Alexion gains on earnings beat

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN) added $9.59 (11%) to $98.82 on Thursday after reporting 1Q13 earnings that beat the Street and raising its 2013 revenue and EPS guidances. The company reported diluted non-GAAP EPS of $0.65, beating by $0.04 the Street's estimate of $0.61, and up from $0.45 in 1Q12. First quarter sales of Soliris eculizumab, which account for all of Alexion's revenue, rose 38% to $338.9 million, beating the Street's estimate of $336.6 million. Alexion markets Soliris in the U.S. and EU for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).

Alexion raised its 2013 revenue guidance to $1.51-$1.52 billion from $1.49-$1.51 billion and non-GAAP EPS guidance to $2.87-$2.97 from $2.82-$2.92. The company attributed the move to continued worldwide growth of Soliris. The Street is expecting full-year EPS of $2.90 on $1.5 billion in revenues. ...