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 ...

BioScrip, Inc. (BIOS) reported third-quarter earnings of 14 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 10 cents. The company reported earnings of 6 cents in the year-ago period. Although earnings were better than expected, revenues declined 7.2% to $333.5 million. While the specialty business contributed $279 million to revenues, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) business posted revenues of $54.5 million.   The decline in revenues was mainly due to the elimination of the Medicare Competitive Acquisition Program and the termination of the United Health Group organ transplant and HIV/AIDS contracts. This was partially offset by increased sales of higher margin infusion therapies and other specialty sales.   The company reported a sequential growth of 3% in specialty sales with several therapeutic areas like iron overload, multiple sclerosis (MS), oncology and infusion therapies recording double digit growth from the year-ago period. The oral oncology business should continue ...

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) today announced that they have reached an agreements with the Food and Drug Administration to re-initiate clinical trials for spinal cord injury. The company said that they plan to advance clinical development of their human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based product, GRNOPC1 which will be used for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The plan is to let Geron Corporation restart the Phase 1 clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in patients who are suffering from complete thoracic spinal cord injury and to support the future expansion of the clinical trial with patients who are suffering from cervical injuries.

Geron Corporation is one of the developers for the first-in-class biopharmaceuticals that is used for the treatment of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases like spinal cord injury, diabetes and heart failure. GRNOPC1 that is being developed by Geron Corporation is made for the treatment of spinal cord injury but Geron is

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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 ...

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 ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 20, 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 Inc. (BIIB), Facet Biotech Corporation (FACT), Trubion Pharmaceuticals (TRBN), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR).

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 AnalystBlog:

Biogen Extends Hostile Bid

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) extended its tender offer for the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Facet Biotech Corporation (FACT) to December 16, 2009. The offer was previously set to expire on October 19, 2009. As of October

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Dr Stock Pick HOT News & Alerts!

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FREE Daily Stock Alerts From DrStockPick.com

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Monday October 19, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PFE, PWRM, BIIB

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PWRM, Power 3 Medical Products Inc, PWRM.OB

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. is a leading bio-medical company engaged in the commercialization of neurodegenerative disease and cancer biomarkers, pathways, and mechanisms of diseases through the development of diagnostic tests and drug targets. Power3’s patent-pending technologies are being used to develop screening and diagnostic tests for the early detection and prognosis of disease, identify protein biomarkers, and drug targets. Diagnostic tests are targeted toward markets with critical unmet needs in areas including neurodegenerative disease (NuroPro) and breast cancer (BC-SeraPro). Power3 expects to complete phase

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Dr Stock Pick HOT News & Alerts!

_________________________________________

FREE Daily Stock Alerts From DrStockPick.com

_________________________________________

Thursday October 15, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PWRM, ACOR, AQNM

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PWRM, Power 3 Medical Products Inc, PWRM.OB

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. is a leading bio-medical company engaged in the commercialization of neurodegenerative disease and cancer biomarkers, pathways, and mechanisms of diseases through the development of diagnostic tests and drug targets. Power3’s patent-pending technologies are being used to develop screening and diagnostic tests for the early detection and prognosis of disease, identify protein biomarkers, and drug targets. Diagnostic tests are targeted toward markets with critical unmet needs in areas including neurodegenerative disease (NuroPro) and breast cancer (BC-SeraPro). Power3 expects to complete phase

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