DARA Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:DARA) announced that Soltamox has been added to the Federal Supply Schedule for purchase by all government agencies. Now that Soltamox has gained acceptance on the Federal Supply Schedule, DARA intends to submit an application for Gelclair, an FDA-approved bioadherent oral rinse gel for treating the painful symptoms of oral mucositis, as an additional prescription product for Federal Supply Schedule inclusion. DARA Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:DARA) weekly performance is -16.38%. On last trading day company shares ended up $1.48. Analysts mean target price for the company is $2.00. DARA Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:DARA) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is -43.56%.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of blood thinner from Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK) that reduces heart attack, stroke and other fatal cardiovascular events in patients with a history of heart attack. The approval of Zontivity marks a comeback for a drug which was once hailed as a potential blockbuster, but has been plagued by bleeding side effects in clinical testing. In 2011 Merck took a $1.7 billion charge to write down the value assigned to the tablet, after studies showed it increased the risk of internal bleeding in the skull. Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK) shares fell -1.81% in last trading session and ended the day on $54.83. MRK Gross Margin is 61.30% and its return on assets is 5.70%. Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK) quarterly performance is 2.77%.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) isn’t going to give up that easily when a $100 billion deal is on the line. The largest U.S. drugmaker is pursuing AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) to gain a pipeline of cancer treatments that may help reverse a sales slump. While AstraZeneca has so far been an unwilling seller, there’s an 80 percent chance the deal gets done given that AstraZeneca’s share price may otherwise collapse, Morningstar Inc. said. The stock is also reflecting high odds of the transaction closing, with AstraZeneca up 24 percent since Pfizer’s interest was first made public last month. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) shares moved down 0.52% in last trading session and was closed at $29.17, while trading in range of $28.98 – $29.44. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) year to date (YTD) performance is -3.12%.
Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) said it will sell its interests in the Lucius and Heidelberg development projects to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. for $1.4 billion. The company said it has combined its deep-water and shelf technical teams to focus on subsalt and other deeper exploration opportunities in water depths of less than 1,000 feet. Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) ended the last trading day at $88.03. Company weekly volatility is calculated as .81% and price to cash ratio as 18.19. Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) showed a positive weekly performance of 1.14%.