Sanofi SA (ADR) (SNY), Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK): Healthier Days Loom as 3 Big Pharmas Move on Dengue Shots

Significantly, Genzyme, a Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) company, got a head start recently on this protein-based therapeutic approach. This June, it was announced that a positive opinion for approval has been issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency on Genzyme’s LEMTRADA (alemtuzumab) for adult patients’ treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

This, plus the lead of Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) over its peers the dengue vaccine, could be counted as a bullish near-term prospect for this France-based company. Notably, it is is so confident that its vaccine will muster authorities’ approval that production has already started for a possible launch in 2015. If successful, this product could reportedly generate more than $1 billion in sales for the company.

Final thoughts

Moving forward, the weakness that these three companies are currently experiencing in the equities market could be an opportune entry point for prospective investors convinced of the market potential of their dengue vaccine and other drugs coming onto the market. Their current one-year forward P/E ratios in the low teens look enticing. The companies’ trailing-twelve-month profitability, likewise, are strong with profit margins of 15.24% for Glaxo, 11.44% for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), and 10.11% for Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY).

Arturo Cuevas has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 

The article Healthier Days Loom as 3 Big Pharmas Move on Dengue Shots originally appeared on Fool.com.

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