| Waters Corp. Earnings Match Estimates Zacks.com submits: Waters Corporation (WAT) reported first quarter 2010 earnings per share from continuing operations of 78 cents, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate. First quarter 2010 sales were $368 million, an increase of 10% from sales of $333 million in the first quarter of 2009. On a currency neutral basis, sales increased by 6% in comparison to the prior year’s first quarter sales. Strong demand for the company’s new suite of products and improving end-market situation contributed to revenue growth in the first quarter. Shipments of new instrument systems, including the Synapt™ G-2 and ACQUITY UPLC® H-Class, clocked up robustly in the quarter while TA Instruments sales returned to growth based on improving demand from industrial chemical clients.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
J&J Wins Drug Ruling A state judge handed a victory to J&J, dismissing a Pennsylvania government lawsuit over its marketing of an antipsychotic drug. online.wsj.com |
Vivus, Arena and Orexigen Investors All Worried About Qnexa FDA Panel Review Joseph Krueger submits: This week is a critical time period for Vivus (VVUS) investors, but it should also be interesting for Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA) and Orexigen (OREX) investors, as the three companies all have near term FDA panel reviews and PDUFA dates for their obesity drugs. Vivus’ New Drug Application (NDA) for their weight loss drug, Qnexa, is up for review by the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 12 or July 13 (per Bloomberg reported by theflyonthewall.com). This review by outside advisory panelists will foreshadow the likelihood of FDA approval for Qnexa, as the FDA’s actions generally follow with the reviewers opinion. The target date for the FDA to complete its review of the Qnexa NDA is October 28, 2010.Qnexa is a combination of two different generic drugs: Phentermine (formally marketed as Fastin and many other names) and Topiramate (formally marketed as Topamax). Phentermine is an appetite suppressant and stimulant similar to amphetamines. Topiramate is an anticonvulsant drug (designed to stop seizures) and is available in the U.S. in several different formulations generically. Phentermine has typically always been used as an appetite suppressant. Topiramate has been used to treat many different central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including seizure disorders such as epilepsy, biopolar disorder, tremors, obsessive compulsive disorders, behavioral obesity, drug, alcoholism, and smoking cessation. Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Walgreen, Omnicare to Swap Assets Walgreen said same-store sales rose for the third straight month in August and disclosed it will swap most of its long-term-care pharmacy business for substantially all of Omnicare's home-infusion operations. online.wsj.com |
Weighty Issues With Vivus Take a Turn for the Better David Greene submits:Vivus (VVUS) announced this week very positive clinical trial results -- results of a two year study monitoring 675 obese or overweight patients using the company's Qnexa drug showing an average weight loss of 11.4 percent (or an average of 25 lbs.) versus the company's previously announced one year study (and a weight loss of 10.4 percent). Patients taking a placebo had weight loss of only 2.5 percent.The one year trial ended up with the Food and Drug Administration panel in July recommending against approving Qnexa due to concerns of negative side effects such as memory lapses, suicidal thoughts, heart palpitations, and birth defects.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |