "Roche's valuation reflects this improved pipeline outlook," the analysts say. Shares fall 0.5%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

2246 ET - IHH Healthcare's 10% year-to-date share price decline could offer a potential entry point, with its operations expected to improve across key markets, Kenanga IB analyst Raymond Choo Ping Khoon says in a note. Singapore operations are recovering, with bed occupancy rising above 52% in August and September compared with 51% in 2Q, he says. Performance in Turkey and Europe is also expected to improve in 2H as recent hospital acquisitions ramp up. In India, Gleneagles Healthcare's margins are expected to move closer to Fortis Healthcare's, while Greater China could provide further upside if losses narrow faster than expected, he adds. Kenanga upgrades IHH's rating on outperform from market perform, raises target price to 9.10 ringgit from 8.50 ringgit. Shares are 0.5% higher at 8.04 ringgit.