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).

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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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We are pleased to hear that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has agreed to review the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) of Merck’s (MRK) vernakalant intravenous (IV). The company is seeking EMEA approval for the drug to address the unmet need for patients suffering from acute atrial fibrillation (AF, abnormal heart rhythms leading to strokes). Along with the IV version, Merck is also developing the oral form of the drug, which is currently in phase II development. In April 2009, Merck entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Cardiome Pharma Corp. in order to develop and commercialize vernakalant. While Merck retains the exclusive global rights to the oral formulation of vernakalant, its affiliate, MSD Switzerland GmbH gets the rights to the IV formulation outside the US, Canada and Mexico. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm abnormality in the US, accounting for one out ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 7, 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: CSX (CSX), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Burlington Northern (BNI), Union Pacific (UNP) and Sanofi-Aventis (SNY).

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:

Trainspotting

In looking for an economic recovery, one of the things to be looking at is rail traffic. While an increasing part of the economic output of the country (and the world) moves electronically, there is still a very important role for, to use a technical term, "stuff."

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Heart Drug Multaq Receives FDA approvalSanofi-Aventis (SNY) finally received some good news when the U.S. FDA approved the company's heart drug, Multaq, on July 2, 2009. Multaq provides patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) with a new treatment option.The approval process for Multaq was not exactly smooth sailing with the company receiving a non-approvable letter from the FDA for its initial new drug application (NDA) filing in 2006. Sanofi resubmitted its NDA in 2008 and received a favorable response from an FDA advisory panel in March 2009.The product label will contain warnings regarding the use of the drug in patients with severe heart failure. However, Sanofi has a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy in place to ensure the product is used in the right patient base.According ...

Highlights include Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).On March 18th and 19th, the FDA advisory panels recommended approval of 2 important cardiovascular product candidates. The FDA does not have to follow the recommendations of the panels but usually does.On Wednesday, the 18th of March, an FDA advisory panel recommended approval of Sanofi-Aventis' (SNY) heart drug Multaq. Multaq (dronedarone) is a new class III anti-arrhythmic drug developed for atrial fibrillation (AF).On Thursday the 19th, an FDA review panel voted 15 to 2 in favor of approving Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) anticoagulant rivaroxaban. Rivaroxaban, which will be sold under the brand name Xarelto upon approval, will be marketed in the U.S. by J&J and is already sold partner Bayer AG outside of the U.S. Multaq was initially submitted to the FDA for approval in 2006 but the FDA responded ...