Nov. 19 Company Quick Takes: Medicines Co. gains on buyout rumor; plus Samsung's biosimilar under review and Zelluna-Glycostem
Medicines Co. mum on Novartis takeout rumor
The Medicines Co. (NASDAQ:MDCO) declined to comment to BioCentury on a Bloomberg report that said Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) is among several companies exploring an acquisition of the company. Medicines Co. shares climbed $11.56 (20%) to $70.21 on the news Tuesday; the stock had risen 13% in Monday's session after the company presented data from two studies of inclisiran, its siRNA against PCSK9, at the American Heart Association meeting in Philadelphia.
Samsung Bioepis' Avastin biosimilar under FDA review
FDA accepted for review a BLA from Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd. for SB8, a biosimilar of Avastin bevacizumab. The JV between Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Samsung BioLogics Co. Ltd. (KOSDAQ:207940) submitted the BLA in September under the 351(k) abbreviated approval pathway. If approved, Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) will commercialize the anti-VEGF antibody in the U.S...