Danaher initiated at Needham

Danaher initiated with a Buy at Needham. Needham analyst Stephen Unger started Danaher with a Buy rating and $114 price target. The company is one of only two major consolidators within the Life Science Tools sector, which continues to deliver “strong secular growth,” says the analyst.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842785

Myriad Genetics initiated at Needham

Myriad Genetics initiated at Needham  Myriad Genetics initiated with a Strong Buy at. Needham analyst Stephen Unger started Myriad Genetics with a Strong Buy rating and $36 price target. The analyst believes the company’s expanding portfolio of molecular diagnostic testing services and an increased focus on profit improvement can drive “significant” earnings upside.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842791

NeoGenomics initiated at Needham

NeoGenomics initiated with a Buy at Needham. Needham analyst Stephen Unger started NeoGenomics with a Buy rating and $14 price target.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842795

Humana backs FY18 adjusted EPS view of approximately $14.40, consensus $14.43

For the year ended December 31, 2018, Humana’s management expects to reaffirm its GAAP guidance of $11.96 in diluted earnings per common share, or approximately $14.40 in adjusted earnings per common share. This guidance is consistent with the guidance issued in Humana’s press release dated November 7, 2018 and reaffirmed on November 28, 2018.

https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842799

Flexion enrolls first patient in Phase 3 trial of ZILRETTA

Flexion Therapeutics announced that, on December 26, 2018, the first patient was enrolled in a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZILRETTA in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Similar to knee OA, hip OA is a degenerative disease which has no cure, and it is estimated that roughly 25% of the U.S. population may develop symptomatic hip OA in their lifetime. The initiation of the Phase 3 hip registration trial was supported by findings from a Phase 2, randomized, open-label, pharmacokinetic study in the shoulder and hip joints, known as the SHIP study. The results from the SHIP study demonstrated that ZILRETTA was generally safe and well tolerated, and the PK profile of ZILRETTA observed in both joints was consistent with previous PK studies in the knee. Results also showed that an injection of ZILRETTA into the hip resulted in 6-fold lower peak plasma levels and reduced systemic exposure compared to immediate-release triamcinolone acetonide in crystalline suspension. The data on the hip cohort have been submitted for presentation. https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842805

Welltower to acquire 55 medical buildings for $1.25B

Welltower and CNL Healthcare Properties announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Welltower will acquire a Class A medical office and outpatient facilities portfolio comprised of 55 buildings from CNL Healthcare Properties for $1.25B. The sale is expected to close during the first half of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, governmental and other third-party consents.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2842823

Chipotle Introduces New ‘Lifestyle Bowls’ for Keto, Paleo and Whole30 Diets

Chipotle announced plans for a new menu of “Lifestyle Bowls” that will offer “diet-driven” options for people who want to eat healthier. The bowls will include meals for paleo, ketogenic, and Whole30 diets.

The new menu will begin on Wednesday with four new burrito bowls that will adhere to the aforementioned diets.

“These first-to-category, diet-driven menu offerings are helping those who have committed to living a healthier lifestyle by making it easy to order delicious bowls that only contain the real ingredients permitted by certain diet regimens,” Chipotle said in a statement.

The new bowls include the following:

• A Whole30 Salad Bowl, made with romaine lettuce, carnitas, fajita veggies, tomato salsa, and guacamole
• The Paleo Salad Bowl is a mix of romaine lettuce, barbacoa, fajita veggies, green salsa, and guacamole
• The Keto Salad Bowl combines romaine lettuce, carnitas, red salsa, cheese, and guacamole
• The Double Protein Bowl is made with white rice, black beans, chicken, steak, red salsa, romaine lettuce, and sour cream.

Chipotle has taken steps toward reinventing itself in recent years, following a number of public health concerns, including an E.coli outbreak across 11 statesin 2015; customers reporting nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating at a restaurant in Los Angeles in December 2017; and a Norovirus outbreak that same year in Virginia.

The company has tried to come back from its food safety scares and re-build confidence in consumers with a number of offerings. Chipotle announced plans for a new drive-thru, in addition to offering breakfast burritos, and queso sauce nationwide.

The chain’s new Lifestyle Bowls are another step toward restoring its image. Chipotle’s stocks jumped 40% last year.

http://fortune.com/2019/01/02/chipotle-keto-lifestyle-bowls/