Antares Pharma Inc (ATRS) Earnings: An Early Look – Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (TEVA)

Will Antares Pharma make investors feel better this quarter?
Analysts have reined in their views on Antares Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATRS) over the past few months, widening their loss estimate for the just-ended quarter by a penny per share and slashing their full-year 2013 call by $0.04 per share in projecting breakeven results. The stock hasn’t responded well, falling about 3% since early December.

Antares specializes in novel drug-delivery techniques, with its needle-free injectors that use high pressure to force medicine through very small openings in the skin. It also produces various gel-based products to treat conditions ranging from overactive bladder to menopause symptoms, as well as a contraceptive gel.

So far, Antares has had trouble getting its business off the ground, with minimal revenue and a lack of a full-fledged marketing partner. But the company hopes that its alliance with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE:TEVA) will help lift its prospects, with Antares Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATRS) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) having filed New Drug Applications for several drugs using Antares’ Tjet and Vibex injectors. In addition, Antares has been working quietly with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) on an undisclosed product for which Antares has already received milestone payments.

But the real potential that has driven share prices upward comes from Antares’ Otrexup treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. With its potential to help patients self-administer the drug methotrexate, which 70% of rheumatoid arthritis patients take, Otrexup may not only be easier for patients to use but also more effective in delivering the drug with fewer side effects.

In its quarterly report, look past Antares Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATRS)’ relatively insignificant numbers to gauge its prospects for the future. Whether they come from partnerships or its own prospects, Antares is an interesting though highly speculative play in the industry.

The article Antares Pharma Earnings: An Early Look originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Caplinger.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter: @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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