Pinnacle Digest: Drug IPLEX Future and Movements Reviewed
via COMTEX
January 19, 2007
Jan 19, 2007 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX News Network) --
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ: INSM) experienced an even day of trading Thursday accompanied by 1,601,759 shares traded. They have been requested by the Italian Ministry of Health, to make its drug, IPLEX(TM) (rhIGFI/rhIGFBP-3), available to physicians in Italy to treat patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The request comes at the behest of ALS patients who have petitioned the Court. This spurred several Italian Court rulings ordering the Italian National Health System to provide the drug to these specific ALS patients. If this drug is accepted and more importantly is successful in Italy it may open up doors to be widely accepted. PinnacleDigest will be interested in these results, and continue to monitor Insmed Incorporated closely.
The pharmaceutical world is moving at a quick pace and only the most practical and in demand products will find their share of the market. PinnacleDigest believes companies within this sector are tied to the overall movement of the industry. We closely evaluate the healthcare sector and its sentiment before reviewing a company such as Insmed Incorporated. At PinnacleDigest we offer a unique approach to investing and are constantly striving to meet our client's needs. To continue with this review and find out exactly what we have to offer come explore us at www.pinnacledigest.com.
Acquisitions and product alliances of biotechnology companies have been rising drastically of late, and this is evident when reviewing the figures of last year. Bigger drug makers can foresee a future in which the environment and demand for drugs is a very positive one over the coming 25 years. These larger companies are buying up smaller companies, attempting to reach out to and control more of the market. The rate of these types of acquisitions and alliances rose an astonishing 32% in the year of 2006. This needs to be acknowledged and reviewed heading into the New Year.
In recapping 2006 and looking to the future, biotechnology companies raised $20 billion in partnership deals last year. That is up from $17 billion in 2005, according to Burrill. That increase doesn't seem overly amazing, but a growth of that size has not occurred in recent years.
Our members would remember our evaluation of Pfizer and its devastating losses following its discontinued development of the drug hailed to replace Lipitor. As expected the market overreacted to the news, dropping more than $3 over the 4th and 5th of December. Since then Pfizer's share value has stabilized increasing to $26.64 on the NYSE. They are poised to possibly lose up to half of their $51 billion in 2005 sales as a result of competition from generic drug makers. It is very simple to understand that as their patents expire, companies will be jumping at the chance to produce generic drugs and get a piece of the market. Pfizer has entered at least six research partnerships since November. As well as conducted two transactions which was disclosed and totaled a combined $450 million. These larger companies need to ensure growth, and if not from within it has to come in the form of smaller companies with drugs on the move.
Let's turn back to Insmed Inc. and learn about their drug in focus, IPLEX. The disease it combats is ALS which is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of motor neurons. IGF-1 is a neurotrophic factor essential for normal development of the nervous system. In animal models and cell culture systems IGF-1 protects motor neurons and promotes muscle and nerve regeneration.
Let's hear from Geoffrey Allan, President and CEO of Insmed, following the announcement. "We are very pleased that the Italian ministry has approached us to help in treating this devastating disease." He went on to state that, "We greatly appreciate the fact that Cephalon has collaborated with us in this effort. We hope that data collected from this expanded access program will be useful for the further clinical development of IPLEX for this indication." PinnacleDigest will be monitoring this development and its future implications. To learn more about our acclaimed online investor based community, visit us at www.pinnacledigest.com.
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