<<Skye does seem to be the biggest guy on the block now, and seems set to do well over the next several years.>>
I'd still classify Alza as the biggest. Alza has cut quite a few deals over the past year. Don't forget they acquired Sequus last year. They have oral, liposomal, titanium implant, implant, patch. Only tech they're blatantly missing is inhalation. Elan has taken to a strategy of cutting deals with drug delivery firms, such as DMI and Sheffield. Keep their income high, keep development costs off the books.
Alkermes has nicely broadened their technology base through
acquisition and has a far more advanced inhalation technology than SKYE, but are weak in oral delivery.
The weakness I see in SKYE's inhalation is that their technology is old, hence deals for bronchodilators, whereas ALKS, INHL, ARDM are cutting deals for insulin, growth hormone, beta ifn etc. Although Skye's deal with Novartis and Sepracor for patented products could prove lucrative.
I agree drug delivery will be a nice niche to be in and pharma's are increasingly looking at improving their delivery earlier in the development process. This should only increase with the abundance of proteins and mab's under development where ease of use and better delivery could prove to be key marketing advantages.
My plays on this are ALKS, ARDM, AZA and courtesy of DEPO, SKYE, one of my better stock picks after getting torched on DEPO the first time around. |
