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On July 22, 2015, Biogen (BIIB) released data from a Phase 1b study, also called the PRIME Study, that looked at the effectiveness of its investigational Alzheimer’s drug, BIIB037.

Kanuma was acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals on completion of the acquisition of Synageva Pharmaceuticals in June 2015.

As part of its significant product line extension, Gilead Sciences (GILD) is entering therapeutic areas such as oncology, pulmonology, and cardiology.

Since early August 2016, there have been rumors of a likely buyout of Biogen (BIIB) by one of the many interested suitors in the biotechnology industry.

In January 2016, Horizon acquired Krystexxa from Crealta Holdings. The drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic refractory gout.

Here we present an overview of BioMarin. It’s based in California and was founded in 1997. It focuses on therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases.

On March 1, 2016, BioMarin received orphan drug designation for BMN 270 from the FDA. BioMarin’s stock jumped by about 6.96% the same day.

YTD, Amgen’s (AMGN) stock has already fallen 9%. Perhaps the pressure that Enbrel (etanercept) is seeing is to blame for the negative investor sentiment.

In the second quarter, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI) generated net revenues of $24.2 million compared to $34.3 million in Q2 2017.

In 2018, the global pharmaceutical industry stood at $1.2 trillion, and experts expect $1.5 trillion by 2023. Here’s everything investors need to know.

What is a Sharpe ratio? A Sharpe ratio is a tool that measures the amount of returns for each unit of volatility that’s generated by a portfolio (higher returns and lower volatility equals more returns per unit of volatility). The measurement allows investors to analyze how much return they’re receiving from a portfolio in exchange for […]

In this series, we’ll look at biotechnology companies focused on marijuana-based products and how they performed in the third quarter.

In 4Q17, Biogen’s (BIIB) Spinraza generated revenues of $363 million, which reflected 34% quarter-over-quarter growth.

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ (ARWR) prior efforts were aimed at clinical programs that utilized the dynamic polyconjugate (or DPC), also called the EX1 delivery vehicle.

On January 22, 2018, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics announced a merger agreement in which the former will acquire the latter’s business.

On January 10, 2018, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that Orkambi has secured regulatory approval from the European Commission to treat CF patients ages six to 11 years.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) recognized $128 million of the $150 million upfront payment from Eli Lilly (LLY) related to the development of investigational drug NKTR-358.

In 3Q17, Amgen’s (AMGN) Neulasta generated revenues of around $1.1 billion, a ~6% decline on a year-over-year (or YoY) basis and ~3% growth on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

According to a Monte Carlo simulation performed at Harvard, it’s estimated that 5.0 million patients in the United States stand to benefit from PCSK9 inhibitor therapy.

Ramsay Health Care is a market leader in private healthcare in Australia, treating almost 3 million patients each year.

In 2016, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reported revenues of around ~$1.7 billion, which reflected a whopping 65% YoY (year-over-year) growth.

Regeneron plans to discuss Dupixent’s innovative mechanism-based treatment approach with regulatory authorities.

Enbrel, Neulasta, and Epogen are among Amgen’s (AMGN) major revenue-generating drugs, each with annual sales in excess of $1 billion. Enbrel and Neulasta together accounted for ~46% of Amgen’s 2016 revenues.

The health care sector (IBB) (VHT) (XBI) has been the most challenged sector since Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

In 3Q16, Biogen’s (BIIB) oral multiple sclerosis (or MS) drug, Tecfidera, managed to increase its global market share to ~15%, a year-over-year (or YoY) rise of about 1 point.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) recently awarded the fast track status to aducanumab following the positive results of Biogen’s pre-clinical research.

BioMarin’s BMN 270 is a gene therapy being investigated for hemophilia A. On April 20, it announced early data of the phase-1 and phase-2 study of BMN 270.

Vertex is trying to expand its product base beyond cystic fibrosis. It holds molecules in the oncology, respiratory, pain, spinal cord, and influenza spaces.

Vyvanse is Shire’s leading ADHD drug, constituting 80% of the company’s ADHD portfolio. In fiscal 2015, Vyvanse earned the company $1.7 billion.

Illumina (ILMN) rose by 2.7% on November 16, 2015. It rose for the fourth consecutive trading session. Illumina rose 10% in the trailing five-day period.

Abraxane’s sales in the US market fell by 4.2% from 3Q14 to 3Q15, while its sales in the rest of the world’s markets rose by 39.7% in the same time period.

Allergan gained 14.9% for the week ended October 30, 2015. The company’s stocks gained on the news of a possible merger with Pfizer.

Aristada was approved by the FDA and is projected to account for 10% to 30% of the LAI atypical antipsychotic market for schizophrenia patients in the US.

Illumina’s Market Expansion Strategy includes targeting the United States, Europe, and China for population sequencing projects.

Illumina’s key products are based on the company’s NGS (next-generation sequencing) technologies.

Mature biotechnology companies generally earn EBITDA margins of about 30% to 40%.

While mature biotechnology companies with drugs in multiple disease segments earn an average of 30%–40% EBITDA, margins of companies targeting only rare diseases can vary due to unique business models.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) has strengthened its drug pipeline by diversifying its research programs across the metabolic disorder segment.

As part of its research and development, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has been actively exploring new cystic fibrosis (or CF) drugs as well as other indications for its existing drug Kalydeco.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals is actively involved in expanding the approved labels for its flagship product Soliris.

On July 2, 2015, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved Orkambi, a combination drug of lumacaftor and ivacaftor, for treating cystic fibrosis (or CF) patients.

Dyax (DYAX) gained 9.41% last week. The stock went up after Dyax presented at the Morgan Stanley global healthcare conference, which took place September 16-18 in New York.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ (VRTX) business model includes revenues in three areas: products, royalties, and collaboration. There’s significant variability in royalty and collaboration revenues.

The healthcare sector, especially the biotech stocks, have garnered momentum over the last few years, as strong earnings growth has excited investors.

Amgen’s key risks include market erosion due to generic competition for Neulasta and Neupogen. Its restructuring also involves a reduction of about 3,500–4,000 employees.

Enhancing its manufacturing capability, Amgen has launched a next-generation bio-manufacturing facility in Singapore and plans to set up more in the coming years.

As it is still relatively difficult to introduce biosimilars, Amgen plans to enter the US market by leveraging experience of biosimilars in the European market.

Amgen (AMGN) has adopted a well-structured research and development strategy focused on inflammation, metabolism, bone, and cardiovascular diseases.

Amgen offers various nephrology drugs such as Epogen, Aranesp, Sensipar, and Mimpara. Both Epogen and Aranesp have been facing squeezed profits from tight competition.

Regeneron generates revenues in three ways: product sales, revenues earned through collaboration arrangements, and revenues earned from licensing proprietary technology.