nvs

A secluded sector of biotechnology -- DNA sequencing and genetic analysis -- is hot once again on Wall Street. Leaders in the sector, like Ilumina, Life Technologies, and Human Genome Sciences, outscored most other biotechs last year.

The pharmaceutical sector was on fire Monday, with successful trials, FDA approvals, and some deal action. So far, Tuesday is shaping up to be similar. Big pharma takes its hits for questionable practices. But on days like these, we remember the enormous value and contributions that drug companies...

Animal lovers range in intensity from those who wouldn't needlessly harm animals but definitely put human life ahead of animal life, to those who see them as equal, to those who put animal life ahead of human life. The public at large, I'd venture to guess, belongs to the first group for the most...

Compared to the frenzied deal-making pace of 2006 and 2007, mergers and acquisitions have slowed significantly this year. It's not surprising: In tough times, companies are less certain about their strategic direction and less likely to get the credit they need to follow through on an acquisition....

It's great when a biotech company can deliver on a promising drug. Although Amgen Inc. (AMGN) reported disappointing earnings in the first quarter, many investors put their hopes up on its experimental denosumab bone drug for treating post-menopausal osteoporosis. This drug, which was filed for...

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization's top flu expert said the group is on the verge of declaring the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years. Confirmed community spread in a second region beyond North America would trigger moving to phase 6, signifying a full-blown pandemic. It's...

Only yesterday, Swiss drug company Novartis AG (NVS) announced it agreed to acquire the specialty generic injectables business of Austrian Ebewe Pharma for $1.2 billion in cash, grabbing two growth sectors with one deal: generic and cancer drugs. Today, Novartis released Phase III data for a new...

Swiss drug company Novartis AG (NVS) dove into the recent wave of pharma dealmaking today. The industry has been in consolidation mode as many drugs are due to come off patent in recent years, as competition from generics increases, and as pipelines at some drugmakers show little promise for future...

Investors have long heard of the problems plaguing Big Pharma, especially blockbuster drugs coming off patent in the near future, exposing them to competition from cheaper generics. A record number of drug sales will come off patent in the upcoming "patent cliff" arriving in 2010-2012. BusinessWeek...