Health Winners & Losers: King Pharma
10/09/08 - 05:27 PM EDT
Elizabeth Trotta
Health stocks took yet another ugly spill with the broader markets late afternoon Thursday.
The Nasdaq and Amex biotechnology indices tripped late in the trading day falling to losses of 5.3% and 4.6%, respectively, by market close. The Amex pharmaceutical index gave up a stunning 8.3% on Thursday. One exception was King Pharmaceutical (KG Quote - Cramer on KG - Stock Picks), which saw share rise 27 cents, or 3.49%, to $8. Natixis Bleichroeder analyst Corey Davis upped his rating for the battered stock to buy from sell. Meanwhile, Omrix Biopharmacueticals(OMRI Quote - Cramer on OMRI - Stock Picks) announced that a phase II study on its Fibrin Pad in mild to moderate bleeding was suspended Wednesday afternoon to investigate an incident of post-operative bleeding. Omrix shares were on the rise a day earlier when the company said that according to interim results from a midstage trial, the Fibrin Pad was superior to Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ Quote - Cramer on JNJ - Stock Picks) Surgicel for stopping mild to moderate soft tissue bleeding during certain surgeries. Omrix Shares ultimately plummeted $6.14, or 34.5%, to $11.67, on Thursday. Cardiome(CRME Quote - Cramer on CRME - Stock Picks) and Astellas said Thursday that they will have an "End of Review" meeting with the Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 14 regarding the application for atrial fibrillation drug Kynapid. The FDA sent the company an approvable letter -- meaning the drug could eventually be approved if certain conditions were met -- in August after an FDA advisory panel recommended in December that the agency approve Kynapid. The companies said they also had withdrawn their application for Canadian approval and plan to refile after they have found resolution with the FDA.
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