Health Stocks – Merck & Co (MRK), Pfizer (PFE), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Galena Biopharma (GALE)

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, said it was pleased with the FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee’s recommendation for approval of vorapaxar. Vorapaxar is the company’s investigational antiplatelet medicine for the reduction of atherothrombotic events, when added to standard of care, in patients with a history of heart attack and no history of stroke or transient ischemic attack. The FDA is not bound by the committee’s guidance, but takes its advice into consideration when reviewing investigational medicines. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) stock closed at $52.52 in last trading session. The stock showed a positive weekly performance of 5.48%.

Akili Interactive Labs Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) to test the ability of Akili’s mobile video game platform to detect cognitive differences in healthy elderly people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) shares closed at $31.18 on last trade day. Stock 52 week range is $26.34 – $32.50. Company’s market capitalization is $202.08 billion.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said on Thursday it will sell its ortho clinical diagnostics unit to private equity firm Carlyle Group (CG.O) for $4.15 billion, a year after announcing it was considering spinning off or selling the slow-growing business. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) stock finished the last session at $94.80. The EPS of the stock remained 4.48. Company’s market capitalization is $267.47billion.

Galena Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:GALE), a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative, targeted oncology treatments that address major unmet medical needs to advance cancer care,  announced it has acquired Mills Pharmaceuticals, which has the worldwide rights to GALE-401 (Anagrelide CR), a patented, controlled release formulation of anagrelide. Galena expects to pursue the expedited 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway to seek approval of GALE-401 for the treatment of Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). The Company also believes GALE-401 meets the qualifications for orphan drug status. GALE-401 has an estimated peak market size of approximately $200 million in the U.S. Galena Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:GALE) stock closed at $6.77 in last trading session. The 52 week range of the stock is $1.65 – $7.77.