For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 5, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI), BJ Services (BJS), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA), Mylan (MYL) and Comcast Corp. (CMCSA).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s AnalystBlog:

Baker Hughes Misses Estimates

Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) reported its third quarter results of 26 cents per share, well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents and year-earlier quarter earnings of $1.39. Before adjusting one-time items, earnings were 18 cents per share.

Though the company’s

...

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) reported earnings of 89 cents in the third quarter of 2009, up 16% from the year-ago period and a cent above the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Strong sales of Copaxone and in the respiratory business helped drive earnings in the reported quarter. Net sales increased 25% to $3.55 billion, with the Barr acquisition contributing to sales across different geographical segments. The strengthening U.S. dollar adversely impacted net sales by $160 million or 6%. Revenue performance across key business segments was mixed. While the Pharmaceuticals Sales segment posted growth of 27% with revenues coming in at $3.4 billion, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) segment reported an 8% decline in growth with sales coming in at $136 million. Pharmaceutical segment sales were driven by strong performances in the North American, European and International segments. The launch of generic versions of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo ...

We are pleased with UK-based Shire Plc’s (SHPGY) research collaboration with Denmark’s Santaris Pharma for the development of new drugs for rare diseases. Shire will make an upfront payment of $6.5 million and an additional $13.5 million on completion of certain initial studies.

Santaris Pharma also has the potential to get another $72 million in the form of development, regulatory and sales-related milestone payments for each of its five pipeline candidates along with royalties on sales once these products are commercialized. The initial term of the collaboration is two years and Shire may extend it by another two-year term.

With this deal, Shire will be able to utilize Santaris' proprietary locked nucleic acid (LNA) technology platform to develop treatments for several life threatening conditions that cannot be cured by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), a platform where Shire has a strong presence. We believe the alliance will be beneficial

...

On July 28, 2009, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Net sales increased 20% y-o-y to $3.4 billion in the reported quarter, missing the consensus estimate by a small margin. The strengthening U.S. dollar adversely impacted net sales by $256 million or 9%. Non-GAAP net income increased 25% to $742 million. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.83 (up 15% y-o-y) exceeded our and consensus estimate of $0.81 and $0.80, respectively. Strong sales, improved gross margins (due to better product mix) and lower-than-expected R&D expenses helped drive earnings in the reported quarter. GAAP net income declined 2.3% to $521 million or $0.58 per share. Revenue performance across key business segments was mixed. While total pharmaceutical sales increased 22% y-o-y to about $3.3 billion in the reported quarter, total API business sales declined 13% y-o-y to $135 million. The ...

On July 6, 2009, Shire plc (SHPGY) announced that it has filed a treatment protocol for velaglucerase alfa, the company’s enzyme replacement therapy that is being developed for the treatment of Gaucher Disease. The company submitted the protocol at the U.S. FDA’s request. 

The FDA is looking for alternative treatment options for Gaucher Disease in order to make up for the potential shortage in supply that could take place due to manufacturing issues being faced by Genzyme (GENZ). Genzyme markets Cerezyme, the leading treatment for Gaucher Disease.  Genzyme halted production in June 2009 due to the detection of a virus at the manufacturing facility.  Supply shortage could occur from August 2009.

Another company, Protalix BioTherapeutics (PLX), has been approached by the FDA with a similar request for its phase III Gaucher disease candidate, prGCD. 

Gaucher Disease is an inherited genetic condition which is estimated to affect less than 10,000 people

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 29, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: AstraZeneca (AZN), Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI), Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW), Stein Mart (SMRT) and Shire (SHPGY).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

AstraZeneca's Pipeline Must Deliver

We currently rate shares of AstraZeneca (AZN) a Hold with a $47 price target. The company is facing a number of challenges as it enters 2009, most notably generic competition to Toprol-XL, Nexium, Casodex and Pulmicort.

The just-announced increase

...

While the loss of exclusivity of Shire's (SHPGY) Adderall XR will result in revenue falling in 2009 relative to 2008, we believe Vyvanse will be able to continue to post strong sales growth due to its strong differentiating characteristics.We believe the drug is much more than just an Adderall XR substitute, which should allow continued share gains despite significant generic competition. The adult indication should provide an additional catalyst to growth.The recent launch of Mezavant in Europe and Canada and the continued ramp of Fosrenol in Europe should make a healthy positive impact on the top-line going forward. Eleprase should ramp very quickly with the recent approvals in Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Brazil, and should be a big contributor to sales growth.Lialda uptake has been very impressive and we expect additional market share penetration, despite Takeda no longer ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 6, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV), Liberty Entertainment (LMDIA), Liberty Media Corp. (LINTA), United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR) and Shire Plc (SHPGY).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:

DTV Gains Content, Independence

DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) -- in a move to gain autonomy and potentially sell itself -- will merge with its majority shareholder, Liberty Entertainment (LMDIA) after that entity's previously-announced spinoff from its parent Liberty Media

...

Vyvanse and New Products Drive ShireWhile the loss of exclusivity of Adderall XR will result in revenue falling in 2009 relative to 2008 for Shire Plc (SHPGY), we believe Vyvanse will be able to continue to post strong sales growth due to its strong differentiating characteristics. We believe the drug is much more than just an Adderall XR substitute, which should allow continued share gains despite significantly more generic competition. The adult indication should provide an additional catalyst to growth.The recent launch of Mezavant in Europe and Canada and the continued ramp of Fosrenol in Europe should make significant positive impacts on the top-line going forward. Eleprase should ramp very quickly with the recent approvals in Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Brazil, and should be a big contributor to sales growth. Lialda uptake has been very impressive and we expect additional market share ...

Shire PLC (SHPGY) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on 3 therapeutic areas: Central nervous system (CNS), gastro intestinal (GI), and renal disorders. The company's ADHD franchise continues to perform very well, increasing market share to 33%. Strong topline growth in 2008 will reverse in 2009 due to the presence of generic Adderall XR.

Going into 2009 we expect a modest foreign exchange headwind for some of Shire's products. This, along with Adderall XR sales dramatically falling, should result in 2009 revenues falling by about 4% versus 2008. For the full-year 2008 we look for EPADR of $3.77, representing 39% growth over 2007. We expect EPADR to average a CAGR of 6% over the next 5 years through 2013.

Longer-term sales growth will materialize as Vyvanse and other new drugs fill the hole left by generic Adderall XR. Vyvanse, the company's new flagship ADHD product, continues to perform

...