Leerink Swann & Company Initiates Coverage of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDIX) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX)
Wednesday November 9, 8:35 am ET
BOSTON, MA--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 9, 2005 -- This morning, Senior Biotechnology Analyst, Howard Liang, Ph.D., initiated coverage of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NasdaqNM:VRTX - News) with an Outperform rating.
His investment thesis is based on VX-950 for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Dr. Liang considers VX-950 one of the few innovative agents in the biotech industry pipeline capable of addressing a large unmet medical need and changing the standard of care.
He also initiated coverage of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NasdaqNM:IDIX - News) with a Market Perform rating.
Idenix is poised to become a commercial-stage company with internally developed products.
Although Idenix's hepatitis B product telbivudine is more advanced, Dr. Liang views NM283 as the primary driver but he believes its role in future hepatitis C treatment will not be defined for some time.
About Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NasdaqNM:IDIX - News)is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral and other infectious diseases.
Idenix's current focus is on the treatment of infections caused by hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
About Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NasdaqNM:VRTX - News) is s a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases.
The company's product pipeline is focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
About Leerink Swann & Company
Leerink Swann & Company is an investment banking firm that provides healthcare equity research, corporate finance, and asset management services for institutional and high-net-worth clients. Leerink Swann & Company was voted the Best Firm in Biotechnology, Medical Supplies and Devices, Pharmaceuticals/Major and Pharmaceuticals/Specialty in the December 2004 Institutional Investor poll ranking the best boutique and regional firms by sector. Through its consulting affiliate, MEDACorp, Leerink Swann & Company provides biomedical-consulting services to Life Sciences companies and to the institutional investment community. MEDACorp includes thousands of biomedical professionals and practicing physicians. Leerink Swann & Company is a member NASD/SIPC.
Contact:
Contact:
John I. Fitzgerald
Leerink Swann & Company
(617) 918-4564
leerink.com
Source: Leerink Swann & Co.
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Note:BIVN is out with ... this morning ..
Clofarabine's Duration of Response Improves Outcome for Elderly AML Patients
biz.yahoo.com
I mention it because BIVN has a drug in P2 for Hep-C |
