Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS)
ISIS has been the recipient much attention over the past few years as the stock has increased nearly 10 fold from the beginning of 2013. The strong move can be attributed to the company’s significant advances in its technology and sustained business improvement as of late.
The RNA antisense technology ISIS utilizes is groundbreaking in its field and in result has led to collaborations with some of the major pharmaceutical companies such as Bayer, Biogen, and Glaxo SmithKline.
The real positive for ISIS lies within its pipeline of nearly 40 drugs where it has inked deals with licensing partners. Stemming from these licensing pacts is the multi millions in milestone payments ISIS stands to receive. Between the deep pipeline of drugs and ISIS’s ability to produce additional drugs yearly along with its high-profile relationships, ISIS looks to be positioned for long term growth.
Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. engages in the discovery and development of antisense drugs using novel drug discovery platform. The company’s flagship product includes the KYNAMRO injection, which is an apo-B synthesis inhibitor for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; and for the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It also has a pipeline of 38 drugs in development for the treatment of various diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; severe and rare diseases, which include neurological disorders; and cancer. Yahoo! Finance
MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD)
MNKD’s drug, Afrezza has been the buzz in biotech lately as the company has been on a strong upward move, tacking on nearly 100% to its share price from the beginning of May 2015. Afrezza, an inhaled insulin, has strong prospects although it has been at the center of controversy lately with concerns related to the insulin in the pre launch stages. However, for diabetics, the new technology will remove the need for a shot and replace it with a simple inhaler. This alone makes the case for a successful introduction of Afrezza.
According to Jeffries analyst Shaunak Deepak, “At the ADA meeting we spoke to 20 U.S. physicians who were familiar with Afrezza and found that while only six had prescribed the drug to date, only one of physicians was fundamentally concerned about prescribing it. “The one physician who expressed caution about prescribing Afrezza said that he remained worried about delivery of insulin, a hormone, into the lung. As a reminder, our survey last month suggested an eventual range of 8-12% of physicians unwilling to prescribe Afrezza (see 5/15 Note). Of the remaining 13 physicians, we spoke to two pediatric endocrinologists who said they were not going to prescribe the drug until the FDA approved Afrezza for use in children. However, both were positive about the eventual opportunity, with one claiming that he would take Afrezza himself if he were diabetic. Three physicians we spoke to worked for the VA/DOD and each expressed concerns with their ability get access to Afrezza, with one hoping for a broad government contract and another asserting it would never be put on formulary. Five physicians cited Afrezza’s cost or the need for prior authorization as a primary reason for not yet prescribing the drug to their patients. Three physicians were reluctant to try Afrezza until they had identified the ideal patient in need of insulin intensification. We see the physician openness to prescribe Afrezza as a positive that could be realized as MNKD and Sanofi’s increase efforts and discourse with payors and begin direct to consumer advertisement in early 3Q.” TheStreet.com
MannKind Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for diabetes in the United States. Yahoo! Finance
Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXN)
AXN has been extremely volatile in June as significant developments within the company have been occurring. On the 8th of June, AXN announced it had received approval from the China Food and Drug Administration to produce Tilidine Hydrochloride tablets in China.
AXN’s CEO and Chairman had the following comments on the news, “This approval is the culmination of twelve years of research, development and regulatory activities. Our entry into the market will be a significant break-through in China’s fight to treat pain. Our Tilidine HCL tablets offer a convenient medium for delivery of this drug, which is essential in the fight against pain. Aoxing will be the sole producer of Tilidine HCL tablets in China.”
Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, researches, develops, manufactures, and distributes various narcotic, pain-management, and addiction treatment pharmaceutical products primarily in the People’s Republic of China. Yahoo! Finance
