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

...

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 ...

Gilead Sciences (GILD) posted strong third quarter results yesterday. The company’s earnings per share of 74 cents was well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents and last year’s profit of 52 cents. Gilead reported $1.8 billion of revenues during the quarter, an increase of 31% compared to $1.37 billion in the prior-year period of 2008 on strong product sales, especially of the antiviral franchise. Revenues were hampered by a $51 million of unfavorable foreign exchange movement.   Product sales increased 23% to $1.65 billion driven by the year-over-year growth in sales of antiviral products such as Atripla (growth of 42% to $605.3 million), Truvada (growth of 13% to $620.6 million), Viread (growth of 9% to $156 million) and the inclusion of Ranexa in the portfolio, following the $1.4 billion purchase of CV Therapeutics Inc. in April.   Gilead’s royalty, contract and other revenues recorded a massive increase

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 18, 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: Merck (MRK), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Gilead Sciences (GILD), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Abbott Labs (ABT).

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 Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Approval for Merck's Isentress

The European Union (EU) recently expanded the approval of Merck’s (MRK) Isentress (raltegravir) for the first line treatment of HIV patients. Earlier, it was approved for patients who had not responded to other treatment options. In the US, following a recent Food and Drug Administration

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 17, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week’s analysis include D.R. Horton (DHI), KB Home (KBH), Pulte Homes (PHM), Allstate (ALL), Hartford Financial Services (HIG), Travelers (TRV), Loews (L), Humana (HUM), Stericycle (SRCL), C.R. Baird (BCR), Celgene (CELG), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), EOG Resources (EOG), AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE), U.S. Steel (X), Fifth Third (FITB), Regions Financial (RF), Suntrust Banks (STI) and Zions Bancorp (ZION).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This week: Third-Quarter Earnings Forecast

Though the economy has stabilized, third-quarter results for the majority of companies will still be below year prior levels.

Per share profits for the S&P

...

Though the economy has stabilized, third-quarter results for the majority of companies will still be below year prior levels.

Per share profits for the S&P 500 are projected to fall 15.4%. The median company is forecast to report a 14% drop in per share earnings. (The difference being that the S&P 500 forecast is a weighted projection.) More than 340 companies may have experienced a year-over-year drop in profits.

On a revenue basis, things are not much better. Median company sales are forecast to have dropped 7.2%.* More than 360 companies are expected to report a year-over-year drop in earnings.

It's important to realize that during July and August 2008, the economy was in fairly good shape. Lehman did not collapse until September 2008. Furthermore, the credit crunch's grip severely tightened over the 2-month span of September and October 2008. As a result, many companies are now facing tough

...

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).

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:

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,

...

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

...

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

...

I recently highlighted a small biotech firm, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, as a potential “value” growth play. ISIS took a tumble after earnings despite being just a penny off of estimates. Despite slightly lower than expected earnings, the Company showed a strong cash position, moderate cash burn, and a likelihood that it would be able to at least make it through full trials for its most promising drug. I know that for some even this doesn’t count as value. Afterall, the Company is not free cash positive and any value ascribed to the Company is derived from future expectations of its drug pipeline of which there are none currently in distribution.

For those looking for more proven business models but still looking to take advantage of the coming shift towards genetic pharmaceuticals as opposed to small molecule pharmaceuticals, a look at ISIS’s partners may clue you into some

...