Merck

2Q Revenues: $6.1 billion (-1%)

2Q Earnings: $1.8 billion (+5%)

YTD Revenues: $11.9 billion (flat)

YTD Earnings: $5.1 billion (+50%)

Comments: Worldwide sales of Singulair were $1.1 billion in the quarter (-1%). Combined worldwide sales of Zetia and Vytorin, as reported by the Merck/Schering-Plough joint venture, were $1.2 billion (-9%). Worldwide sales of Zetia, marketed as Ezetrol outside the U.S., were $560 million (-3%). Worldwide sales of Vytorin, marketed outside the U.S. as Inegy, were $592 million (-14%). Cozaar and Hyzaar sales were $941 million (+11%). Sales of Fosamax and Fosamax Plus D, marketed as Fosavance in the EU, were $411 million (–48%) due to loss of U.S. marketing exclusivity. Sales Januvia, Janumet and Isentress were $2.0 billion in the quarter (+24%). Worldwide vaccine sales were $995 million (-5%). R&D expenses were $1.2 billion for the quarter (+13%). Restructuring costs, primarily representing employee separation costs associated with the company's global restructuring program, were $102 million in the quarter.

Biogen Idec

2Q Revenues: $993 million (+28%)

2Q Earnings: $207 million (+11%)

YTD Revenues: $1.9 billion (+30%)

YTD Earnings: $369.7 million (+16%)

Comments: Growth in the quarter was driven by Avonex sales up 14% to $527 million, Tysabri sales up 210% to $147 million, and Rituxan revenues from the unconsolidated joint business arrangement up 21% to $279 million. Tysabri revenue comprised $46 million related to product sold through Elan in the U.S. and $101 million related to product sold by Biogen Idec Internationally. Royalties in the quarter were $28 million (+22%). R&D expenses were $252.3 million in the quarter (+16%) and $510.5 million YTD (+25%).

Roche has entered into a definitive agreement  to acquire Mirus Bio Corp. for $125 million. Mirus Bio is a privately owned company based in Madison, WI, focused on the discovery and development of RNAi delivery technologies.
   
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will maintain an RNAi research site in Madison. Mirus' transfection reagents business will be divested into a standalone business called Mirus Bio LLC. Employees will be offered a transition into their respective business unit. Closing of the transaction is expected during 2H08.
   
RNAi, a natural mechanism the body uses to 'silence' certain genes, represents a potential new class of therapeutics for difficult to treat diseases. The transport of RNAi molecules into the target cell has been the major challenge for this therapy. Mirus' delivery platform provides a new way of getting RNAi therapeutics to specific disease targets.
   
"The pioneering work in RNAi delivery by the scientists at Mirus, together with our Centre of Excellence for RNAi research in Kulmbach, puts Roche at the forefront of bringing this whole new class of treatment to patients who suffer from difficult to treat diseases," said Lee E. Babiss, global head of Roche Pharma Research. "Our global research team has made great strides in advancing RNAi therapeutics, and with our new colleagues in Madison we will now bolster those efforts. The technology brought by Mirus, together with additional technologies, will bring us closer to creating fully enabled RNAi therapeutics."

MeadWestvaco Corp. and Bilcare Ltd. have jointly acquired International Labs, a pharmaceutical packaging company based in St. Petersburg, FL. The acquisition will use the companies' capabilities for adherence-promoting pharmaceutical packaging in an effort to streamline the supply chain by eliminating several steps in the distribution channel, according to a Bilcare statement. The goal of the acquisition, which was completed on July 18th, is to make adherence packaging more widely available to consumers through growing low-cost generic and branded drug programs. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
    
The partnership combines MWV’s capabilities in healthcare packaging design (including compliance and injection molded packaging), Bilcare’s research and expertise in materials, products, processes and services for the integration of pharmaceuticals and packaging, and International Labs’ contract packaging services for retail pharmacies, and large generic and branded drug manufacturers.
   
“The combination of our turnkey capabilities has helped enable the creation of new, highly efficient, consumer-oriented supply chains that are changing the economics of global healthcare and improving patient outcomes,” said Bruce Thomas, senior vice president, global market strategy for MWV. “This acquisition is one component of our healthcare strategy in product innovation, capacity expansion, and other growth investments. We are continuing to work with retailers, including Wal-Mart, and generic and branded pharmaceutical companies to continue to bring our innovative healthcare compliance solutions to serve the fast-growing needs of the global healthcare market.”

Mohan Bhandari, chairman and managing director of Bilcare, commented, “We are excited about the acquisition of International Labs; our partnership with MWV will allow us to combine our global experience, primary and secondary packaging expertise, and research and development capabilities to bring compliance packaging solutions to customers throughout the world.”   

News from our sister sites