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Biotech / Medical : Sepracor-Looks very promising -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: billy d who wrote (1119)	9/2/1998 8:33:00 PM
From: Ed Ajootian	Respond to of 10280

MedImmune Rises on Optimism for Biotech Stocks, Analysts Say Gaithersburg, Maryland, Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- MedImmune Inc. shares rose as much as 19 percent on investor optimism for biotechnology shares, which aren't affected by recent global economic turmoil, analysts said. Stock of the biotechnology company rose 7 1/2 to 50 7/8 in midafternoon trading of 885,000 shares, more than twice the three- month daily average. Earlier, the shares touched 51 3/4. The stock is snapping back after falling about 34 percent in the past two weeks as investors realize that MedImmune and other biotech stocks aren't exposed to the economic woes in Asia and Russia, analysts said. Russia helped send world markets into turmoil when it devalued its currency and defaulted on debt two weeks ago. ''Biotechs are unscathed by foreign issues,'' said BancAmerica Robertson Stephens analyst Jay Silverman, who rates the stock a ''strong buy.'' Shares in other biotechnology companies also rose. Amgen Inc. rose 3 5/8 to 64 7/8, Biogen Inc. rose 1 15/16 to 49 7/16, Centocor Inc. rose 1 to 34 1/2, Genentech Inc. rose 1 15/16 to 66 15/16 and Sepracor Inc. rose 5 3/8 to 50 3/8. Prudential Securities Inc. analyst Caroline Copithorne said Gaithersburg, Maryland-based MedImmune is one of the stronger, more dependable companies in the industry. Copithorne today reiterated her ''strong buy'' rating on the stock. The company's Synagis drug in June won clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in preventing the infection behind most cases of childhood bronchitis and pneumonia. The drug is approved for use in treating children under the age of 2 who are at high risk for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Synagis is expected to surpass the only other drug on the market, Respigram, also made by MedImmune. 14:50:16 09/02/1998 Any reference to the material must be properly attributed to Bloomberg News.