Healthcare Business Wrap Up: Lilly’s Potential Alzheimer’s Med, Merck Licenses Vaccination

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) jump on word of a new study that shows its experimental Alzheimer’s treatment slowed memory loss and cognitive decline in early-stage patients by approximately 30 percent, indicating the first evidence that a drug could slow the course of the disease. The independent study supports the firm’s August report which indicated that the drug, solanezumab, slowed mental decline in those suffering from mild Alzheimer’s.

Are these stocks a buy or sell? Let us help you decide. Check out our Wall St. Cheat Sheet Stock Picker Newsletter now >>

Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) takes off on the news that Bloomberg Industries said that the prescription insurer payment rate for the firm’s Qsymia obesity drug rose by 500 basis points to 36 perecnt in its second week of availability. Prior to this Vivus had suggested that the initial coverage rate would be minimal.

Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) licenses the experimental skin-patch vaccination developed by Australia’s Vaxxas to further fund research, including tests on humans, according to the latter. The Nanopatch system might be able to protect against disease with only a small percentage of antigens required in needle-based vaccination, and also might be cheaply produced and perhaps mailed out in case of a flu pandemic.

Don’t Miss: Could Vivus’ New Drug Be a Blockbuster?