Healthcare Business Recap: GlaxoSmithKline in Japan, Discovery Labs FDA Suspense

Japan is traditionally slow to approve vaccines that are used almost universally abroad, and its domestic market is thus under-developed. In a 50-50 joint venture, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) pairs up with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo to take advantage of the situation.

Don’t Miss: Amarin, Accretive Health, Finisar Big Stock Price Percentage Losers Mar 2nd.

Suspense over an FDA decision expected next week is being blamed for Discovery Labs’ (NASDAQ:DSCO) drop in its shares on Friday. The firm’s new drug for prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, Surfaxin, is up for approval, but FDA Tracker says that DSCO won’t be able to demonstrate bioequivalence since it changed the formulation, and is not hopeful for the outcome.

“Don’t confuse first day euphoria for an investment strategy”, says Eric Savitz, as Epocrates (NASDAQ:EPOC) issues cautionary guidance for 2012. The company provides medical information systems for physicians, and is now abandoning its planned foray into electronic health records. Savitz also noted that early enthusiasm for Yelp and other hot initial public offerings come to mind as Epocrates’ shares fall on Friday.

Investing Insights: Wynn, SciClone, Immersion, Rite Aid Equity Analyst Insights Mar 2nd.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Lawson at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com