The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Regeneron, Amgen And Celgene

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – May 25, 2017 – 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 Regeneron (NASDAQ: Free Report ).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free .

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Major news in the biotech sector include FDA approval for Regeneron’s (NASDAQ: Amgen Evenity Approval Derailed on Cardiovascular Side Effect ).

While Amgen’s shares were down 2.2% on the news, Radius Health’s shares shot up 6.6% -- Radius’ osteoporosis drug, Tymlos, gained FDA approval just last month. A delay in FDA approval for Evenity will give Radius’ drug some breathing space before new competition enters the market.

Alexion Shares Hit by Top Management Shakeup: Alexion’s shares were down 9.3% with the company announcing changes in its executive leadership team. The company announced the appointment of a new Chief Commercial Officer, while the existing Chief Financial Officer will resign his position at the end of August. The Executive Vice President, Head of Research & Development will also be retiring from Alexion at the end of 2017. The Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, will also be leaving the company effective Jun 1, 2017. Year-to-date, Alexion’s shares are down 14.5%, lagging the Zacks-categorized Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry which is up 0.4% so far in 2017.

Another Indication for Vertex CF Drug: Vertex gained FDA approval for the use of its cystic fibrosis (CF) drug Kalydeco in patients 2 and older who have one of 23 residual function mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. More than 900 people in the U.S. have one of these mutations. Following the approval, Vertex upped its Kalydeco 2017 revenue guidance to $740 million - $770 million.

Vertex is also working on gaining rapid approval for more than 600 additional people who have mutations responsive to Kalydeco, including one of five "splice" mutations (Read more: Vertex Ups Kalydeco Sales View as FDA Okays Label Expansion ).

Bioverativ To Buy North Therapeutics, Strengthen Pipeline: Biogen’s spin-off, Bioverativ which is focused on developing treatments for hemophilia and other rare blood disorders, will be acquiring privately-held, clinical-stage rare disease biotech company True North Therapeutics for $400 million upfront plus assumed cash. The company will also shell out as much as $425 million on the achievement of development, regulatory and sales milestones.

Get The News You Want

Read market moving news with a personalized feed of stocks you care about.

Get The App

With this acquisition, which is scheduled to close in mid-2017, Bioverativ will add TNT009 to its pipeline. TNT009, True North’s lead candidate, is being evaluated for the treatment of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), a rare and chronic hemolytic condition affecting about 16 people per million globally including 5,000 people in the U.S. There are currently no approved treatments for CAD.

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index declined 1.5% over the last five trading sessions. Among major biotech stocks, Regeneron gained 1.5% on the back of FDA approval for Kevzara while Alexion lost 13% during this period. Over the last six months, Vertex was up 33.5% while Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) was down 18.9% (See the last biotech stock roundup here: Biogen Inks Deal to Boost Pipeline, Sangamo Soars on Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Deal ).

Biotech World

Puma which saw its shares shoot up 52.9% this week on what is being viewed as favorable FDA briefing documents for the advisory panel meeting of the company’s experimental breast cancer treatment, neratinib, will get to know about the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee’s recommendation today.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.

Get the full Report on REGN - FREE

Get the full Report on AMGN - FREE

Get the full Report on CELG - FREE

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook (NASDAQ:FB): https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com/

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit Zacks Investment Research

Written By: Zacks Investment Research