Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (PRX) received a brokerage firm upgrade today, which is helping it to gain during a rather muted morning session.

< ?DART(15);?> In addition, PRX has been enjoying rising earnings estimates that have pushed the 2009 and 2010 Zacks Consensus Estimates higher in just the past 7 days.

The company made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for Thursday with shares that are up approximately 4.4%. Volume is at 716,000 shares; above the daily average of 301,000.

Par Pharmaceutical develops, manufactures and markets generic drugs and innovative branded pharmaceuticals for specialty markets.

It is part of the Medical-Generic Drugs industry. There are 3 other names from this space on today's Zacks #1 Rank List: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (RDY), Hi-Tech Pharmacal Company, Inc. (HITK) and Impax Laboratories, Inc. (IPXL).

Earnings Estimates

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DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Monday September 14, 2009

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Blue Square-Israel Ltd. (NYSE: BSI) announced that it was served with a claim and a request for approval as a class action (the “Claim”), in which Blue Square is being sued regarding the sale of cosmetics and perfume products without marking the expiry date or the allowed use period after its opening, as is allegedly obligatory according to the 15 amendment of the Pharmacists directive [new edition] 1981 which is in effect since July 1st 2009.

InferX Corporation (Pink Sheets: NFRX) today announced that it has signed a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) with KG Information Systems

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 27, 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: China Life Insurance Company (LFC), American International Group (AIG), Deutsche Bank (DB), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Amgen (AMGN).

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 Analyst Blog:

China Life’s Profits Grow

China Life Insurance Company (LFC), the leading life insurer in China, has posted a 15% rise in profits in the first half of 2009 compared to the prior-year period. The company earned 18.2 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) in the first half

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Yesterday, Amgen (AMGN) said that Aranesp failed in a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study that was conducted in patients with chronic kidney disease (not requiring dialysis), anemia and type II diabetes.

The study, referred to as the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Endpoints with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT), had two primary endpoints. The first evaluated time to all-cause mortality or cardiovascular morbidity including heart attack, congestive heart failure, hospitalization for angina, or stroke. The second primary endpoint evaluated time to all-cause mortality or chronic dialysis.

Aranesp could not show statistically significant improvement in either. While a higher number of strokes were observed in the Aranesp-treated group compared to the placebo arm, we note that drug’s label already carries a warning regarding the stroke events.

Full efficacy and safety analyses are yet to take place. Amgen will present full results at an upcoming medical meeting later this year.

Aranesp

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Highlighted stocks include Ultrapetrol Bahamas Limited (...

Gilead's Strong Fundamentals Should ContinueBusiness continues to look strong for Gilead Sciences (GILD). The company's tenofovir-based HIV products (Viread, Truvada and Atripla) are number one and widening their lead. The clinical data continues to support the switching of patients from older generation molecules such as abacavir and lamivudine to Gilead's franchise. Also driving impressive trends are revised HIV treatment guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommending only Truvada (and Atripla) as the backbone of choice in naïve patients.These new guidelines, put into place in November 2008, downgraded Epzicom to an alternative medication based on cardiovascular risk and high rates of virologic failure. Finally, the new FDA chief, Margaret Hamburg, a former New York City Health Commissioner, has significant experience in combating infectious disease, such as HIV/AIDS, and we believe that this type of focused leadership only further adds to the ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 2, 2009 - Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry's leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Lincoln Educational Services Corp. (LINC), J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF), Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) and Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (PRX).     Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +28%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% - but Zacks #1 Rank

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Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (...

Gilead to Acquire CV Therapeutics for $1.4 BillionIn a surprise move this morning, Gilead Sciences (GILD) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire CV Therapeutics, often referred to as "CVT" (CVTX) for $1.4 billion, or $20 per share. The news comes a month after CVT rejected an unsolicited bid from Astellas Pharmaceuticals for $1.0 billion, or $16 per share. Once the deal closes, CV Therapeutics will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead.We are surprised by the announcement this morning considering the move is outside Gilead's core focus of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. CV Therapeutics' leading product, Ranexa, is indicated for the treatment of chronic angina.The HIV/AIDS franchise drugs -- Viread, Truvada and Atripla -- accounted for 81% of Gilead's $5.3 billion in revenues in 2008. Gilead management is making a bold move to diversify its ...

CV Therapeutics, Inc. (CVTX) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on applying molecular cardiology to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, small molecule drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. CVT currently has several potential growth drivers.

The company received some very positive news on November 5, 2008 when the FDA approved the company's key drug, Ranexa, for use in the first-line indication for chronic angina. The new expanded label removed previous cautionary language limiting use with other cardiovascular medications, and now allows management to promote the drug with added claims on arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and a reduction in hemoglobin A1c. Ranexa prescriptions grew nicely in the third quarter 2008, and all systems are go for significantly improved sales in 2009 thanks to the newly expanded label.

We are encouraged by the strong fundamentals at CVT and believe the shares are looking attractive at prices below $8.

Read the

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