Recently, Novartis AG (NVS) announced that it has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for QAB149 (indacaterol) − a bronchodilator for the treatment of adults suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) − from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The US agency has asked for additional information on the proposed dosing of the drug. Novartis had filed for the US approval of the drug in December last year.  Last month, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the approval of QAB149 in the European Union to treat COPD patients as a once-daily therapy with two doses (150 micrograms and 300 micrograms). The positive opinion from the CHMP is a boost to Novartis as it aims to be a strong player in the field of respiratory medicine. Currently, the market is dominated by big players such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AstraZeneca (AZN) ...

Early this morning, Novartis AG (NVS) announced that data from a two year late-stage study showed that its oral drug FTY720 (fingolimod) was significantly superior to placebo in reducing relapses and disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The double-blind placebo-controlled study, called FREEDOMS (FTY720 Research Evaluating Effects of Daily Oral therapy in Multiple Sclerosis), involved 1,272 patients in 22 countries and assessed the efficacy, safety and tolerability of FTY720. The study revealed that FTY720, which was well tolerated in the study, reduced the relapse rate by 54% for the 0.5 mg dose and 60% for the 1.25 mg dose compared to placebo. Furthermore, the candidate reduced disability progression by 30% for patients on 0.5 mg and 32% for those on 1.25 mg compared to placebo over the entire duration of the study, thus meeting the primary and secondary endpoints for both the doses, with ...

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Friday September 25, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PWRM, PFE, NVS

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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 II

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Increasing Alzheimer’s Patients Spell Drug Profits

Some disturbing figures rolled out yesterday concerning growth rates of Alzheimer’s patients. The number of people affected grew 10% in the past four years and is expected to grow to over 115 million by 2050. That’s a doubling of cases every 20 years.

The number is expected to grow because of the diets and activity levels amongst older individuals in developed countries. Apparently we’re getting too much junk food and not enough exercise.

Numbers like that are scary to contemplate for many, especially families with relatives at risk, but they’re statistics that pharmaceutical companies love hearing.

Which is why we thought we’d pull up a few of the leading Alheimer’s drugs and the publicly listed companies that produce them: drugs like Aricept from Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Exelon from Novartis AG ADR

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 21, 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: Lennar Corporation (LEN), VeriChip (CHIP), Sanofi-Aventis SA (SFY), AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis AG (NOV).

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:

Lennar Predicts Profit in 2010

Lennar Corporation (LEN) one of the nation's largest home builders, predicts a return to profitability in 2010 as it targets the hot market of first time homebuyers and those looking for more bang for their buck.

The company reported third-quarter results today which surprised on the

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An announcement today regarding the exclusive license granted to controversial chip-implant maker VeriChip (CHIP) for H1N1 detection sent CHIP shares hurtling nearly out of orbit -- up 178%, or over $2 per share -- to around $3.20 by Monday afternoon. Other news reports have cited that this is the biggest intra-day gain since the company went public in February 2007. VeriChip's development partner, RECEPTORS LLC, has granted exclusive rights to VeriChip to develop one of its patents based on the "virus triage detection system" used to treat H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu." The H1N1 virus sent shockwaves of worry about a dangerous pandemic developing world-wide, and just last week came FDA approval of the first treatments of the virus from Sanofi-Aventis SA (SFY), CSL Ltd, MedImmune (now a subsidiary of AstraZeneca AZN) and Novartis AG (NOV). VeriChip is best known for ...

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Friday September 18, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PWRM, IBM, NWMT, CVAT, CSRH, F, AQNM, NVS

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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

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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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Friday September 18, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PWRM, Power 3 Medical Products Inc, PWRM.OB

NVS, Novartis AG

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Power3 Medical Products, Inc. Headlines Session at International Molecular Diagnostic Meeting in China

- Power3 Medical Products, Inc. a Leader in Neurodegenerative Disease and Cancer Diagnostic Biomarkers Announces its Chief Scientific Officer is Chair and Keynote Speaker of Session at the BTI Life Sciences 2nd Annual Congress and Expo of Molecular Diagnostics in Beijing, China in November 2009 -

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTC BB: PWRM), is a leading bio-medical company engaged in the commercialization of neurodegenerative disease and cancer biomarkers, pathways, and mechanisms of diseases through the development

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Yesterday, patient enrollment (1200) for a phase III trial of ASA404, jointly developed by Novartis (NVS) and Antisoma for the treatment of non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was completed. Novartis is conducting the trial as the development and commercialization partner (for ASA404) of Antisoma. The trial will be conducted to test the effectiveness of the drug as a first-line treatment for squamous and non-squamous NSCLC with results due in 2010 or early 2011. The company expects to file for approval in 2011 if the trial results are positive. In addition to this, Novartis will be conducting another study of the drug in previously treated patients. Lung cancer kills 1.3 million people a year and is one of the leading causes of cancer death across the world. NSCLC accounting for about 87% of all lung cancer patients is one of the leading causes of death. Survival rates ...

Today we are featuring top-performing “Global" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest equity securities of both U.S. and foreign companies.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Global Equity Funds.

3 Superb Choices

Eaton Vance International Equity A (PARWX) seeks total return for shareholders. The fund primarily invests in foreign equity securities.

The fund focuses on a diversified portfolio of foreign common stocks of companies domiciled in countries represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East index. As of April 2009, its portfolio turnover was 35%.

Nestle SA, Novartis AG (NVS) and British American Tobacco Plc (BTI) are among the fund’s top holdings.

EM Capital India Gateway A (EMINX) was incepted in July 2007. The investment seeks long-term capital growth and income.

The fund invests at least 80% of its

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