Biotech Business Daily (BIIB, VRTX, ALNY, STEM)

Health and Healthcare

Published: July 10, 2009 10:07 am

Last Updated: July 10, 2009 12:30 pm

Here are some of the top stories affecting key drug and biotech stocks this Friday. We also have links through to more detailed coverage and analysis at BioHealthInvestor.com:

Biogen Idec Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) kicks off the earnings season for the large biotech companies next week. We have a full earnings preview with current expectations and the bias. A decline in analyst sentiment for the stock might set up the company for a slight earnings surprise, on the back of recent price increases for its high-profile multiple sclerosis drug Avonex.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VRTX) this morning said it will sell its rights to milestone payments tied to its hepatitis C drug telaprevir in Europe, a possible sign that the launch of the drug with partner Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) for 2011 may be on track.

Also, see our in-depth feature this week on five fast-growing biotechs with improving analyst estimates: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), Amicus Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: FOLD), Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: HALO), American Oriental Bioengineering Inc. (NYSE: AOB), and Stemcells Inc. (Nasdaq: STEM).

-The 24/7 Wall St. Team

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