Health Winners & Losers: Wyeth
10/10/08 - 04:54 PM EDT
Health stocks followed the broader market rollercoaster Friday -- a light news day for the sector despite the volatility.
The Nasdaq and Amex biotechnology indices ended down 3.2% and 3.56%, after rebounding from losses as great as 8% earlier in the day. The Amex pharmaceutical index settled on a loss of 6.21, or 2.55%, at 237.48 by late afternoon -- every single component was in the red. Wyeth(WYE Quote - Cramer on WYE - Stock Picks) and Teva(TEVA Quote - Cramer on TEVA - Stock Picks) led losses, giving up 6.5% and 4.21%, respectively. One of the few components of the Amex biotech index in positive territory, Intermune(ITMN Quote - Cramer on ITMN - Stock Picks) shares gained 72 cents, or 5.3%, to $14.33 in late afternoon. No news was released. Meanwhile, Biogen Idec(BIIB Quote - Cramer on BIIB - Stock Picks) said late Thursday that it is stopping development of baminercept in rheumatoid arthritis, after a failed midstage study. Shares were down $1.98, or 4.42%, at $42.78. Medicis(MRX Quote - Cramer on MRX - Stock Picks) said the FDA approved new labeling about the long-term effectiveness of wrinkle-filling drug Restylane based on new data. Medicis shares added $1.32, or 12.45%, to $11.92. Next week Genentech(DNA Quote - Cramer on DNA - Stock Picks) will kick off biotech earnings, followed by Gilead (GILD Quote - Cramer on GILD - Stock Picks) on Thursday. Genentech shares closed down $5.75, or 7.3%, to $73, and Gilead closed lost $2.57, or 6.4%, to $37.47.


