Investopedia: Teva And Mylan Show Some Value Remains in Generics

Generic drug company stocks have been all over the map this year, with companies like Teva (Nasdaq:TEVA) struggling, companies like Watson (NYSE:WPI), and the likes of Mylan (NYSE:MYL) and Impax (Nasdaq:IPXL) falling somewhere in between. While the sector is still broadly benefiting from popular branded drugs going off patent, pressures from large buyers like AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) and declining patient-doctor visits are making for a more challenging operating environment. 

Mylan - Good Here, Not So Good Over There  
Mylan reported 15% revenue growth (10% in constant currency), with North American sales rising over 27%. Asia-Pacific sales also grew by 17%, but Europe was flat as reported and down double-digits on a constant currency basis due in part to government-mandated price cuts in many European markets. 


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Investopedia: A Deal At Last For Sanofi And Genzyme

Ultimately it looks like two major drug companies are getting what they both think they need. After months of posturing, Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:SNY) and Genzyme (Nasdaq:GENZ) found common ground on the value and structure of a deal, and Genzyme will become part of Sanofi. Though this deal was long in the making, only time will tell whether shareholders on both sides of the deal really benefit. 

The Deal

Sanofi-Aventis agreed to pay $74 a share in cash up front for Genzyme, a price that on its own virtually matches the all-time high set back in 2008. At that price, Sanofi is paying over four-times trailing revenue and over 26-times trailing EBITDA - a pretty generous premium compared to larger biotechs like Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN) and Gilead (Nasdaq:GILD) as well as other growth names like Celgene (Nasdaq:CELG).

In response to charges of opportunism from Genzyme's management, Sanofi agreed to sweeten the pot with so-called contingent value rights (CVR). If Genzyme's business reaches certain milestones after the deal, Genzyme shareholders will get additional payments. There are six different hurdles laid out for Genzyme, worth up to $14 per share in total (or about $3.8 billion), but only the first three (production levels for Cerezyme, approval of Lemtrada and Lemtrada sales in excess of $400 million in certain territories) seem highly likely to be reached. If those three are reached, it will cost Sanofi about $4 per Genzyme share, while the remaining hurdles are all tied to ever-higher levels of sales. 

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Note: I realize how out of date this is now. My apologies for that ... I submitted it Wednesday morning, but it got held up in the queue. 

Biosimilars - The Next Generics Honeypot

Quick correction - I mistakenly indicated that Momenta/Novartis has a window of exclusivity with its generic Lovenox. The first-to-file rule is not in effect here and Teva does not have any sort of statutory waiting period to deal with. I apologize for the error. 

Generic drugs are certainly a significant part of the landscape in the healthcare world. Not only do they save healthcare consumers (and their insurance companies) millions of dollars a year, but they are a thriving industry in their own right. Companies like India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (NYSE:RDY) and its nearly ten-fold larger rival Teva Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:TEVA) have certainly produced ample rewards for long-term investors. 

Now, though, there is a whole new window of opportunity opening for the generics companies - the opportunity to sell what amount to generic versions of biopharmaceuticals. Though the path will be difficult and expensive, this market represents a major opportunity for the generics industry and potentially a major threat for many large pharmaceutical companies. 


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