These Drug Makers Are Still Standing Strong

In 2007 Pfizer (PFE) formed a partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) to develop the anti-coagulant drug "Eliquis" that reduces blood clotting. In this partnership, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers share the profits 60:40 respectively. The FDA approved this drug in late 2012 and both companies are now moving ahead to develop supplements to treat patients more effectively.

After receiving approval for Eliquis, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb also received approval from the FDA for its supplemental New Drug Application, or sNDA, in July 2013. A sNDA is an application that enables the company to innovate or make changes in a drug that has already been approved. Eliquis is used to treat venous thromboembolism, or VTE, patients and reduces the probability of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, a blood clot in veins.Read more

AbbVie's Search For The Next Humira (Pfizer Inc:PFE)

AbbVie (ABBV) licensed the anti-IL-6R Nanobody, ALX-0061, from Ablynx, a Belgian company, for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.In February, Ablynx reported that in a Phase 2a clinical study of ALX-0061 showed promising results and the drug was well tolerated by the 37 RA (rheumatoid arthritis) patients who took the drug over the course of 24 weeks with methotrexate. The drug is delivered by intravenous administration.The deal is part of AbbVie's effort to reduce its dependence on Humira, which currently delivers the lion's share of the company's revenue.

The deal with Ablynx is worth more than $840 million. This includes an upfront payment of $175 million and additional payments of up to $665 million on the achievement of development, regulatory, commercial and sales-based milestones. Ablynx is also entitled to double-digit tiered royalties on sales upon commercialization. Read more

Does Conatus Pharmaceuticals Have A Winner With Emricasan?

In the human body, 50 billion to 70 billion cells die every day to make room for an equivalent number of new cells that are produced through cell division. Every year, the human body produces and kills a mass of cells equal to its entire body weight.

Scientists are studying apopsotis, a sort of "suicide mechanism" that instructs cells when it is time to die. Researchers are finding that a growing number of diseases occur when the regulation of this cell suicide program is defective.

San Diego-based Conatus Pharmaceuticals (CNAT) is at the forefront of studying the role of apoptosis in liver disease, the 150M market cap biotechnology company is focused on the development of emricasan. Read more