Editor’s Note: Related tickers: VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS), Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD), iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF) (NASDAQ:IBB), SPDR S&P Biotech (ETF) (NYSEARCA:XBI)
VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) (the “Company”) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has adopted the implementing decision granting marketing authorization for SPEDRA(TM) (avanafil) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the European Union (EU). The approval of the marketing authorization application (MAA) by the EC follows the positive recommendation by the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in April 2013. SPEDRA, a PDE5 inhibitor, is the first new chemical entity (NCE) approved for ED in over a decade. The global market for ED therapies was approximately $5.5 billion in 2012.
Top shareholder in talks with candidates to replace Vivus CEO (Reuters)
First Manhattan Company (FMC) stepped up the pressure in its proxy fight with obesity drug maker VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS), saying it was in advanced discussions with potential chief executive candidates to replace the current CEO should it prevail in gaining control of the VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) board. In a filing with U.S. securities regulators, FMC said it had gone as far as hiring executive recruiters with biopharma experience to identify top CEO candidates. “We are encouraged by the quality of those candidates and their level of interest,” First Manhattan, VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS)’ largest shareholder with nearly 10 percent of outstanding shares, said on Tuesday in a news release and the filing.
VIVUS, Inc. : FMC = RISK: Vote the GOLD Proxy Card (4-Traders)
VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) (the “Company”) today mailed a letter to stockholders advising them to protect the value of their investment in VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) by voting the GOLD proxy card. The full text of the letter follows. …Sam Colin is a fund manager who has never run a pharmaceutical company (or ever worked in one) but believes he knows better than the experienced management team and Board of Directors of VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) who developed Qsymia, achieved its FDA approval, and are working tirelessly to launch into thousands of certified retail pharmacies and activate patients to seek medical treatment.
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA) Announces BELVIQ(TM) (lorcaserin HCl) New Drug Submission in Canada (LifeScience-Online)
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) announced today that Eisai Limited (based in Mississauga, Ontario), a subsidiary of Eisai Inc., has submitted a New Drug Submission (NDS) for BELVIQ (lorcaserin HCl) with Health Canada. BELVIQ is being evaluated in Canada as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management (including weight loss and weight maintenance) in adult obese patients (initial body mass index, or BMI, 30 kg/m2), or overweight patients (initial BMI 27 kg/m2) in the presence of at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea). In connection with the NDS, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) will receive a milestone payment of $500,000 from Eisai.
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ:ARNA) shares up by 7.12% (WallStreetPR)
The share prices of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) has been advanced by 7.12 percent to close at $8.05 per share for the end of Friday on last trading session. The openings price of the share is $7.54 per share. The shares of the company had been trading in $7.48 to $8.17 per share range during the trading day. The shares of the company had thereby a 52 week high price level of $13.50 per share and the 52 week low price level of the company is at $6.95 per share. Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) is generally a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, commercializing and developing drugs that target Gprotein- coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company’s research and development programs also include the GPR119 with earlier stage programs that span several therapeutic areas.
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD)’s Pimavanserin is capable of realizing $1 billion in sales (WallStreetPR)
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) traded at $17.82 in the previous trading session after going upwards by $1.02 (or 6.07%). The stock hit its day’s low at $16.79 and day’s high at $17.96. Around 2.82 million shares have traded in the previous session while the average volume of the stock is 4.04 million shares. There was a surge in the activity of the investors which brought upon good news for many biotechnological companies. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is one of them. It has plenty to talk about, in 2013. Pimavanserin, a drug which has proven to be very effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease has brought a whole bunch of news for the investors for which they can get excited about.
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. : Wall Street Fundamentals Releases New In-Depth Stock Reports on ACAD, ACHN, CLDX and KERX (4-Traders)
The biotech industry?s surge in 2013 seems to have cooled in recent weeks as the sector has been hit by a broad slump in the markets. The SPDR S&P Biotech (ETF) (NYSEARCA:XBI) and the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF) (NASDAQ:IBB) have posted declines of 3.65 and 4.04 percent in the past week. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke?s comments hinting that bond purchases may be scaled back later this year sent markets sliding sharply this past week. Although it may not have a major effect on the Biotech sector in the long run it has made investors more susceptible to news triggering them to take gains or cut losses.
