Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
(
TEVA
) recently announced that it has enrolled the first patient in
the phase IV MODERATO (
M
ulticenter, Rand
o
mized,
D
ouble-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the
E
ffect of
Ra
sagiline on C
o
gnition in Patien
t
s with Parkins
o
n's disease) study. The study is being conducted to evaluate the
effect of Azilect (rasagiline) on cognitive function in adults
with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson's disease
(PD-MCI).
The multi-center MODERATO study will evaluate the effect of
Azilect on cognitive function in adults with PD-MCI after 24
weeks of treatment. About 170 patients will be enrolled across 30
sites in the US.
Azilect, which is approved for the treatment of the signs and
symptoms of Parkinson's disease both as initial therapy alone and
to be added to levodopa later in the disease, posted global
in-market revenues $420 million in 2012, up 7%.
Teva, which hosted an Investor Day meeting in Dec 2012, is
currently working on streamlining its pipeline and has
discontinued 12 programs while introducing 18 new programs. Teva
expects to have 10-15 new therapeutic entities (NTEs) approved
for development in 2013.
Teva currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The company,
which is going through a transition period, provided
disappointing guidance for 2013. However, with the company not
including the impact of its cost-savings plan in its guidance, we
believe Teva is leaving some room for delivering above
expectations. Share buybacks also leave some room for upside.
We expect investor focus to remain on the execution of the
company's new strategy. Earlier this year, Teva sold off its
animal health business in the US to
Bayer
(
BAYRY
). This will allow the company to focus on developing,
manufacturing and marketing branded and generic drugs globally --
Teva's primary areas of strength.
Among generic companies,
Mylan
(
MYL
) currently looks better-positioned with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
(
PTX
), a specialty pharmaceutical company that also sells generic
products, also carries a Zacks Rank #2.
BAYER A G -ADR (BAYRY): Free Stock Analysis
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MYLAN INC (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report
PERNIX THERAPTC (PTX): Free Stock Analysis
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TEVA PHARM ADR (TEVA): Free Stock Analysis
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