Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have seen dramatic improvements in the standard of care over the last 25 years. Prior to the approval of methotrexate (MTX) in 1988, the best that doctors had to offer were NSAIDs and analgesics to manage pain and inflammation. As the first approved disease modifying drug, MTX revolutionized RA treatment and is […]
AASLD 2012 – An HCV Primer
It seems EASL has just ended, but AASLD is fast approaching, coming mid November. For HepC watchers, here is an overview of some companies that will be presenting at the Liver Meeting. Despite the tremendous progress made to-date, new advances keep it exciting. Gilead: Acknowledged leader in the race to bring an all-oral drug combination […]
Galapagos JAK1 Inhibitor Is One To Contend With
Galapagos’ JAK1 Inhibitor Is One To Contend With Just today, Galapagos announced a major partnership with Abbott to develop its JAK1 specific inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This Belgium based biotech snagged a lucrative deal with $150 million in upfront payments. Upon the completion of Phase II studies, Abbott has the option to […]
Platform and Specialty Pharmaceutical Companies can bolster Big Pharma
The pharmaceutical industry is in a weak state, with an impending “patent cliff” that is forcing Big Pharma to reorganize and refocus. In 2011, roughly $20 billion in branded US sales dollars are “at risk” to patent expiry and generic competition. The pinnacle will be reached in 2013 and will subside after 2015. Fiscal Year […]
Despite Abbott Parting With Gralise, Depomed’s Future Looks Bright
During the past week, Depomed (DEPO) announced two significant business development updates. On March 15th, Depomed granted non-exclusive rights for its proprietary extended-release metformin patents, this time, to Boehringer Ingelheim. On March 16th, Depomed announced that they and Abbott (ABT) have reached an agreement over Gralise. Moving Forward From Abbott The details of the agreement […]
Depomed: Attractive and Under-Appreciated Potential
It almost seems counterintuitive that majority shareholders of Depomed (DEPO) have been adding shares after the FDA approval of Gralise, a once-daily treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia. One might expect that large funds would look to the high volume created with an FDA decision as an opportune exit strategy. Yet that hasn’t happened, several funds have […]
Depomed’s Stock Price Is a Gift Following FDA Approval of Pain Drug
Now that Depomed’s (DEPO) GRALISE has been approved by the FDA, making a bull case for Depomed becomes easy. GRALISE is an extended release gabapentin formulation, formerly DM-1796, that is prescribed once-daily for the treatment of post-herpetic-neuralgia (“PHN”), which is pain associated with shingles. Approval of GRALISE triggers a milestone payment of $48 million from […]
Sales Potential and Chances of FDA Approval for DepoMed’s DM-1796
Many biotech investors have been closely watching the upcoming PDUFA date for DM-1796, DepoMed’s (DEPO) investigational extended-release gabapentin formulation. Depomed’s story has been marred with ups and downs, panicking those investors with a faint heart and forcing weak hands to exit, while the major funds continue to accumulate shares. To understand DM-1796’s approvability and its […]
Finding Opportunity in Abbott – Depomed Dispute
Tuesday, Depomed (DEPO) announced that Abbott (ABT) is disputing elements of their contract regarding DM-1796, an investigational extended-release gabapentin formulation. According to the conference call and press release, CEO Carl Pelzel is “perplexed” by Abbott’s last minute maneuvers and expressed haste in beginning the mediation process and, if needed, binding arbitration. Issues with the contract The issues are […]
News Stories Miss the Point as Depomed Approaches FDA Target Date
Depomed (NASDAQ:DEPO), a specialty pharmaceutical company, has seen a healthy gain in its stock price due in part to its upcoming PDUFA date for DM-1796, a once-a-day treatment for Post Herpetic Neuralgia. Depomed is a unique company, not only because it has compelling product candidates in its pipeline, but also because its platform technology can […]
Johnson & Johnson Lathers Elan
Pharmacuetical Giant, Johnson & Johnson, is taking a minority stake in Ireland’s Elan 18% stake for $1 Billion USD Elan’s (NYSE:ELN) wish came true. The Irish company attracted a Big Pharma partner–Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)–to take a minority stake, just as it’s been hoping for all along. J&J will sink $1 billion into Elan in […]
Solvay : “Second Round” for Drug-Unit
Reuters reported that Solvay has drawn up a shortlist of potential bidders for it’s drug business. The start of a second round of the divestment process is supposed to imply that “Solvay is more serious than it has said in public about selling the business with $3.78 billion in sales.” Solvay commented on the report, […]
