Healthcare Biz Recap: Pfizer CASHES IN, Pharmacyclics POPS Again

Horizant, made by XenoPort (XNP) and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), gets FDA approval for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia, or nerve pain related to shingles, which affects around 100,000 people a year domestically. As a part of the arrangement, GSK will pay XenoPort a $10 million milestone payment subsequent the first sales of the treatment.

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In an initial public offering, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) will sell a minority stake in its animal health business, which will be renamed Zoetis. The firm will supply additional details in its second quarter profit update.

Shares of Orthofix (NASDAQ:OFIX) don’t react, as it says it will pay $34 million to resolve a Justice Department inquiry into the promotion and marketing of its bone growth devices. In addition, the firm intends to plead guilty to obstructing a federal audit and thus will also pay fine of $7.8 million.

Pharmacyclics (NASDAQ:PCYC) shares re-pop on Thursday, as the FDA okays orphan status of its treatment for chronic lymphocyctic leukemia. Brean Murray and other analysts forecast ‘blockbuster’ sales for the cancer med; the former started the shares with a Buy earlier Thursday, following release of the news.

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