This Week in Biotech: Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (GSK)

Finally, Theravance Inc (NASDAQ:THRX) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) had an exciting start to the week that ended more with a whimper than a bang. Earlier in the week, speculation arose from comments made by Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE:PJC) that GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) may look to purchase Theravance if the two get FDA approval for their multiple COPD treatments currently under FDA review. I’d hardly call it speculation, as I called the potential for a hook-up of these two a distinct possibility in January. However, the week ended with a flameout rather than a bang, as their FDA panel meeting for their long-term COPD treatment Breo Ellipta was cancelled just days before a snowstorm was expected to strike the East Coast. No new FDA panel meeting date has been set as of yet.

The article This Week in Biotech originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Sean Williams.

Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson and recommends Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson.

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