SNY - 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: 

 
Sanofi-Aventis
174 Avenue De France
Cedex 13
Paris,  75635
France - Map
Phone: 33 1 53 77 40 00
Fax: 33 1 53 77 41 33
Web Site: http://www.sanofi-aventis.com

DETAILS   
Index Membership: N/A
Sector: Healthcare
Industry: Drug Manufacturers - Major
Full Time Employees: 98,213


BUSINESS SUMMARY   
Sanofi-Aventis, a pharmaceutical company, contributes to enhancing life by providing an offering of medicines, vaccines, and integrated healthcare solutions adapted to local needs and means primarily in Europe and the United States. The company has products in the areas of thrombosis, cardiovascular, metabolic diseases, oncology, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines. Its primary medicines include Lovenox/Clexane, Plavix/Iscover, Aprovel/Avapro/Karvea, Tritace/Triatec/Delix/Altace, Lantus, Amaryl/Amarel/Solosa, Acomplia, Taxotere, Eloxatine, Stilnox/Ambien/Myslee, Copaxone, Depakine, Allegra/Telfast, Nasacort, Xatral/Uroxatral, and Actonel/Optinate/Acrel. The company’s vaccines principally include pediatric combination and poliomyelitis vaccines, influenza vaccines, meningitis/pneumonia vaccines, adult and adolescent booster vaccines, and travel and endemic vaccines. It has collaboration agreements principally with Novozymes, Dyax Corp., Oxford BioMedica, Regeneron, IDM, Zealand Pharma, UCB, and Crucell N.V., as well as partners, including Immunogen, Coley, Wayne State University, Innogenetics, and Inserm. The company also has an agreement with Drugs For Neglected Diseases Initiative (dndi) for the development, manufacturing, and distribution of fexinidazole, a drug for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis. Sanofi-Aventis was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Paris, France.