Biogen Inc. topped analysts’ estimates in both earnings and revenue, while also indicating renewed hope for a Alzheimer’s therapy.
The biotech company's third-quarter 2019 earnings per share of $9.17 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.28. Earnings rose +24% year over year.
The company’s sales for the quarter increased +5% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, surpassing Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.53 billion.
Biogen’s product revenue increased +4% year-over-year for the quarter, while its royalty from sales of Roche’s MS drug, Ocrevus surged +37% year-over-year. Revenues from Biogen’s share of Rituxan and Gazyva operating profits increased +9%. Other revenues declined -26%.
The company’s MS revenues including Ocrevus royalties, increased +2% .
Spinal Muscular Atrophy drug Spinraza sales rose +17% year-over-year. The number of patients on Spinraza grew approximately 3% in the U.S., and 18% outside the United States quarter-over-quarter.
Combined interferon revenues (Avonex and Plegridy) fell -10% year over year.
In Biosimilars (Samsung Bioepis, the joint venture between Biogen and Samsung BioLogics), BENEPALI revenue fell -6% y-o-y, IMRALDI which was launched in mid-October last year had a +4% growth quarter-over-quarter, while FLIXABI grew +63% year-over-year.
A major potential breakthrough for Biogen could be coming with new data revealing that aducanumab is pharmacologically and clinically active as determined by dose-dependent effects in reducing accumulation of amyloid, a kind of protein, in the arteries of the brain. Based on this data, Biogen plans to submit a biologics license application (BLA) seeking approval of aducanumab to the FDA in early 2020.
BIIB may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options. In of 54 cases where BIIB's price broke its lower Bollinger Band, its price rose further in the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
a manufacturer of therapies for people living with neurological, autoimmune and hematologic disorders
Industry PharmaceuticalsMajor