Ed, I haven't gone through the numbers in great detail.
They seem to be doing a good job promoting Nexium while reverse detailing
Prilosec. Good marketing can require a substantial monetary invetment.
The growth rate is somewhat concerning. I read a recent article in an investment
magazine that stated all the "low hanging fruit" in the health care arena has already
been plucked. That is to say the common illnesses--hypertension, hyperlipidemia,
arthritis, impotence, depression, anxiety, infectious diseases...--have all been
addressed. What remains is less common illnesses with a much smaller overall market.
One area that is huge and unserved is oral anticoagulation for diseases like atrial fib,
deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, prosthetic heart valves, etc... These are,
in general, diseases of the elderly. This market is not only large, but growing.
AZN may have a chance for substantial growth here.
eurekalert.org
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