Earlier this week, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ISIS) reported positive top-line results on its type II diabetes candidate, ISIS-113715. Results from the phase II study showed consistent and statistically significant reductions in multiple short and intermediate measures of glucose control. Besides lowering blood glucose, the candidate also caused statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.   Importantly, a tendency towards weight loss was observed without strict dietary control. The candidate’s safety profile was favorable with no clinically significant adverse effects being observed. Full results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.   ISIS-113715 is a novel insulin sensitizer that reduces the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B). The candidate’s ability to normalize glucose without exacerbating hypoglycemia, and reduce LDL-C levels and weight could provide patients who are obese and at high cardiovascular risk with a new treatment option.   ISIS-113715 has been developed using ...

China walks the walk… red nation agrees to major shift away from dollar reserves… Gold soars… Frank Holmes with a historic reason gold should keep rising… You know Peak Oil, but Peak Stimulus? Chris Mayer offers a compelling chart on government intervention… Dark data: Service sector, retail, jobs all disappoint, plus a shocking stat on student debt…

Walking the long, windy road toward the demise of the dollar, we spy another mile marker today: China is officially putting their money where their mouth is.

After clamoring for a reserve alternative all year, the Chinese government agreed to a $50 billion currency-diverse deal with the IMF today. Back in June, the deal seemed imminent. This morning, it finally came to fruition.

In their deal with the IMF — the first of its kind for any nation, ever — China buys $50 billion worth of bonds denominated in Special Drawing Rights, which

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 1, 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: Bayer AG (BAYRY), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) and Pfizer (PFE).

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:

A Step Forward for Bayer

The therapeutic area of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is buzzing with news. We are pleased with the development made by Bayer Schering Pharma, a division of Bayer AG (BAYRY) in this field. The company completed patient enrollment in the phase III study for Rivaroxaban

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The therapeutic area of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is buzzing with news. We are pleased with the development made by Bayer Schering Pharma, a division of Bayer Healthcare in this field. The company completed patient enrollment in the phase III study for Rivaroxaban (Xarelto). The study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of this drug against Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY) warfarin, which is primarily used for the prevention of stroke in AF patients.

The study is expected to include about 14,269 patients spanning over 45 countries with results due by next year. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm abnormality in the US. An estimated 3 million people in the US have atrial fibrillation, which affects about one in 10 people aged over 70.

Rivaroxaban, jointly developed with Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) is also being studied for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (apart from

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The S&P has rallied nearly 50% from its lows and is up over 10% year to date. For those that sat out the rally afraid to get in, the market is starting to look (at the very least) fairly valued. It’s hard to say where things will go from here. But, a closer look at the leaders of the recent rally sheds some light on some stocks which just might have been over looked. Not having benefited from the powerful rally we’re just experienced, it would stand to reason they will have less to correct should the market turn and offer more of an opportunity for appreciation as investors continue to look for uninflated assets.

The above chart graphs the Dow Jones Industrial Average against a proxy

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Monday

Earnings Announcements: Novellus (NVLS)

Tuesday Economic Reports: Core PPI, PPI, Retail Sales

Will this be the month that we finally see inflation take hold? If expectations come true, it very well could be. PPI is anticipated to show an increase of nearly 1%. Core PPI (which excludes food and energy costs) is expected to show an increase of 0.10%. Retail Sales are expected to post a surprising increase. Most reports I have seen show that retailers are still struggling. I don’t expect this report to beat expectations.

Earnings Announcements: Goldman Sachs (GS), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), Yum Brands (YUM)

Wednesday Economic Reports: Core CPI, CPI

The CPI is expected to show an increase of 0.60%, and Core CPI an increase of 0.10%. If both CPI and PPI meet expectations, we could be in for the start of a long bout of inflation.

Earnings Announcement: Abbott Labs (ABT)

Thursday Economic Report: Philadelphia Fed

If we meet expectations this month with the

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Elan Corporation

(Public, NYSE:ELN)

About

Elan Corporation, plc (Elan) is a neuroscience-based biotechnology company. Its principal research and development, manufacturing and marketing facilities are located in Ireland and the United States. Elan’s operations are organized into two business units: Biopharmaceuticals and Elan Drug Technologies (EDT). Biopharmaceuticals engages in research, development and commercial activities primarily in neuroscience, autoimmune and severe chronic pain. EDT focuses on the specialty pharmaceutical industry, including specialized drug delivery and manufacturing.

The following article was written and contributed by a highly regarded investor and member within the StocksHaven Investments community, Nicholas DeCesare:

Any long term holder of Elan can’t be happy with the stock price over the past year. In fact, shares have gone from the mid 30’s in the summer of 2008, to around $7 a share. Since announcing a deal with

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2 indications for Telavancin expected to be approved in 20092009 is going to be a banner year for Theravance (THRX) as the company waits for two FDA approvals for its lead antibiotic drug candidate Telavancin. Telavancin is a novel lipoglycopeptide injectable antibiotic discovered by Theravance that targets serious Gram-positive infections including drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Data has shown that Telavancin has a unique multifunctional mechanism of action that results in bacterial killing and may help reduce the risk of inducing resistance.In November 2005, the company entered into a collaboration arrangement with Japan's Astellas Pharma Inc. for the development and commercialization of Telavancin, giving Astellas worldwide rights to this potential medicine. In addition to upfront and milestone payments, the company will be entitled to receive royalties on global sales of Telavancin by Astellas that, on a percentage basis, range from the high teens ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 16, 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: Community Health Systems Inc. (CYH), Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS), Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK), Schering-Plough (SGP) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).

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:

Cuts in Healthcare Spending

The actual breakdown of the $313 billion proposed cuts includes: $110 billion in productivity adjustments to Medicare payment updates; $106 billion in reduced hospital subsidies for treating the uninsured as coverage increases; $75 billion from Medicare

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Based on our earnings model, we expect Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) to post flat EPS growth from 2008 - 2013 due to the combination of patent expirations of key drugs, recent pipeline failures and softening sales of Gardasil and Singulair.The proposed merger with Schering-Plough (SGP) is clearly an attempt to address Merck's slowing sales and EPS growth. Schering-Plough has relatively little exposure to patent cliffs through 2013 and possesses one of the strongest late-stage pipelines in big-pharma.The deal will add immediate synergies relative to the Vytorin/Zetia joint venture and should offer little overlap in currently marketed products and pipeline compounds. Given the minimal product overlap and relative ease in combining the cholesterol business, we would expect the combination to provide significant synergistic opportunities with combining sales, marketing, research and other back-office functions.The merger is expected to be slightly accretive to ...