For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 31, 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: Mylan (MYL), Sanofi-Aventis (SNY), Gilead Sciences (GILD), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Freddie Mac (FRE).

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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Mylan’s Portfolio Strengthens

We are pleased to hear that Mylan (MYL) has begun to market the generic version of BenzaClin (1% Clindamycin and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel) for acne treatment, which was originally manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis (SNY). The drug has been developed under an agreement between its subsidiary,

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We are pleased to hear that Mylan (MYL) has begun to market the generic version of BenzaClin (1% Clindamycin and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel) for acne treatment, which was originally manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis (SNY). The drug has been developed under an agreement between its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, a subsidiary of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.

Earlier this month, Dow received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the generic drug. Although the approval is good news for the company, we do not expect it to contribute significantly to the top line since BenzaClin had total U.S. sales of about $221 million for the 12 months ending June 30 (as per IMS data).

This is the third approval for Mylan in the month of August. A few days back, Mylan’s subsidiary Matrix Laboratories received tentative approval from the FDA under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

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Yesterday, Mylan Inc. (MYL) announced that its Indian subsidiary, Matrix Laboratories, received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for its generic version of a fixed-dose combination of Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate tablets in 600 mg/200mg/300 mg dosage strengths.

The decision is in response to an Abbreviated New Drug Application filed by the Indian subsidiary. The tentative approval under PEPFAR is indicative of the fact that the product satisfies all the manufacturing quality, safety and efficacy standards laid down by the agency.

The Efavirenz, Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate combination is the generic version of Gilead Sciences’ (GILD) Atripla tablets used for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults. It combines three anti-AIDS medicines into a single, daily dose for either first- or second-line treatment and is one of the best-selling AIDS products in

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Gilead Sciences (GILD) reported financial results for the second quarter of 2009 on July 21, 2009. Total revenues increased 29% year over year to $1,647.2 million, beating our forecast by $35 million.  Revenues were driven by the company’s HIV franchise which posted sales of $1,410 million, up 26% year over year.  HIV franchise sales consisted of Viread at $159 million, Truvada at $608 million and Atripla at $569 million. Sales of Atripla, which is a combination of Truvada and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) Sustiva, increased 60% year over year. However, there was some inventory stocking during the reported quarter.  Total product sales for the second quarter were $1,568 million, an increase of 27% year over year. Products like Hepsera ($67 million), AmBisome ($73 million), Letairis ($44 million), and Ranexa ($36 million) also contributed meaningfully to revenues. Royalties and other revenues totaled $78.8 million. ...

On Jul 16, Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), for the development of a once-daily antiretroviral HIV pill.

The companies are looking to develop a combination pill that will combine Gilead's Truvada with Tibotec's TMC-278, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), for use in treatment-naïve HIV patients. If successfully developed and approved, the combination pill would be the second complete antiretroviral treatment for HIV to be available in a single pill. The use of single pills makes treatment simpler for patients.

Gilead's Atripla is the first once-daily pill to be available in the HIV market. Atripla is a combination of Truvada, itself a fixed-dose combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI): Viread and Emtriva, and Sustiva, an NNRTI manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY).

In addition to the treatment-naïve patient population, we believe the

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – March 20, 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: Analog Devices Inc. (ADI), Gilead Sciences (GILD), CV Therapeutics (CVTX), Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (PHG) and Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS).

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 Thursday's Analyst Blog:

ADI Strategy Tough for Near Term

Most of Analog Devices Inc.'s (ADI) products are in the analog category. Analog and mixed-signal products tend to be more customized, with relatively longer life cycles than digital components.

Consequently, sales of older

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Highlights include Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and CV Therapeutics, Inc. (CVTX).Gilead's Outstanding Acquisition Track RecordGilead Sciences (GILD) is perhaps world's premier play on HIV/AIDS therapy. We consider Truvada -- a reformulation of drugs Viread and Emtriva -- to be a potential breakthrough product for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the approval of Atripla offers the next big wave of top-line growth for the company.Gilead has previously done an outstanding job in strategic acquisitions. The Triangle Pharmaceuticals deal in 2002 was the stepping stone for the basis of leading product, Truvada and Atripla.Similarly, the acquisition of Myogen, and with it Letairis and darusentan, is also looking like an excellent move. Letairis should become the "best-in-class" ETRA for PAH, and given the lack of drug-drug interactions seen in the phase III trials, it should be used ...

Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s (...

Foster City, CA, based Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is perhaps the world's premier play on HIV/AIDS therapy.  Gilead's third quarter financial results were solid -- nothing new -- for the company, as management has posted upside surprise after upside surprise throughout the past several years. EPS of $0.55 in the quarter was $0.02 above our forecasts based on strong product sales and lower-than-expected SG&A [selling, general and administrative] costs.

Sales of key products, Truvada and Atripla, both exceeded expectations in the third quarter.  The Atripla uptake is going very well, and with the recent approval for Viread in HBV, Gilead remains well positioned to continue the strong top-line growth demonstrated over the past few years.   The pipeline is also progressing nicely.  Letairis should become the best-in-class ETRA for PAH, and given the lack of drug-drug interactions seen in the phase III trials, it should be used first-line with

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We remain optimistic about growth of Gilead Sciences Inc.Â’s (GILD) HIV/AIDS franchise drugs Truvada and the recently approved Atripla. Earnings over the past few quarters have been above expectations specifically on strong sales of the HIV franchise products. We continue to be positive on the name and are looking for a strong remainder of 2008.We consider Truvada a reformulation of drugs Viread and Emtriva to be a potential breakthrough product for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the approval of Atripla offers the next big wave of topline growth for the company. We are currently at a Hold rating as we think the current price fairly represents the story. However, longer-term, we remain bullish as Gilead is a core biotech to own. Our target is $55 based on strong 2008 EPS growth, confidence in the long-term growth rate which now includes Myogen, and better penetration for ...