Stryker Corp. (SYK) is on a takeover spree having made three acquisitions recently. The company acquired OtisMed Corp., Mutoh Co. Ltd. and certain of its affiliates, and Synergetics USA, Inc. (SURG). Financial terms of these transactions include $67 million in upfront payment as well as potential future milestone and royalty payments of up to $36 million. These acquisitions are expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

OtisMed Corp. is a privately held software technology firm that focuses on customizable instrumentation complementing Stryker’s Triathlon Knee System, as well as other Stryker implants. Stryker will incorporate OtisMed as part of its Orthopaedics division. Mutoh Co. Ltd. is a Japanese company and a leading provider of equipment, products, instruments and services to the medical and scientific communities. On the other hand, Synergetics USA, Inc. is a leading supplier of precision microsurgery instrumentation.   Mutoh and Synergetics acquisitions give Stryker access to

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Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS) reported a net loss of 7 cents per share in the third quarter, which was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a net loss of 5 cents. The company had reported a net income of 2 cents in the year ago period. The wider-than-expected loss was due to lower revenues and higher operating expenses.  Revenues declined 9.1% to $26.8 million. Revenues include license fees, milestone-related payments and other payments. Revenues declined during the reported quarter as the company finished amortizing the revenue associated with the $50 million upfront payment received from Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Ortho-McNeil-Janssen in 2007.  The company reported higher expenses during the quarter mainly due to the expansion of its clinical development programs, including additional expenses associated with the phase III clinical program for mipomersen, expenses for Regulus as it builds its core team and expenses related ...

Wright Medical Group, Inc. (WMGI) recently received the Food and Drug administration (FDA) approval to market its CONSERVE Plus Total Hip Resurfacing System in the U.S. The new system, which has received FDA approval, provides surgeons with a bone-conserving alternative to traditional total hip replacement.   With the FDA approval, Wright Medical can now market CONSERVE Plus in the original femoral and acetabular component configuration in the U.S. as specified in its PreMarket Approval (PMA) application with the FDA. The company also intends to develop additional enhancements to the system. Wright Medical is already marketing its CONSERVE Plus system, which has received FDA approval, with additional features in the international markets.   The CONSERVE Plus system, which has received FDA approval, offers pain relief and restoration of normal hip functions while retaining  maximum of the healthy bone. It preserves future surgery options, including a primary total hip replacement. It ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 11, 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: Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Medtronic Inc. (MDT), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and St. Jude Medical Inc. (STJ).

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 Analyst Blog:

BSX Settles, Lowers Results

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) settled its $296 million lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) related to product advisories issued by its Guidant subsidiary in 2005. The litigation pertained to alleged violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic

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Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) settled its $296 million lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) related to product advisories issued by its Guidant subsidiary in 2005. The litigation pertained to alleged violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by Guidant. The allegations were reported prior to Boston’s acquisition of Guidant in 2006. Boston has recorded the litigation expense in its third quarter of fiscal 2009 results and updated its income statement accordingly. The expense has lowered the company’s GAAP earnings per share by 19 cents into a loss per share of 6 cents in the third quarter of 2009. Adjusted figures remained unaffected by this charge. Boston has also lowered its full fiscal 2009 GAAP earnings per share guidance to a range of 23 to 28 cents, compared to its prior guidance of 43 to 48 cents. The company’s adjusted earnings per share guidance ...

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 ...

Alkermes, Inc. (ALKS) reported a second quarter fiscal 2010 net loss of 5 cents per share, compared with a profit of 2 cents in the year-ago period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was a loss of 10 cents. Revenues in the quarter increased 1.9 % to $48.2 million from $47.3 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was driven by manufacturing and royalty revenues from Risperdal Consta.   Total manufacturing revenues for the quarter came in at $32.8 million as against $33 million in the year-ago quarter.  Manufacturing revenues for the quarter included $31.9 million related to Risperdal Consta, marketed worldwide by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and manufactured by Alkermes, compared to $30.7 million for Consta and $2.3 million for Vivitrol for the year-ago quarter.   Royalty revenues for the quarter came in at $8.8 million, based on Risperdal Consta sales of $352.6 million, as against $8.4 ...

American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. (AMMD) reported strong fiscal third quarter results. For the quarter, earnings per share was 27 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 20 cents and the year-ago earnings of 18 cents. Earnings per share for the reported quarter were also ahead of the company’s previous guidance of 17 to 21 cents.   Sales   Total sales for the quarter increased 4.9% year over year to $123.2 million. Excluding an unfavorable foreign currency translation (FX), net sales increased 6.7% year over year. On a geographic basis, U.S. sales accounted for roughly 75% of total sales and increased 9.2% year over year. International sales declined 6.1% year over year.   In terms of business segments: Men’s health revenues increased 6.6% year over year to $54.7 million. Growth was primarily due to higher sales of the erectile restoration system.   Women’s health revenues increased 4% year over

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SurModics’ (SRDX) fourth-quarter earnings per share came in at 18 cents, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 20 cents. The company reported revenues of $19.2 million, down 17% compared to the year ago period. In addition to quarterly results, SurModics came out with fiscal year 2009 results. The company recorded revenues of $121.5 million in 2009, up 25%, compared to $97 million in the previous year and earnings per share of $1.07 for 2009.

On a business unit basis, apart from Diagnostic, revenues from the other three segments – Cardiovascular, Ophthalmology and Other Markets, recorded a decline in revenues for the fourth quarter. While Diagnostic revenues increased 2% year over year to $4.6 million, revenues for the other three segments declined 12% to $9.8 million, 29% to $1.9 million and 41% to $2.9 million, respectively.

Cardiovascular segment results were impacted by the continuing decline in Cypher sales. SurModics derives a substantial

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