Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALNY) reported a third-quarter loss of 22 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents but wider than the year-ago loss of 7 cents. The higher loss in the quarter is attributable to higher stock based compensation and legal expenses.

Revenues for the quarter came in at $24.2 million as against $25.7 million in the year-ago quarter, down 5.8%. Research and development costs increased 5% to $23.2 million primarily because of increased costs for clinical and pre-clinical programs coupled with increased R&D headcount to support Alnylam’s alliances and development programs.    General and administrative expenses increased 56% to $10.7 million. The increase in general and administrative spend was primarily driven by higher professional service fees in association with business activities, primarily legal activities, coupled with increased stock based compensation expenses.   Alnylam exited the quarter with $453.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 10, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the latest Industry Outlook. Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Big Pharma & Biotech sector, including Alcon (ACL), Novartis (NVS), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Biogen Idec (BIIB) and Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR).

A synopsis of today’s Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/27081/Big+Pharma+and+Biotech.

In the pharma space, we are positive on stocks like Alcon (ACL) and Novartis (NVS). We believe these companies will continue witnessing revenue growth based on continued international penetration, new product launches and market share expansion. Pipeline expansion through in-licensing deals and acquisitions should also add to growth.

Novartis should see strong vaccine sales this flu season. The company has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its swine flu vaccine, which

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The pharmaceutical industry has witnessed major changes in 2009. Performance has been affected by factors like sluggish prescription trends, intensifying generic competition and limited phase III catalysts. The next five years are expected to reflect a significant imbalance between new product introductions and patent losses. According to IMS Health (RX), this is the main reason why global pharmaceutical market growth will be restricted to the mid-single digits through 2013. Over the next five years, products that currently generate about $137 billion in sales are expected to face generic competition, including Lipitor, Plavix and Seretide. At the same time, new products are not expected to generate the same level of sales as the products losing patent protection have. With most of the big pharma companies already facing patent challenges for their blockbuster products or likely to face them going forward, the companies have been looking toward mergers ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) as the Bull of the Day and Canon (CAJ) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Big Lots (BIG), Wal-Mart (WMT) and Nordstrom (JWN).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5506

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) is one of the more interesting biotechnology companies under our coverage. The company's key pipeline drug, Fampridine-SR, is currently under U.S. FDA review, with a decision expected in late January 2010.

Outside the U.S., Acorda has partnered with Biogen Idec under very favorable terms. Fampridine-SR has blockbuster potential worldwide in our view. Plus, the company is extremely well-capitalized with over $290 million in cash, and management has commercial experience

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Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) is one of the more interesting biotechnology companies under our coverage. The company's key pipeline drug, Fampridine-SR, is currently under U.S. FDA review, with a decision expected in late January 2010.

Outside the U.S., Acorda has partnered with Biogen Idec under very favorable terms. Fampridine-SR has blockbuster potential worldwide in our view. Plus, the company is extremely well-capitalized with over $290 million in cash, and management has commercial experience with current approved product Zanaflex.

These are among the best fundamentals in all of biotech. We reiterate our Outperform rating on the stock.Zacks Investment Research

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Denmark-based Genmab received some good news with the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for Arzerra (ofatumumab), a monoclonal antibody for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.  Arzerra is approved for cancer patients who are no longer responding to the current available treatment options using fludarabine and alemtuzumab. Following the approval, Genmab has become eligible to receive a milestone payment of DKK 116 million (approximately $23 million) from Glaxo.  Earlier, in May 2009, Arzerra had received a positive recommendation from the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) in which the panel had voted 10-3 in favor of the drug. They had found that Arzerra provided some clinical benefit to patients with CLL whose disease was refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab.  Arzerra has been approved by the FDA under the accelerated approval process ...

Recently, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) announced that it has acquired the privately held Huxley Pharmaceuticals Inc., which possessed rights to a proprietary form of 3,4-diaminopyridine amifampridine phosphate ( 3,4-DAP), for the treatment of Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS).   Under the terms of the transaction, BioMarin has already made an upfront payment of $15 million to Huxley shareholders and will pay an additional $7.5 million upon the final approval of amifampridine for LEMS from the European Commission (EC). The EC is expected to grant its approval in late 2009 or early 2010. Furthermore, Huxley stockholders would receive up to approximately $36 million in milestone payments if certain sales and U.S. development milestones are met.   BioMarin intends to launch amifampridine phosphate in Europe in the first quarter and is looking to develop an appropriate strategy for the drug in the U.S. Amifampridine phosphate will be the first drug ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 21, 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: Biogen Idec (BIIB), Elan (ELN), UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), Forest Laboratories, Inc. (FRX) and Cypress Biosciences (CYPB).

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 Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

Biogen Reports Higher Earnings

Today morning, Biogen Idec (BIIB) reported third quarter earnings per share of $1.12, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. The company reported earnings of 98 cents in the year-ago period. Revenues increased 3% to $1.12 billion, with Tysabri being the primary growth

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Today morning, Biogen Idec (BIIB) reported third quarter earnings per share of $1.12, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. The company reported earnings of 98 cents in the year-ago period. Revenues increased 3% to $1.12 billion, with Tysabri being the primary growth driver. Tysabri sales came in at $207 million, up 21% from the prior period. The company estimates that as of the end of September 2009, about 46,200 patients were on commercial and clinical Tysabri therapy worldwide. This represents an increase from the 43,300 patients reported by the company in the second quarter of 2009. Tysabri is an important growth driver and we expect the product, which is partnered with Elan (ELN), to cross $1 billion in worldwide sales in 2009. Meanwhile, Biogen’s lead multiple sclerosis (MS) product Avonex posted sales of $580 million (up 1%) with U.S. sales growing 8% to ...

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Consorteum Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CSRH) has launched its mobile check cashing program. The introduction of this service will offer those that are currently using check cashing facilities a much more convenient way to cash their payroll checks. After two years of development with its partners, Consorteum has now proceeded to the pilot phase of its check cashing program in the Toronto, Ontario region. The first stage of the pilot implementation will be the deployment of this new service on

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