Marks Electrical Share Discussion Threads

[waldron] 22/3/2007 11:00

Merck Kgaa Aurobindo Pharma, CVC Capital jointly bid for Merck's generics ops - report


MUMBAI (AFX) - India's mid-sized drug maker Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, has tied
up with private equity fund CVC Capital Partners (Deutschland) GmbH to bid for
Merck KGaA's global generics business, reported the daily Mint, citing people
familiar with the bids.
CVC Capital Partners will extend manufacturing and management support in the
event that Aurobindo Pharma emerges the winner for the generics operations, the
article said.
Both Aurobindo and CVC Capital Partners declined to comment to the
newspaper.
Other Indian companies, Dr Reddys Laboratories and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd,
had pulled out of the bidding process over price issues, while Cipla Ltd, which
had tied up with a private equity consortium for the bid, is no longer a
contender, the report said.





[e-mail]
rba/ra/cmr

[grupo guitarlumber] 20/3/2007 18:27

Merck & CO Big business still opposes 51st state


WASHINGTON (AP) - The 108-year-old push to make Puerto Rico the 51st state
is thriving on the Caribbean island. But powerful U.S. business interests
continue to trump local politics, making it less likely than ever, experts say.
More than half of Fortune 100 companies operate there, with billions
invested in factories and trained workers. Eli-Lilly & Co., Abbott Laboratories
and others, including Microsoft Corp. and Coca-Cola Co., don't want to lose
Puerto Rico's tax-free commonwealth status, politicians and academics say.
At a congressional hearing set for Thursday, corporate lobbyists are
expected to remind statehood advocates that the lure of cheap labor and low
taxes available in Singapore, India and elsewhere would intensify if Puerto
Rico's status changed.
"The commonwealth (status) offers so much benefit to the major players
influencing the decision," says Edwin Melendez, a professor of urban policy and
management at the New School in New York who studies Puerto Rico's economy.
Like past hearings, this one is expected to be crowded and boisterous, with
interest groups debating competing proposals that would give the island's nearly
4 million residents another chance to vote on statehood. The desire for
statehood goes back to the U.S. seizure of Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898.
Residents on the island 1,000 miles off Florida's coast gained U.S. citizenship
in 1917, but they can't vote for president and have no voting representation in
Congress.
The island's tax-free status remains a key factor for big business. Congress
recently eliminated a credit allowing companies to avoid taxes on material
produced on the island. Concerns arose that Merck & Co. Inc. and Pfizer Inc.,
among others, might leave, and there was a "little pullback" after the credit
expired, Melendez said.
Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock, a statehood advocate, says
the firms won't leave an educated, loyal and skilled work force.
Eduardo Bhatia, who runs the Washington office for Puerto Rico's governor
and whose $1 million annual lobbying budget is triple that of McClintock's,
disagrees. U.S. companies stay because they have reregistered as controlled
foreign corporations and still pay no federal taxes as long as the profits
remain offshore, he says. Numerous companies with Puerto Rican operations
declined comment on the subject or did not return calls.
Advocates argue statehood would increase investment and eliminate the stigma
that the island is a third-world entity.
"U.S. investors see it as something foreign, something Spanish, something
Caribbean," says McClintock.
Puerto Rico is "foreign" for tax purposes only, Bhatia counters. Statehood
is not needed to offer "psychological" reinforcement, he added.
The government's investment attraction team is in Washington this week to
tout the island as the "India for federal contractors," according to an e-mail
from a government-owned corporation that promotes investment in Puerto Rico.
Companies continue to expand there. Last year drug maker Amgen Inc. said it
planned to invest $1 billion over four years in new and existing plants. The
"global supply of our principal products is significantly dependent on the
uninterrupted and efficient operation of these Puerto Rico facilities," Amgen's
annual report said.
Amgen declined to detail Puerto Rican operation profits. Foreign profits
before income taxes in 2006 were about $2.33 billion, more than half the total
pretax profits.
Marjorie Powell, senior assistant general counsel at the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America, says drug companies migrated to Puerto
Rico because of tax incentives and remain because of a work force trained to
comply with complex regulatory standards.
Powell would not specifically address statehood, but said executives do not
decide to close or move plants "on a single factor. Companies don't move
production facilities very quickly or easily," she said.
The island's tax breaks aren't limited to profits. Horacio Aldrete, a
director at Standard & Poor's rating agency, said statehood could eliminate
Puerto Rico's rare "triple tax-exempt" status. Puerto Rican bond income is
exempt from federal, state and local taxes.
On the political front, Puerto Ricans have voted against statehood in three
nonbinding referendums over the past 40 years. In 1998, when the last vote was
held, more than 46 percent of voters favored statehood, while more than 50
percent opted for none of the choices, effectively maintaining the status quo.
On monthly trips to Washington, McClintock lobbies for legislatively
creating a two-step process toward statehood. Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., and
more than 90 co-sponsors including Democrat House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of
Maryland and Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, endorse such a bill.
Residents would first choose between changing or remaining a commonwealth. If
change was approved, a separate vote would offer a choice between statehood and
independence.
"Lobbyists, financed by the (political) party in power, as well as
entrenched business interests that historically have tried to avoid the payment
of federal taxes, have always prevented the enactment of federal legislation to
authorize" that approach, McClintock wrote in a March 12 e-mail to the
Associated Press.
Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila supports a different proposal asking Puerto Ricans
chosen for a constitutional convention to define the three options, present them
to Congress and then vote. That bill's sponsor, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.,
earlier this month asked her colleagues to co-sponsor her bill and more than 20
agreed.
The White House says Puerto Ricans should decide, although statehood
advocates argue that if approval occurred before President Bush's second term
ends, it could add to his legacy.
At this week's hearing and a second one scheduled for April 25 by the House
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Melendez says new statehood proposals won't
affect corporate America's aim to keep things as they are.
"Financial incentives for the core investors, the people moving the economy,
it's not clear why they would want a move to the left or right," he says.

[ariane] 13/3/2007 10:27

Ranbaxy, Cipla bid 6 bln usd for Merck KGaA's generic ops, Dr Reddy's drops out


- Indian generic drug companies Ranbaxy Laboratories and Cipla said at a
press conference that they have presented their offer for Merck KGaA's generic
drug operations, and the offer is valued at 6 bln usd.
Competitor Dr Reddy's said it has withdrawn from the bidding process,
judging the price too high.
The announcement confirms reports by daily publication Mint and The Economic
Times, which reported the offer last night.

[e-mail]
afp/jfr/jsa

[ariane] 08/3/2007 07:20

Ranbaxy Laboratories Merck KGaA expects to see 5 bln eur gain from sale of its generics ops - report


FRANKFURT (AFX) - Merck KGaA chief financial officer Michael Becker expects
the sale of the company's generics operations to realise 5 bln eur, Financial
Times Deutschland reported citing a source.
Potential buyers are to submit non-binding offers to Merck by Monday, the
newspaper said citing other sources close to the transaction.
It added that Israel's Teva, US-based Mylan, Iceland's Actavis and India's
Ranbaxy are expected to bid.
Among financial investors Bain and Apax are seen making a joint offer as
well as KKR and Warburg Pincus, the report said.
Merck and all other parties concerned declined to comment, according to the
report.

[e-mail]
jcs/jfr

[waldron] 05/3/2007 07:31

Actelion Says Tracleer Drug Helps With Inoperable Lung Disease

By Joseph Heaven

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Actelion Ltd.'s best-selling lung medicine Tracleer helps patients who suffer from an inoperable form of pulmonary arterial hypertension, the Swiss drugmaker said, citing a new study.

The patients studied were less breathless during exercise, the Allschwil, Switzerland-based company said in an e-mailed statement today. The study included 157 people in 13 countries.

Tracleer, which generates almost all of Actelion's revenue, is approved to treat a severe form of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a chronic disease in which the blood pressure is too high in the arteries between the heart and lungs. Actelion is seeking permission to sell it for other forms of the lung ailment to bolster revenue and fight competition.

The company last year agreed to buy U.S. rival CoTherix Inc. for $420 million to add a new lung medicine alongside Tracleer.

To contact the reporter on this story: Joseph Heaven in Zurich [e-mail]

Last Updated: March 5, 2007 01:29 EST

[waldron] 18/2/2007 04:37

Novartis could be facing a further delay on the U.S. approval of its diabetes drug Galvus, one of its most important experimental medicines, an analyst says, potentially giving an even bigger head start to rival Merck. Novartis shares fell on the news.

Investors originally expected the Food and Drug Administration to approve Galvus by Nov. 30 of last year, but the FDA delayed its decision by three months in order to further scrutinize a series of skin reactions seen in primates who had received the drug. An FDA decision is currently expected by Feb. 28.

In a note to investors released today, Prudential Equity Group's Timothy Anderson says that the FDA is likely to want even more information about this skin reaction, and that the agency might hold off on approving Galvus for as much as several more months. Shares in Novartis (nyse: NVS - news - people ), which had been up early in the day, fell 2.3% to $58.35. Novartis said that it would not comment on rumors or speculation; someone close to the company said there had been no significant update on the drug. Anderson, who also could not be reached, is a well respected analyst who has predicted key FDA decisions in the past.

Merck (nyse: MRK - news - people ) has already launched a similar drug, Januvia, which is expected to generate annual sales of $600 million this year. A further delay for Novartis could allow Merck to gain a stronger toehold in the diabetes market.

However, Anderson wrote that he expects that Novartis will be able to put the worries about the skin reaction to rest; the problem has been seen only in animals, and has been seen with other experimental drugs similar to Galvus. However, it has not yet been seen with Merck's Januvia.

At Merck's annual business meeting last December, Merck research head Peter Kim said that in a study conducted at the request of the FDA, "We found no treatment related skin lesions in monkeys at any time during the study or at any dose studied."

Anderson also wrote that he expects Tekturna, a new blood pressure pill Novartis is developing, to be cleared by the FDA on time in late March. He has the equivalent of a buy rating on Novartis. "Novartis has a robust business that should be capable of generating revenue and earnings growth that is higher than most of its peers over the next several years," Anderson writes.

[ariane] 13/2/2007 10:59

Merck initiated with "outperform"

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:26:24 AM ET
Credit Suisse

LONDON, February 13 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Credit Suisse initiate coverage of Merck KGaA (MRK.ETR) with an "outperform" rating. The target price is set to €110.

In a research note published yesterday, the analysts mention that the company is distinctively hedged against the challenged Pharmaceuticals sector due to its considerable exposure to the technology cycle, which is in an upswing. Merck's three key product lines are expected to drive major revenue and earnings growth in the mid term, the analysts say. The company may make divestments as well as acquisitions in oncology and Japan, Credit Suisse adds.

[lennox_lnx_multibagg] 12/2/2007 00:05

LENNOX IS SET TO ERUPT..PLEASE REVIEW THIS COMPANY

FACT: MARKET CAP.ONLY 0.3 MILLION.
FACT: SHARES IN ISSUE ONLY 24 MILLION.
FACT: OVERHANG NEARLY GONE. BUY LIMIT LAST WEEK WAS 500,000 @1.6P NOW ONLY 75000K @ 1.6P.
FACT: SELL LIMITED WAS 50,000 @ 1.09P AT THE START OF THE WEEK, NOW 250,000 @ 1.09P. MMS WANT CHEAP STOCK.
What does this mean? A few buys LNX will explode.

Last RNS
Lennox to carry out full review in difficult trading conditions; MD retires

FACT. The review is expected to be completed in early March.

FACT ANYTHING SLIGHTLY POSITIVE LNX WILL ERUPT.

PROJECTIONS ANYWERE FROM 200%-10000%

FACT. 500,000 SHARES BOUGHT AT A MID PRICE OF 1.5P IN THE LAST FORTNIGHT, A LOT FOR LNX.

OPINION: PRICE BEING HELD BACK AS BUYER ACCUMULATES.

OPINION: IF TRUE THEN IT REFUTES THE NOTION THAT LNX ARE GOING BUST.

OPINION: EVEN IF THEY ARE, WHAT A CHEAP SHELL TO GET YOURSELF LISTED ON AIM.

OPINION: BY APRIL LNX WILL BE 15P-60P


OPINION LNX ARE THE BEST BUY ON AIM TODAY FOR MULTIBAGGER REWARDS.

[ariane] 11/2/2007 18:36

Drug makers lack pill for giant profits

Sunday, February 11, 2007

By DUNSTAN PRIAL
STAFF WRITER



Conventional wisdom holds that big drug makers' profits are shrinking because their pipelines are dry. But analysts and the drug makers argue that's hardly the case.

Indeed, pharmaceutical pipelines are bursting with new experimental treatments for everything from arthritis to malaria, they say.


Consider Roche, whose prescription drug headquarters, Hoffmann-La Roche, is in Nutley.

Roche's challenge is not stocking its pipeline, said Lee Babiss, vice president for preclinical research and development. Rather, the company's challenge is choosing from among its many research and development projects the ones most likely to have the "biggest impact on disease onset or progression," said Babiss.

Two Roche drugs awaiting approval in 2007 are Mircera, a treatment that targets anemia associated with chronic kidney failure, and Actemra for rheumatoid arthritis. "Those are the big launches for [this] year," said Babiss.


FORECAST '07:
Day 1: Economy/Jobs
* * *
More Articles
The Record: Economy Poll Results

Further out on the horizon is a treatment geared toward preventing the early onset of Type II diabetes, and expanding the application of a cancer drug used by lymphoma and leukemia patients for use by those with rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, Roche's Herceptin, which is already approved for treating a specific form of breast cancer, is being tested as a treatment for other forms of breast cancer, as well as a potential weapon against gastric cancer. And Avastin, Roche's colorectal cancer drug, is being tested for use against other forms of cancer, including prostate, ovarian and pancreatic, according to Babiss.

Furthermore, Roche researchers are also testing whether breast cancer treatment Xeloda, the first orally ingested cancer drug, is effective against other forms of the disease. Use of Xeloda in other cancers would be a significant benefit to patients because Xeloda has far fewer side effects than drugs taken intravenously, Babiss explained.

And there are others -- many others, said Babiss.

What seems to be missing from big pharma's pipelines, according to the analysts, is new blockbuster drugs, the ones whose gargantuan profits are needed by pharmaceutical companies to replace those being lost to generic competition.

The big pharmaceutical makers are expected to lose tens of billions of dollars in the coming years as many blockbuster drugs lose their patent exclusivity and face competition from cheaper versions.

In the past year alone, Merck's $4 billion a year cholesterol fighter Zocor and Pfizer's $3 billion a year antidepressant Zoloft lost their patent exclusivity.

But shed no tears for big pharma, said Jason Napodano, an analyst with Zacks Independent Research in Chicago.

"These are still extremely profitable companies. The industry operates on pre-tax operating margins of 30 percent. That's impressive. Not many other industries can claim those kinds of numbers," said Napodano.

In a sense, the big pharmaceutical companies are victims of their success, the analyst suggested.

Pfizer, for instance, is expected to generate $50 billion in sales in 2006, Napodano said. The problem for a $50 billion company is sustaining the growth that made it a $50 billion company in the first place, the analyst noted.

And Wall Street tends to punish companies that don't show growth, he observed.

In terms of pipelines, blockbusters that have emerged in recent years such as Pfizer's $12-billion-a-year Lipitor, Bristol-Myers and Sanofi Aventis' $6 billion Plavix, and Wyeth's $3 billion Effexor have set the bar high for the next wave of best selling drugs.

New York-based Pfizer, the largest drug maker in the world, is perhaps the most glaring example of a company ostensibly in need of a new blockbuster.

Late in 2006, Pfizer pulled the plug on torcetrapib, an experimental cholesterol medicine the company had touted as its next likely blockbuster. Doctors conducting late-stage clinical trials deemed the drug potentially harmful, but not before Pfizer had invested $800 million in torcetrapib's development.

The money lost on research and development was nothing compared to what Pfizer had projected in potential sales of torcetrapib. The company had seen the drug as a substitute revenue source for profits that will be lost in the coming years as some of its most profitable drugs lose their patent exclusivity.

Pfizer's Lipitor, for instance, loses its patent exclusivity in 2010.

But Pfizer isn't crying over spilled milk, so to speak.

Instead, the company is busy touting what it has described as its "largest ever pipeline."

"We have the largest and most diverse pipeline in our history. One of our most important business priorities is bringing these compounds forward so that they can reach the patients who need them and drive our long-term growth," Dr. John LaMattina, president of Pfizer Global Research, said in a recent statement announcing a Web site that will provide information on the progress of treatments making their way through Pfizer's pipeline.

Whitehouse Station-based Merck & Co. lists on its Web site 54 experimental compounds in the research and development stage, with five in the late-stage clinical trial phase.

Three others, including Arcoxia for arthritis pain, which Merck sees as a potential replacement for Vioxx, the once profitable painkiller that was withdrawn after it was shown to increase instances of heart disease, are under regulators review and could be on the shelf in 2007.

New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson has more than 25 drugs in late stage development, according to its Web site, a list that includes treatments for breast cancer, sickle cell disease, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain.

Kenilworth-based Schering-Plough has about a dozen treatments in Phase III, including Remicade for pediatric Crohn's disease and Temodar for metastatic melanoma.

New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb has seven treatments in "full development," that is drugs that are either in late-stage clinical development, have been submitted to regulators for approval or have been approved in a major market while awaiting approval in other major markets.

Wall Street is anxiously wondering whether any of these will emerge as blockbusters, as are the drug companies themselves.

E-mail: [e-mail]

* * *
Top drugs in the pipeline in 2007 Company Name Treats
Roche Mircera Renal anemia
Roche Actemra Rheumatoid arthritis
Johnson & Johnson Ceftobiprole Skin infections
Johnson & Johnson Yondelis Relapsed ovarian cancer
Johnson & Johnson Jurnista Chronic pain
Schering-Plough Temodar Brain tumors
Schering-Plough Golimumab Inflammatory diseases
Schering-Plough Sarasar Breast cancer and assorted solid tumors
Bristol-Myers Squibb Belatacept Kidney transplants
Bristol-Myers Squibb Saxaglipton Type II diabetes
Bristol-Myers Squibb Vinflunine Bladder cancer
Pfizer Zithromax Malaria
Celgene Revlimid Multiple myeloma
Pfizer Lyrica Epilepsy
Pfizer Sutent Breast cancer
Merck Janumet Diabetes
Merck Arcoxia Arthritis pain
Merck Gaboxadol Insomnia
Wyeth Lybrel Contraceptive
Wyeth Bazedoxifene Postmenopausal osteoporosis
Wyeth Tygacil Pneumonia
Sanofi-Aventis Eloxatin Pancreatic cancer
Sanofi-Aventis Saredutant Depression
Sanofi-Aventis Rimonabant Smoking cessation

[waldron] 08/2/2007 07:31

Merck Kgaa Merck generic unit auction to start by early March - report


MUMBAI (AFX) - Germany's Merck KGaA will auction its generic drugs business
in March, the Hindustan Times reported, with the German drug major's advisor for
the deal, Bear Stearns, set to invite non-binding bids in the first week of the
month.
India's top drug firms, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
and Cipla Ltd are finalising advisors for the auction.
Analysts and investment banking sources said the value of the deal would be
anywhere between 4.5-5.5 bln usd, with private equity firms Blackstone, Carlyle,
Cinven, Permira and Texas-Pacific Group now said to be in talks with the Indian
firms to jointly bid for Merck.
The business, which the German company is considering divesting after
acquiring Swiss biotech firm Serono, had revenues of around 2.5 bln usd in 2006,
the paper said.




[e-mail]
ran/jm

[waldron] 05/2/2007 04:21

Ranbaxy Laboratories India's Dr Reddy's may join race for generics ops of Germany's Merck - report


BOMBAY (XFN-ASIA) - Dr Reddy's Laboratories could join the race to acquire
the generics business of German drugmaker Merck KGaA, Business Standard
reported.
"Merck's generic business is such a big asset and we cannot ignore it if it
is up for sale," it quoted a spokesman for Dr Reddy's as saying. "We neither
confirm our interest nor deny it."
The spokesman declined to comment on whether the company is in discussions
with private equity funds for the acquisition, the newspaper said.
Ranbaxy Laboratories and Cipla Ltd had already disclosed their interest in
acquiring Merck's generics business in partnership with private equity funds, it
noted.
rc/

[waldron] 24/1/2007 07:06

Merck KGaA's Serono launches Oral Cladribine Phase II trials for MS patients


DARMSTADT, Germany (AFX) - Merck KGaA said its Serono unit will launch a new
Phase II trial to evaluate Oral Cladribine as an add-on treatment for Multiple
Sclerosis (MS).
It said the study will evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of
two-dose regimens of Cladribine in MS patients with active disease despite
treatment with the company's new formulation of MS drug Rebif.
Merck said the study will be conducted for two years throughout Europe and
the US and will involve 260 MS patients.
It added that Oral Cladribine is currently also being evaluated as a
monotherapy in a Phase III trial for first-line treatment of relapsing forms of
MS.
The new formulation of Rebif is under regulatory review by the European
Medicines Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration and other healthcare
authorities.
[e-mail]
jcs/jsa

[ariane] 19/1/2007 08:00

Novartis Ag Ranbaxy mulls joint bid for Merck generics ops; sees due diligence in Feb UPDATE


LONDON (AFX) - Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd aims to start due diligence
procedures next month on Merck KGaA's generic drugs unit, which it is
considering bidding for in
conjunction with private equity firms, said CEO Malvinder Mohan Singh.
"The (diligence) process will start in February," Singh told AFX News'
partner agency dpa-AFX.
Provided the price is reasonable, "Merck generics would be a gain for our
business and a strategic fit for our global activities," he added.
Meanwhile, Singh told the Financial Times Ranbaxy is in talks with unnamed
private equity firms, adding: "A lot of people have approached us ... We are
currently evaluating how to take it forward."
Merck put its generics business up for sale earlier this month.
Other possible bidders touted by the market include Novartis, which has not
ruled out making an approach.
[e-mail]
jlw/jms

[ariane] 05/1/2007 07:32

Merck Kgaa Sanofi-Aventis seen among bidders for Merck's generic drugs business - report


PARIS (AFX) - Sanofi-Aventis would seek to buy Merck GKaA's generic drugs
business if it is put up for sale, the daily La Tribune said, citing German
financial sources.
The newspaper Handelsblatt said yesterday Merck's supervisory board has
approved the sale of the unit.
Merck and Sanofi-Aventis declined to comment.
Analysts said private equity companies would also be likely bidders for the
business.
[e-mail]
mjs/tw

[maywillow] 04/1/2007 08:59

Novartis Ag Novartis declines to comment on possible Merck generics divestment


ZURICH (AFX) - Novartis AG declined to comment on whether the group might
consider buying Merck KGaA's generics drugs business, which the German company
is reportedly putting up for sale.
"We do not comment on market rumours," the Swiss pharma group's spokesman
said.
In general, Novartis has however indicated that it plans to expand its
generics business given the number of patents that that are due to expire in the
coming years, the spokesman added.


[e-mail]
jmt/jms

[maywillow] 04/1/2007 07:10

Novartis Ag Merck seeks buyer for its generic drugs business - report


DARMSTADT, Germany (AFX) - Merck KGaA is considering selling its generics
drugs business to focus on new medication, according to a report in Handelsblatt
newspaper, citing sources.
Merck's generics unit could be worth around 4 bln eur, added the report.
The company's supervisory board has already given "the green light" to look
for a buyer, the report stated, citing sources.
Financial investors are most likely to purchase the generics drugs business,
it added.
The sale would enable Merck to help finance its 10.6 bln eur acquisition of
Swiss biotech company Serono SA.
A Merck spokesman declined to comment to the newspaper.








[e-mail]
kd/jfr

[maywillow] 27/12/2006 11:32

Merck & CO Crucell, Merck sign agreement boosting malaria, TB, ebola vaccine development


AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Crucell NV said it has signed a vaccine licensing
agreement with Merck & Co, enabling Crucell to have access to Merck data which
it will use in the development of its AdVac technology based vaccines, such as
malaria, tuberculosis and ebola vaccines.
Merck, which has signed previous agreements with Crucell, will in exchange
be able to enlarge its use of Crucell's PER.C6 technology platform, towards the
development of undisclosed vaccines.
Merck already uses Crucell's PER.C6 technology platform in the development
of a vaccine against HIV.
A spokesperson for Crucell declined to give any financial details regarding
the licensing agreement.
"This agreement will make it possible to speed up the delivery of our
malaria and TB vaccines to the people in need, and makes it realistic to do so
on the mass scale required," Crucell's Jaap Goudsmit said, adding that the
agreement will also open the way for Crucell to speed up the Ebola programme.
"It brings the reality of vaccines such as these significantly closer,"
Goudsmit said.
[e-mail]
cmm/cml

[ariane] 22/12/2006 08:17

Actelion's Tracleer Helps Patients With Lung Disease (Update2)
By Marthe Fourcade and Jacob Greber

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Actelion Ltd.'s best-selling lung drug Tracleer helps patients who suffer from an early form of pulmonary arterial hypertension, the Swiss drugmaker said, citing a new study. Shares of Actelion rose.

The Allschwil, Switzerland-based company will use the study to seek permission to sell the drug to patients with a mild form of the lung ailment, Actelion said in an e-mailed statement.

Tracleer, which generates almost all of Actelion's revenue, is already approved to treat a more severe form of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a chronic disease in which the blood pressure is too high in the arteries between the heart and lungs. The company last month agreed to buy U.S. rival CoTherix Inc. for $420 million to add a new lung medicine to its own best-selling pulmonary drug.

The use of Tracleer for arterial hypertension may represent ``a significant market expansion,'' for Actelion, Karl Heinz Koch, a Zurich-based analyst at Bank Vontobel, said in a note to investors. He is reviewing his outlook for the company ``with the view to a substantial positive adjustment.''

Actelion shares rose 8.7 Swiss francs, or 3.6 percent, to 253 francs in Zurich, the highest value since April 2000. The company has a market value of 5.7 billion francs ($4.7 billion).

To contact the reporter on this story: Marthe Fourcade in Paris at [e-mail]

Last Updated: December 18, 2006 11:54 EST