Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Answer to NVS quiz:

I posted that this quiz was high-difficulty and this proved to be an understatement. I’m somewhat dismayed at all the discussion that focused on the definition of end user, which is a matter that I thought was sufficiently clear.

This quiz turned out to be an interesting lesson in how people can get stuck in a certain line of thinking and close off other avenues without realizing it. One poster sent me a PM saying that a company could not possibly be an end user of a NVS drug because only people consume drugs.

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Q: Who was the largest end-user buyer of NVS’ drugs during 1Q09?

A: Abbott Laboratories. ABT buys large quantities of NVS’ everolimus, which is the coating on ABT’s market-leading Xience stent (#msg-32873087).

Thanks to all of the participants in this quiz for participating!

p.s. Everolimus is a versatile drug: NVS sells everolimus under the brand name Afinitor for kidney cancer and under the brand name Certican for organ transplantation.