The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Medco Health Solutions, Merck, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, National Oilwell Varco and Ameron Inte

CHICAGO, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS), Merck (NYSE: MRK), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX), National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NYSE: NOV) and Ameron International Corp. (NYSE: AMN).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

Medco to Better Tackle Hepatitis C

Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) is making attempts to curtail costs of treating patients suffering from hepatitis C (HCV). The company's specialty pharmacy segment, Accredo Health Group, considers patient adherence to the treatment most significant as any contrary behavior could lead to liver cirrhosis and certain cancers.

Accredo is optimistic about two new HCV medications -- boceprevir and teleprevir -- although the treatment process is quite complex and requires greater degree of adherence.

In May 2011, Merck (NYSE: MRK) received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Victrelis (boceprevir) to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The drug is approved for the treatment of CHC genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients who were left untreated or failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy.

The FDA also approved Incivek (telaprevir), marketed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX), to treat certain adults with CHC infection. The current standard of care for patients with CHC infection is peg-interferon alfa and ribavirin for 48 weeks. However, less than 50% of patients respond to this therapy. It has been observed that the new treatments are more effective and also shorten the duration of treatment to 24 weeks in most patients.  

To make the treatment effective, about 80-85% patient adherence is required. It has been demonstrated that patients receiving therapy from Accredo's nurses and specialist pharmacists are 10% more receptive than others. Moreover, Accredo could reduce the cost of therapy up to $13,000 by identifying patients who would require only 24 weeks of therapy.

To ensure better adherence of patients, Accredo is educating them regarding the usage of the medications. Moreover, the patients are also being encouraged to communicate with doctors about the treatment program and seek their assistance in managing side effects.  This helps to improve patient's condition and do away with the costly hospitalizations.

National Oilwell Varco to Purchase Ameron

Oilfield services firm National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NYSE: NOV) has agreed to acquire industrial parts maker Ameron International Corp. (NYSE: AMN) for about $772 million in cash. The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of both the companies but awaits regulatory and shareholder approvals, is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2011.

As per the deal, Ameron shareholders would get $85 in cash for each share they hold. At Ameron's Friday closing stock price of $66.27, the deal values the company's shares at a 28% premium.

Pasadena, California-based Ameron is a leading multinational producer of highly-engineered products and materials catering to the chemical, industrial, energy, transportation and infrastructure markets. In particular, Ameron is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass-composite pipe for transporting oil, chemicals and corrosive fluids and specialized materials and products used in infrastructure projects.

The acquisition will allow National Oilwell Varco to broaden scale and scope of the solutions that it offers to oil and gas customers worldwide. Post merger, National Oilwell Varco expects Ameron's products (particularly the fiberglass-composite pipe producing operation) to benefit its oilfield pipeline business through efficiencies and economies of scale.

Houston, Texas-based National Oilwell Varco, formerly National Oilwell, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of comprehensive systems, components, products and equipment used in oil and gas drilling and production worldwide.

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