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Thursday, June 7, 2018

WellCare started at buy by Argus


WellCare initiated with a Buy at Argus. Argus analyst John Staszak initiated WellCare with a Buy rating and $265 price target, telling investors in a research note that WellCare is well positioned to benefit from continued strong growth in the Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D markets, as well as from geographic expansion and acquisitions. In a research note to investors, Staszak contended that WellCare may also be an attractive acquisition target for a larger insurer.

Bio-Techne acquiring Quad Technologies


Bio-Techne has reached agreement to acquire all of the stock of QT Holdings Corporation d/b/a Quad Technologies. The transaction is expected to close in early July and to be financed through available cash on hand. Quad Technologies’ QuickGel technology consists of a biocompatible dissolvable polymer which, when functionalized with the proper antibodies, can be used to enrich specific cell populations as well as to activate such cells with traditional cell surface cross-linking ligands. Quad Technologies was founded in 2013 with technology from Northeastern University. It is located in Woburn, Massachusetts and has approximately 15 employees.

Alder Biopharmaceuticals names Robert Azelby as CEO


Alder BioPharmaceuticals (ALDR) named biotech industry veteran Robert Azelby president and CEO of Alder, effective June 13. He also will serve on the company’s board. Azelby joins Alder from Juno Therapeutics (JUNO), where he served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Rockwell Medical updates on plans for anemia med


Rockwell Medical provided an update on the company’s commercial strategy for its innovative anemia management drug, Triferic. This update follows the completion of a thorough review of the business by the newly augmented Board of Directors. As part of this review, the Board evaluated the strategy for bringing Triferic to dialysis patients and the clinics that serve them in the U.S. and other markets around the world. After considering multiple factors and all available information, including feedback from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, the Board concluded that the Company should move forward without assuming that it will receive a Transitional Drug Add-On Payment Adjustment for Triferic in the near term. Accordingly, the Board has concluded that it is in the best interests of patients, the clinics that serve them and Rockwell Medical’s shareholders to immediately move ahead with the commercial planning and launch of Triferic. As part of these efforts, the Board will work to ensure the Company has the appropriate resources, including recruiting additional talent, to execute on the commercialization process. In parallel with the commercial launch of Triferic, the Company intends to continue to work closely with industry leaders and policy makers to pursue a Transitional Drug Add-On Payment Adjustment for Triferic in the long term, as the Company believes this has the potential to expedite the process of getting Triferic to an even broader group of dialysis patients and clinicians.

BioMarin receives $20M in milestone payments from Pfizer


BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN) announced that the company received $20M in milestone payments from Pfizer (PFE). These milestone payments were triggered by the U.S. FDA acceptance of Pfizer’s New Drug Application submission for talazoparib and by the European Medicines Agency acceptance of Pfizer’s submission of a Marketing Authorization Application for talazoparib. These milestone payments are part of an agreement made with Medivation when the company purchased talazoparib. Medivation was acquired by Pfizer.