Emergent Completes Acquisition Of Anthrax Drug Raxibacumab

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced that it has closed the acquisition of anthrax monoclonal antibody, raxibacumab, from GlaxoSmithkline plc (NYSE:GSK) . In December 2012, raxibacumab was approved of by the FDA for the treatment and prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax.

Going forward, the company plans to assume responsibility of supplying the product to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) under a multi-year contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”).

The contract is valued at approximately $130 million. Notably, Emergent plans to transfer manufacturing of raxibacumab to its existing facilities in Baltimore in 2020. Also, the company expects to purchase product from GlaxoSmithkline to enable completion of deliveries to SNS under existing BARDA procurement contract.

Emergent’s shares have outperformed the industry year to date. The stock has rallied 24.7% compared with the industry’s gain of 15.2% in the same time frame.

Moreover, the acquisition of raxibacumab will expand the portfolio of approved medical countermeasures and is in sync with the company’s strategy of meeting the customer’s requirements.

In fact, with the acquisition of raxibacumab, the company expects the revenues to increase by about $9 million for full-year 2017. Additionally, Emergent expects the GAAP net income to remain neutral reflecting the impact of initial costs to begin the process of transferring raxibacumab manufacturing from GSK to Emergent, which is expected to be completed in 2020.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Emergent carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in health care sector include ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) and Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) . Both ACADIA and , Biogen carry Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

ACADIA’s loss per share estimates have narrowed from $2.82 to $2.57 for 2017 and from $2.07 to $1.90 for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company delivered positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 7.97%. Share price of the company has climbed 34.7% year to date.

Biogen’s earnings per share estimates have moved up $21.37 to $21.42 for 2017 and from $23.11 to $23.23 for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company delivered positive earnings surprises in all the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 6.41%. The share price of the company has increased 11.9% year to date.

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