NVS - Sector: Healthcare---Industry: Drug Manufacturers - Major

[setravis]

A 'Pandemic' Now Declared, Focus Back on Swine Flu Stocks
On Friday June 12, 2009, 12:00 pm EDT

The H1N1 virus is officially a pandemic, and vaccine stocks are responding.

Swine flu stocks are up again today, with some extending weekly gains to more than 20%. A number of companies released good news to end the week. From small-cap players to multi-billion dollar giants, shares are up big on high volume. Novartis (NYSE: NVS) announced today that it will have a swine flu vaccine ready by this fall. Shares are up by 4% on the news.

On Thursday, the World Health Organization raised its alert level on the virus to "Phase 6," indicating that it has officially become a pandemic.

As a whole the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index is up by 2.5%. It is now beating the S&P 500 by 35.5% over the last month.

Generex Biotechnology (NASDAQ: GNBT) is leading the Index today with 10% gains. The company was granted five new patents for its drug delivery systems. The patents were awarded in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Lebanon. The stock is still in negative territory this week by -3%.

Sinovac Biotech (AMEX: SVA) is adding another 3% to its industry-leading 30% weekly rally. On Monday the company announced that it had begun production of a swine flu vaccine, and noted that it could produce up to 30 million doses per year.

Vical (NASDAQ: VICL) has fallen from earlier highs, and is now trading up fractionally. Thomas Weisel initiated coverage of the company today with an Overweight rating and a $5 price target. The analyst cited Vical's proprietary technology, strategic partnerships, and licensing agreements.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Hemispherx Biopharma (AMEX: HEB) are both ahead by more than 4% today.

Pure Bioscience (NASDAQ: PURE) and AVI Biopharma (NASDAQ: AVII) are industry laggards today, falling by -3% and -6% respectively.

As of this writing the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index is a top-three performing tickerspy Index over the last month, gaining 39.5%.

Investors can follow the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Investors can follow the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.
http://www.tickerspy.com/index/Swine-Flu-and-Bird-Flu-Stocks?refer=2028Y3
 

[setravis]

Profile: 


Novartis AG
Lichtstrasse 35
Basel,  4056
Switzerland - Map
Phone: 41 61 324 11 11
Fax: 41 61 324 80 01
Web Site: http://www.novartis.com

DETAILS   
Index Membership: N/A
Sector: Healthcare
Industry: Drug Manufacturers - Major
Full Time Employees: 98,000


BUSINESS SUMMARY   
Novartis AG, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products worldwide. Its Pharmaceuticals division engages in the research, development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of pharmaceuticals in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular and metabolism; oncology; neuroscience and ophthalmics; respiratory; and immunology and infectious diseases. The company’s Vaccines and Diagnostics division offers preventive vaccine treatments and diagnostic tools. It provides influenza, meningococcal, pediatric, and traveler vaccines; and blood testing and molecular diagnostics to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The company’s Sandoz division offers drugs, as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active substances. This division provides active ingredients and finished dosage forms of pharmaceuticals; anti-infectives; protein or biotechnology-based products; and biotech manufacturing to other companies on a contract basis. Its Consumer Health division consists of three business units: over-the-counter medicines (OTC), Animal Health, and CIBA Vision. OTC offers over-the-counter self medications. Animal Health provides veterinary products for farm and companion animals. CIBA Vision manufactures contact lenses and lens care products. Novartis AG has strategic alliance with Intercell AG to develop vaccines; CombinatoRx Incorporated to discover anti-cancer combinations; and Ablynx NV for the discovery and development of Nanobody-based therapeutics. It also has a research and development collaboration agreement with EpiStem Holdings Plc. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.