Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is increasing investment in existing products for cancer and fertility in emerging markets while waiting for its drug pipeline to mature, said Belen Garijo, head of its prescription drug unit. There’s “significant growth potential” for fertility products such as Gonal-f in China, where the government is easing its one-child rule, as well as in Turkey and Russia, Merck Serono CEO Garijo said in an interview. The Darmstadt, Germany-based drug maker also plans to “fully exploit” cancer drug Erbitux in Asia, particularly for head-and-neck cancer in Japan and China where smoking rates are high. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) shares closed at $55.81 on last trade day, by gaining 1.40%. Stock 52 week range is $42.10 – $56.00. Company’s market capitalization is $163.33 billion.
AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) announced that, in 2013, it provided nearly $975 million in savings to more than 567,000 patients in the United States through its patient assistance programs. These programs include AZ&Me and the MedImmune Assistance Program. AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) stock opened at $66.41 in last trading session, and closed at $66.62, trading in the range of $66.05 – $66.68. The stock showed a positive/negative weekly performance of 3.37%.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) SVP John Elicker sold 9,534 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.22, for a total value of $516,933.48. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 32,740 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,775,163. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) stock opened at $53.64 in last trading session and closed at $53.85. The 52 week range of the stock is $36.31 – $56.83 and the day range was $53.44 – $53.90.
GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) and Theravance (THRX) announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, CHMP, has issued a positive opinion recommending marketing authorization for umeclidinium/vilanterol under the proposed brand name Anoro as a once-daily, maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Anoro is a combination of UMEC, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist and VI, a long-acting beta2 agonist in a single inhaler, the Ellipta. The proposed strength is UMEC/VI 55mcg / 22 mcg. GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) stock decreased/advanced 0.92% and finished the last session at $56.22. The EPS of the stock remained 3.71. Company’s market capitalization is $136.54 billion.