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Strategies & Market Trends : Speculating in Takeover Targets -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: richardred who wrote (1083)	2/20/2006 12:53:12 PM
From: FiloF	Respond to of 7239

Haven't gotten very far yet, but ARIA is intriguing, and I could see SGP if Merck decides to go big. Will definitely post back here when I get a bit farther along. Thanks.

To: richardred who wrote (1083)	5/9/2006 9:49:14 AM
From: richardred	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7239

Merck to Buy GlycoFi, Abmaxis for $480M Tuesday May 9, 9:38 am ET Merck & Co. Agrees to Acquire GlycoFi for $400 Million, Abmaxis for $80 Million Cash WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AP) -- Pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc. said Tuesday it agreed to acquire GlycoFi Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, for $400 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. GlycoFi specializes in yeast glycoengineering and optimization of biologic drug molecules. Glycoengineering provides the ability to make certain proteins from yeast in a quicker and more cost-efficient way than other current methods, Merck said. GlycoFi is based in Lebanon, N.H., and has about 55 employees. Merck and GlycoFi have been partners since 2005, when they established a relationship to develop novel biologic and vaccine candidates. Separately, Merck said it will acquire Abmaxis Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company, for $80 million in cash. The deal is also expected to close in the second quarter. Seven Hills Partners LLC served as financial adviser to Abmaxis during the transaction. Founded in 2000 and based in Santa Clara, Calif., Abmaxis optimizes and humanizes antibodies for human therapeutics and diagnostics. It collaborated with Merck beginning in 2004 to reengineer a Merck human monoclonal antibody. Shares of Merck added 7 cents to $34.52 during morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. biz.yahoo.com

To: richardred who wrote (1083)	4/1/2007 12:17:07 PM
From: richardred	Respond to of 7239

Wyeth shares could rise more than 20 pct: Barron's Sunday April 1, 11:58 am ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wyeth (NYSE:WYE - News) shares may rise 20 percent or more because its business is improving, its experimental drugs to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease are promising, and it could be an attractive takeover target, Barron's newspaper said in its April 2 edition. The company's shares could rise into the 60s from Friday's close of $50.03, where the ratio of price to expected 2007 profit is 15 percent below typical peers among big drug companies, the newspaper said. Wyeth shares trade at 14.5 times the average analyst forecast for $3.45 profit per share in 2007, according to Reuters Estimates. Fourth-quarter profit totaled $855 million, or 63 cents per share, and excluding items totaled 66 cents per share. Barron's said Madison, New Jersey-based Wyeth should increase profit at 15 percent annually, regardless of whether any of its dozen Alzheimer's drugs under development pay off. But it said if only a few of the drugs succeed, the company could generate hefty revenue should many of the 5 million Alzheimer's patients in the United States spend a few thousand dollars a year on treatments for the disease. The newspaper said Enbrel, a product designed to treat arthritis, and Prevnar, a strep vaccine, should help lift cash flow and profit. Another big product is the antidepressant Effexor, which generated about 18 percent of the fourth quarter's $5.22 billion of revenue. The newspaper said Wyeth may also be near the end of incurring costs for its discontinued fen-phen diet drug, following a nationwide settlement and $21 billion of charges. In addition, the newspaper said Wyeth is one of only a handful of drug companies that might be attractive merger partners for big rivals such as Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - News) and Switzerland's Novartis AG (VTX:NOVN.VX - News). Wyeth's stock peaked at $70.25 in April 1999. Its shares' 52-week high is $54.10, set on October 19, 2006. biz.yahoo.com

To: richardred who wrote (1083)	4/16/2007 9:05:18 AM
From: richardred	Respond to of 7239

ARIA-IART-interesting developments. Ariad Files Counter Claim Over Patent Friday April 13, 6:57 pm ET Ariad Pharmaceuticals Files Counter Claim Against Amgen, Wyeth Over Patent NEW YORK (AP) -- Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. said late Friday it filed a counter claim against Amgen Inc. over the patent to methods of treating human disease by regulating NF-(kappa)B cell-signaling activity. The claim -- which is also against drug maker Wyeth -- is a response to a lawsuit filed by Amgen against Ariad, saying the company's claims to the patent are invalid and Amgen has not infringed on those patents with its drugs Enbrel and Kineret. The '516' patent is the patent being disputed. Ariad said the patent, which it claims license to, does not expire until 2019. Shares of Ariad rose 9 cents, or 2 percent, to close at $4.44 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and climbed another 41 cents, or 9.2 percent, to $4.85 in aftermarket activity. The stock has traded between $4.07 and $5.72 over the last 52 weeks. Amgen shares gained $1.30, or 2.4 percent, to end at $59.03 on the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, shares of Wyeth added $1.45, or 2.6 percent, to finish at $56.28 on the New York Stock Exchange. Its stock reached a 52-week high of $56.50 earlier in the trading session. biz.yahoo.com _______________________________________________________________ Integra LifeSciences Announces New Proposed Tracking Codes for Intracranial Monitoring Monday April 16, 7:00 am ET PLAINSBORO, N.J., April 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (NasdaqGS:IART - News) announced today that new tracking codes for Intracranial Monitoring Systems have been proposed in the April 13th Federal Register. The Federal Register is the daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. The new codes appear now for comment and are expected to go into effect October 1, 2007. Intracranial monitoring is used to treat an estimated 30,000 patients each year in the United States and a total of nearly 90,000 patients worldwide. Monitoring is essential in the management and treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). An increase in intracranial pressure can cause a decrease in blood flow and oxygen to the brain, causing brain damage. However, episodes of cerebral hypoxia may occur when the patient is in the normal range for intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, and recent studies have indicated that monitoring brain oxygen levels can improve the outcome of severely brain injured patients. These codes represent significant progress for practitioners in the field of brain injury and the industry as a whole. The new monitoring codes expand on the previously available single code (01.18), to allow clinicians to more precisely track the specific parameter being monitored in the brain injured patient. ``This is terrific news,'' said Jamshid Ghajar, M.D., PhD, President, Brain Trauma Foundation, Chief of Neurosurgery, Jamaica Hospital-Cornell Trauma Center, New York, and Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. ``This expanded level of specificity will allow practitioners to better track usage of brain monitoring, which is a good indicator of the severity of brain injury, and also allow us to study the impact of these monitoring modalities on patient outcomes, including cost and length of stay in the hospital.'' The new proposed codes are the result of the advocacy of clinician leaders in neurotrauma working together with the Brain Trauma Foundation. The following codes are proposed: 01.10 Intracranial Pressure Monitoring 01.16 Intracranial Oxygen Monitoring 01.17 Brain Temperature Monitoring Integra is a leader in the field of neurosurgery, neurotrauma and neuro critical care, providing clinicians with technologies such as Camino(R) for measuring intracranial pressure, Licox(R) for measuring brain tissue oxygen and the Mobius(TM) Multi Modality Monitoring System. These products are sold in the United States by the Integra NeuroSciences(R) direct sales organization. Integra NeuroSciences' direct selling effort in the United States and Europe currently involves over 200 professionals. In all other markets, Integra NeuroSciences products are sold through a network of distributors. Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, a world leader in regenerative medicine, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients through the development, manufacturing, and marketing of cost-effective surgical implants and medical instruments. Our products, used primarily in neurosurgery, extremity reconstruction, orthopedics and general surgery, are used to treat millions of patients every year. Integra's headquarters are in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and we have research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Please visit our website at integra-ls.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future use of the new tracking codes. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of physicians to use these codes may affect the prospects for their use in clinical procedures. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, identified under the Risk Factors section of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect actual results. Contact: Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation John B. Henneman, III, Executive Vice President Chief Administrative Officer (609) 936-2481 jhenneman@Integra-LS.com Gianna Sabella, Public Relations Manager (609) 936-2389 gsabella@Integra-LS.com Source: Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. biz.yahoo.com

To: richardred who wrote (1083)	10/14/2010 9:41:52 AM
From: richardred	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 7239

Merck/Ariad Pharmaceuticals: Results of Synergistic Collaboration Coming Soon Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA) captured Merck’s (NYSE: MRK) attention enough with its cancer drug, ridaforolimus, in July 2007 to forge a partnership to help Ariad through several clinical trials for multiple cancer indications. More recently, preliminary results of the phase III were impressive enough to give Ariad enough leverage to modify the agreement in May to a much more favorable position for Ariad. The agreement gave Merck an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize ridaforolimus; and Merck assumed responsibility for ridaforolimus activities, including clinical trials and regulatory filings. In exchange, Ariad received $50 million upfront as well as an additional $19 million to retroactively fund the development of ridaforolimus to the date of the new agreement. Previously, at the start of the collaboration, Merck had already made a $75 million upfront payment to ARIAD and since then has paid ARIAD $53.5 million in milestone payments for the initiation of Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of ridaforolimus in addition to paying its 50 percent share of ridaforolimus development, manufacturing and commercialization costs. In the future, ARIAD will be eligible to receive up to $514 million in regulatory and sales milestones based on the successful development and commercialization of ridaforolimus in multiple indications. This includes $65 million in milestones associated with the potential sarcoma indication, which currently is in Phase 3 clinical development ($25 million for acceptance of the new drug application by the FDA, $25 million for U.S. marketing approval, $10 million for European marketing approval, and $5 million for Japanese marketing approval) and $200 million in milestones based on achievement of significant sales thresholds. Ridaforolimus is Ariad’s most advanced drug in clinicals. It is being studied in a trial termed SUCCEED. This trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of oral ridaforolimus in patients with metastatic soft tissue and bone sarcomas who have achieved a favorable response to chemotherapy. This trial will be completed and data compiled in 4Q 2010. Sarcomas are a group of aggressive cancers of connective tissues for which there are limited treatment options. In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimated that approximately 10,600 new cases of soft-tissue sarcomas were diagnosed in the United States, and more than 3,800 Americans would die of the disease. In addition, approximately 2,600 new cases of bone sarcomas would be diagnosed and nearly 1,500 deaths were estimated. See here for more information. There has been no new approved therapy in the U.S. for patients with soft tissue or bone sarcomas in more than 20 years. Ridaforolimus has been designated both as a fast-track and orphan drug product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as an orphan drug by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the treatment of soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Merck and ARIAD are pursuing this indication as the initial registration path for ridaforolimus. Ridaforolimus is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of the protein mTOR, a "master switch" in cancer cells. Blocking mTOR creates a starvation-like effect in cancer cells by interfering with cell growth, division, metabolism and angiogenesis. Merck’s interest in ridaforolimus is, not doubt, fueled by the fact that this mechanism could potentially be utilized to fight multiple indications of cancer, not only the soft tissue and bone sarcomas. On May 25th of this year, shortly after the modification of the initial agreement between Ariad and Merck, Ariad announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) of the Phase 3 SUCCEED trial completed the second interim efficacy analysis as specified in the study protocol and recommended that the randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral ridaforolimus in patients with metastatic sarcomas continue to its final analysis, without modification to the study protocol. Additionally, they noted that no new safety signals were noted and that the final analysis of progression free survival, the primary endpoint, is expected in the second half of 2010. With the FDA’s apparently increased new focus on drug safety, ridaforolimus as an mTOR inhibitor could benefit as pertaining to its safety profile from Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s (NYSE: WYE) TORISEL and Novartis’ (NYSE: NVS) Afinitor. TORISEL and Afinitor are both mTOR inhibitors. Torisel, given by infusion, was approved by the FDA in May of 2007 for advanced kidney cancer. Afinitor, given orally, was approved in March of 2009 specifically as first treatment for patients with kidney cancer after failure of either of the drugs sunitinib or sorafenib. Although this could be a likely first-in-class approval for sarcomas, the kidney cancer indications for TORISEL and Afinitor both give a proven safety and concept track record for this class of drugs. Merck has deep pockets with its varied pipeline and $45.4 billion dollar 2010 projected revenue. However, it must really see promise in ridaforolimus and its inhibition of mTOR as viable and a likely mechanism to fight cancer in order to invest in the drug’s past, present and future. Ariad has already benefited from the collaboration and may likely continue doing such as the phase II and III preliminary data for ridaforolimus in multiple applications indicate. Oncology drugs take a tremendous amount of time and money to discover, develop in phase I, II and III trials as well as have the production facilities and marketing to manufacture and promote. This appears to be a win-win scenario for Merck and Ariad Pharmaceuticals. Merck benefits from the novel discovery of another, smaller and perhaps more flexible and creative company’s product. Meanwhile, Ariad Pharmaceuticals benefits from the financial aspects of development, and the experience with the FDA and production facilities of Merck. With this partnership, the potential could always arise for something more than a partnership between the two companies. At market close on October 13, 2010 the market cap for Ariad Pharmaceuticals at $3.91 per share could be a tempting offer for Merck at $433 million. As the final phase 3 data is evaluated and a NDA is filed likely during 4Q of this year, more details of the product’s efficacy and safety will become self-evident. Meanwhile, Merck could possibly be the party initiating a surprise change of its own in the relationship between them and Ariad Pharmaceuticals. Disclosure: Author holds long positions in the above-mentioned stocks seekingalpha.com