SCRX

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Sciele Pharma Inc.
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 1800
Atlanta, GA 30328
United States - Map
Phone: 770-442-9707
Fax: 770-442-9594
Web Site: http://www.sciele.com

DETAILS  
Index Membership: S&P 600 SmallCap
S&P 1500 Super Comp
Sector: Healthcare
Industry: Drug Manufacturers - Other
Full Time Employees: 900


BUSINESS SUMMARY  
Sciele Pharma, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, engages in the development, marketing, and sale of prescription products for cardiovascular/diabetes diseases and women's health. The company's products include Sular, an antihypertensive prescription medication; Fortamet, a type 2 diabetes prescription medication; Altoprev for the treatment of high cholesterol; Triglide, an oral treatment for lipid disorders, such as elevated triglycerides; and Nitrolingual spray for acute relief or prevention of chest pain associated with angina pectoris that results from coronary artery disease. It also offers Prenate Elite and OptiNate, a prescription multivitamin/multimineral nutritional supplement for improving the nutritional status of women throughout pregnancy and in the postnatal period; and Ponstel for the relief of pain for patients and for primary dysmenorrhea, which is pain associated with menstruation. In addition, Sciele Pharma offers Zovirax, used in the treatment of type I (cold sores) and type II (genital) herpes simplex viruses; Ostiva, which offers a nutritional foundation for maintaining bone health; Furadantin for the treatment of urinary tract infections; Cognex for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease; Robinul and Robinul Forte that belong to a class of drugs known as anticholinergics, which reduce the motion of the gastrointestinal tract and decrease stomach; Zoto-HC ear drops for the treatment of swimmer's ear infections; and Zebutal capsules for the treatment of tension headaches. The company sells its products to pharmaceutical wholesalers, chain drug stores, other retail merchandisers, and directly to pharmacies. Sciele Pharma was founded in 1992. It was formerly known as First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation and changed its name to Sciele Pharma, Inc. in 2006. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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I have a thread on SCRX on the members board. It'd suit me if setravis moved it over here.

Double bottom on the chart

http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=SCRX&p=D&b=5&g=0&id=p59191861522

I've been waiting for this news and have a large position.

Sciele Pharma Announces FDA Approval of New Sular(R) Formulation
Wednesday January 2, 6:23 pm ET


ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sciele Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCRX - News) today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved all four dosage strengths of the new Sular® formulation. The new Sular formulation, which utilizes SkyePharma's (LSE:SKP - News) patented GEOMATRIX™ technology, provides a lower dose of Sular for each of its current doses. The Company expects to launch the new Sular formulation during the first quarter of 2008.
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Patrick Fourteau, Chief Executive Officer of Sciele Pharma, said, "We are excited about this approval by the FDA for the new Sular formulation. This validates our product development and regulatory capabilities, as we have become a fully integrated pharmaceutical company."
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News came out very late today and after market didn't get much chance to react at all. Huge short interest. Great value, IMO. More later.

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Sciele Pharma Rises After FDA OKs Sular
Thursday January 3, 3:21 pm ET
Sciele Pharma Rises After FDA OKs New Version of High Blood Pressure Drug Sular


NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Sciele Pharma Inc. rose sharply Thursday after the company received regulatory approval to sell a new version of its high blood pressure drug Sular, which could help it fend off generic competition.
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Late Wednesday, Atlanta-based Sciele said the Food and Drug Administration approved the new formulation in four different dosages. Sciele expects to launch the drug during the first quarter, and several analysts predicted sales will start in February.

The company plans to pull the older formulation from the market, ahead of patent expiration in June, so patients can start getting used to taking the new version before generic versions hit pharmacies.

In a note to investors, Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Angela Larson applauded the company's switch-over strategy, pointing out that generic competition risk is now lifted.

"Given that Sular is the leading product for Sciele's cardiovascular franchise with 2007 sales estimated to be $106 million (or about 28 percent of total sales), this is a prudent strategy," Larson wrote in a note to clients.

She said the company's sales force will have plenty of time to switch patients and physicians before the patent expiry. She maintained a "Positive" rating on the stock.

Neponset Equity Research Inc. analyst Noelle Tune said in a note to clients Sciele is "starting the new year on the right foot."

She expects solid coverage from managed care and believes that more than 80 percent of plans have agreed to include the new Sular on formulary, which a a list of preferred prescribed prescription drugs.

Tune reiterated a "Buy" rating on shares.

Sciele's stock rose $2.42, or 12.2 percent, to $22.24 during afternoon trading. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged between $19.70 and $28.83.

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Ahead of the Bell: Sciele Pharma
Friday January 4, 8:11 am ET 
Sciele Pharma Upgraded As Analyst Predicts Successful Switch to New Versions of Sular


NEW YORK (AP) -- A Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst upgraded shares of Sciele Pharma Inc. Friday, saying he believes Sciele will be able to switch patients over to a newly approved version of its high-blood-pressure drug Sular.
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The Food and Drug Administration approved the new formulation of Sular on Thursday, sending Sciele shares up 11.4 percent to a closing price of $22.10. Analysts questioned whether Sciele would be able to get patients to use the new Sular instead of generic versions of the original, but Robert Uhl said he now believes the switch will succeed.

Uhl said he surveyed pharmacy directors at major health insurers, and learned that many of those companies will cover the new Sular. He upgraded the stock to "Outperform" from "Market Perform" on the results, and raised his price target to $31 per share from $29.

"We believe the company will be able to convert at least a significant portion of its existing Sular franchise over to the new product ahead of patent expiration in June and that the market's skepticism and concern over this issue will dissipate," he said.

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They might keep SCRX corralled around $22.50 until after options exp. (max pain is $22.50) but I'm convinced the stock is going much higher and should be an excellent LT investment. Huge short position to cover still. Reccesion won't hurt here, great defensive holding.

Sciele Expects to Launch Six Products in 2008; Reaffirms Revenue and EPS Guidance for Full-Years 2007 and 2008
Wednesday January 9, 12:44 pm ET


ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the JPMorgan 26th Annual Health Care Conference in San Francisco, Sciele Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCRX - News), today announced that it will be launching during the first quarter of 2008 its new Sular® formulation, which was recently approved by the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in four dosage strengths: 8.5-milligram, 17-milligram and 25.5-milligram and 34-milligram dosages. In addition, the Company also plans to launch five new products in 2008: 120-milligram and 40-milligram fenofibrate doses for treatment of mixed dyslipidemia; Prandin® (repaglinide) for type II diabetes, and, upon FDA approval, PrandiMet® (repaglinide/metformin) also for type II diabetes; a head lice asphyxiation product upon FDA approval; and a new Women's Health product.
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Sciele also reaffirmed the Company's full-year guidance for both 2007 and 2008. As previously announced, full-year 2007 revenue will be within a range of $375 million to $385 million, and full-year 2007 diluted earnings per share will be within a range of $1.53 to $1.58 per share, after a non-cash expense of $0.10 per share related to the Company's redemption of its 1.75% Convertible Notes. Also as previously announced, full-year revenue guidance for 2008 will be within a range of $440 million to $455 million and full-year 2008 diluted EPS within a range of $1.97 to $2.07 per share. This guidance for 2007 and 2008 assumes an R&D expenditure rate of approximately 8% of revenues and does not include any unapproved products or any potential restructuring time charges related to the new Sular conversion.

About Sciele Pharma, Inc.

Sciele Pharma, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company specializing in sales, marketing and development of branded prescription products focused on Cardiovascular/Metabolic, Women's Health and Pediatrics. The Company's Cardiovascular/Metabolic products treat patients with high cholesterol, hypertension, high triglycerides, unstable angina and Type 2 diabetes; its Women's Health products are designed to improve the health and well-being of women and mothers and their babies; and its Pediatrics products treat allergies, asthma, coughs and colds, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Sciele Pharma employs more than 900 people. The Company's success is based on placing the needs of patients first, improving health and quality of life, and implementing its business platform – an Entrepreneurial Spirit, Innovation, Speed of Execution, Simplicity, and Teamwork.

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update

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12:36AM Sciele Pharma acquired by Shionogi & Co for $31/share in cash (SCRX)