For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL - May 18, 2012 - Zacks.com announces the list of
stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity
Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting
stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the
blog include
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(
WPI
),
Shire
(
SHPGY
),
Depomed Inc.
(
DEPO
),
Comcast Corporation
(
CMCSA
) and
Microsoft Corporation
(
MSFT
).
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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst
Blog:
Watson & Shire in Legal Battle
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(
WPI
) recently announced that it has filed an Abbreviated New Drug
Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
for the approval of a generic version of
Shire
's (
SHPGY
) ulcerative colitis drug, Lialda.
In response, Shire along with Cosmo Technologies Ltd., and
Guiliani International Ltd. filed a suit against Watson Pharma in
the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florid, to
prevent the generic company from commercializing its generic drug
prior to the expiration of Lialda's patent. Since the lawsuit was
filed under the provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act, the FDA cannot
approve Watson Pharma's ANDA for up to 30 months from the date that
Shire received notice of the ANDA filing or until final resolution
of the matter before the court, whichever occurs earlier.
According to the IMS Health data, sales of Lialda in the U.S.
amounted to $390 million for the 12 months ended March 31,
2012.
Last month, Watson Pharma was in another patent infringement
lawsuit, when the company announced the filing of an ANDA with the
FDA for a generic version of
Depomed Inc.
's (
DEPO
) diabetes drug, Glumetza. The drug is used as an adjunct to diet
and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type II
diabetes.
In response, Depomed and Valeant International together filed a
lawsuit against Watson Pharma in the U.S. District Court for the
District of Delaware, to prevent Watson Pharma from commercializing
generic Glumetza before the patents expire.
Our View
We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Watson Pharma. The
stock carries a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy rating) in the short run.
We expect the new generic product launches over regular
intervals to help drive sales of the company's Global Generic
segment, which climbed 86% in the first quarter of 2012 to $1.12
billion.
Comcast Teams Up with Skype
Comcast Corporation
(
CMCSA
), the largest cable TV operator, is teaming up with
Microsoft Corporation
(
MSFT
)-owned Skype to launch high-definition (HD) video calls on
Comcast's Xfinity cable TV services. We believe that Comcast has
launched this service in order to improve its subscriber base as
well as add another source of revenue for the company.
Comcast's Xfinity TV is a web-based on demand service for
customers who can access both video-programming and internet at the
same time. Skype through Xfinity TV includes an adaptor box, a high
quality video camera and helps subscribers to make and receive
video calls on their HDTV. Through a specially designed remote
control they can send and receive instant messages on Skype while
watching a TV show. Furthermore, customers can also accept incoming
Skype audio calls with the help of a caller ID.
It can incorporate the existing Skype contacts into a global
address book which also includes Facebook, Outlook, gmail and
smartphone contacts. This allows the customer to find out whether
any of his/her friends is online. The company offers this service
at $9.95 per month for Xfinity triple pay customers.
With the loss of 37,000 subscribers, Comcast recently reported
the 20th straight quarterly decline in video customers. The ongoing
macroeconomic fluctuations and intensified competition in the
pay-TV market are some of the main reasons for the continuous
slide.
We believe that Comcast will benefit from the partnership
because by providing Skype services through television they would
not lose subscribers who use Skype through tablets and mobile
phones. Additionally, bringing social interaction through
television viewing will place Comcast ahead of its peers.
Comcast has already launched this service in Boston and Seattle
and expects to launch it in South Florida by the end of this week,
the success of which might prompt the other service providers to
come up with a similar service.
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COMCAST CORP A (CMCSA): Free Stock Analysis
Report
DEPOMED INC (DEPO): Free Stock Analysis Report
MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis
Report
SHIRE PLC-ADR (SHPGY): Free Stock Analysis
Report
WATSON PHARMA (WPI): Free Stock Analysis Report
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