Recently, the European Union (EU) approved the proposed $41.1 billion merger between Schering-Plough (SGP) and Merck & Co. (MRK). The deal is awaiting approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. While approving the merger, the EU clarified that the tie-up will not hinder effective competition significantly in Europe, even though both participants in the merger operate in the field of prescription pharmaceuticals. While checking for overlaps in Europe, particularly in the fields of asthma and allergic rhinitis, the European body did not find the products to be close competitors. Consequently, the merger would not be considered to hog the market and choke other companies. As a reminder, Merck filed for EU approval last month after the completion of the sale of its 50% interest in animal health company Merial Limited (Merial) to ...

Recently, Humana Military Healthcare Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (HUM), announced the availability of an additional benefit for the beneficiaries of the TRICARE program (a medical program under the Department of Defense) in the South Region.  Humana Military Healthcare Services offers health insurance coverage under the TRICARE program to the dependents of active duty military personnel and retired military personnel coupled with their dependents. Humana Military has been a contractor of the Department of Defense for the administration of the TRICARE program since Jul 1, 1996.  The new benefit provides the families of soldiers enrolled in the TRICARE program access to a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Management Program. They will be able to call a dedicated registered nurse and receive education and coaching on how to deal with this lung disease which blocks airflow thereby resulting in breathing difficulties.  Humana started ...

ALR Technologies, Inc.’s stock is currently trading at $0.21, up 425%, on massive volume of 3.3+ million traded shares. Earlier this month, QualityStocks highlighted the company in its daily newsletter when the stock was trading for only $0.04 and largely ignored by the investment community. To sign up for the newsletter, visit www.signup.qualitystocks.net.

Today, ALR Technologies announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has approved its patent application regarding patient compliance and remote monitoring of patient’s use of nebulizer compressors. This approval protects the company’s Health-E-Connect health management communications system and, more importantly, grants ALRT the exclusive ability to remotely monitor the use of nebulizer compressors in the delivery of medications to patients with COPD, chronic asthma and cystic fibrosis.

With more than 750,000 investors signed up for the QualityStocks Daily Newsletter, it is no wonder that highly successful stock picks are made regularly. Using a proprietary data management system,

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Last week, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (CRTX) announced the receipt of approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for Massachusetts district regarding the acquisition of Factive's (gemifloxacin mesylate) commercial rights  in North America and some European countries from Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July. The transaction is worth $5 million in cash. Additionally, it includes an amount for purchased inventory, quarterly royalty payments based on adjusted net sales for a period of five years, and the assumption of certain liabilities. Factive, which belongs to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, is indicated for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) of mild to moderate severity and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB).  It was launched in the U.S. in September 2004 and is the only fluoroquinolone approved in the U.S. for the five-day treatment of both ABECB and CAP. Factive has generated ...

Yesterday, Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) revealed that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will review its candidate for maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years and above and an oral contraceptive for marketing in Europe. While the fixed-dose combination of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years and above is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the filing for FDA approval of the contraceptive is expected in 2010. The oral contraceptive is a combination of a natural estrogen (which is identical to the estrogen produced by a woman's body) and a selective progestin. The drug was licensed from Merck KGaA. Schering is seeking marketing approval in Europe for the combination to prevent pregnancy. The approval of the combination of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate would further consolidate the company’s respiratory portfolio. Asthma, ...

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Wednesday August 26, 2009

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Schering-Plough Corporation, (NYSE: SGP), today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has validated (accepted for review) the company’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for a fixed-dose combination of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years of age and older. The company also announced today that the EMEA has validated the MAA for nomegestrol acetate (2.5 mg) / 17 beta-estradiol (1.5mg), a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing a unique combination of a natural estrogen identical to the estrogen produced by a woman’s own body and a selective progestin

Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced today

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 25, 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: News Corp. (NWS), McGraw-Hill (MHP), NYSE Euronext (NYX), Thomson Reuters (TRIN) and Novartis (NVS).

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 Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Dow Jones to Change Hands

Dow Jones & Co., owned by News Corp. (NWS), has started seeking potential buyers for its stock market index business, including the renowned benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Goldman Sachs has been appointed to explore strategic options for the business. News Corp. bought

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Willdan Group, Inc. (”Willdan”) (NASDAQ: WLDN) August 25, 2009 announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Willdan Energy Solutions (WES), was awarded a $67 million contract with Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., (Con Edison), a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED), to implement Con Edison’s new energy efficiency program for small business customers.

Novartis (NYSE: NVS) aAugust 25, 2009 announced that it has received approval from the European Commission (EC) for the use of Xolair (omalizumab) as an add-on therapy for severe persistent allergic asthma in children in the age group of 6 to 11 years.

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO) August 25, 2009 announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Maktoob.com, the leading online community in the Arab world, with more than 16.5 million unique users.

THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY OR SELL ANY SECURITY! Disclaimer: Never invest in any stock featured on our site or

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This morning, Novartis (NVS) announced that it has received approval from the European Commission (EC) for the use of Xolair (omalizumab) as an add-on therapy for severe persistent allergic asthma in children in the age group of 6 to 11 years. The approval is positive news for the company and should expand the patient base for the drug. Asthma is a chronic lung disease which is estimated to affect about 10% of children in Europe. It is also the most common cause of school absenteeism and children often use oral corticosteroids to deal with the disease. However, despite conventional therapy, severe asthma remains uncontrolled in more than 50% of children with this condition. Xolair is a humanized monoclonal antibody aimed at treating the underlying mechanism of allergic asthma. The product works by blocking the action of immunoglobulin E (IgE). This helps in preventing the onset of ...

Last week, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (CRTX) reported second quarter earnings of 13 cents per share, which was well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 33 cents. Net revenues for the quarter came in at $25 million, which reflected a 78% increase over the prior-year quarter. The company reported earnings of 31 cents per share in the previous year quarter. Operating expenses increased significantly in the quarter primarily due to increases in the workforce -- an increase in legal and accounting costs, costs associated with the Chiesi transaction, FDA regulatory-related fees, product liability, insurance-related costs, new product launches and royalties on increased product sales. As a reminder, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. was established through the merger of Critical Therapeutics with Cornerstone Biopharma Holdings Inc. in the fourth quarter of 2008. The financial statements for periods prior to the merger reflect the historical results of Cornerstone BioPharma, not ...