Da Vinci Brightens Up ISRG, HZNP Sweetens DEPO Bid, ISIS Earns A Milestone

(RTTNews) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s (BMY) investigational compound BMS-663068 when used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in heavily treatment-experienced adult patients has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

A phase III trial of BMS-663068 in heavily treatment-experienced patients began in February 2015 and is ongoing.

BMY closed Tuesday's trading at $68.87, down 1.57%.

Gilead Sciences Inc.'s (GILD) investigational TAF-based regimen containing Elvitegravir, Cobicistat, Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Alafenamide (E/C/F/TAF) has demonstrated statistical superiority in a phase III study - with significant improvements in bone and renal laboratory parameters in virologically suppressed adult patients switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing regimens. TDF is one of the preferred first-line treatment options for HIV.

Gilead's New Drug Application for E/C/F/TAF, the first investigational once-daily TAF-based STR, is under FDA review, with a decision date scheduled for November 5, 2015.

GILD closed Tuesday's trading at $117.78, down 0.36%.

Horizon Pharma plc (HZNP) has increased its offer price to acquire Depomed Inc. (DEPO) to $33.00 per share from $29.25 per share.

Depomed noted that it will carefully review and evaluate the Revised Proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

Horizon Pharma proposed to acquire Depomed in an all-stock transaction valued at $29.25 per share on May 27, 2015. Depomed, which deemed the offer opportunistic, said that it did not reflect the inherent value of company, and rejected the proposal. Last week, Depomed adopted a "poison pill" strategy to ward off the hostile takeover bid by Horizon.

Will Depomed allow itself to be acquired? Will Horizon clinch the deal? One needs to wait and watch.

DEPO touched a new high of $33.74 on Tuesday before closing the day's trading at $33.28, up 1.68%.

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG), the maker of da Vinci robotic surgery system, reported strong second-quarter results, thanks to worldwide da Vinci procedures growing about 14% over the second quarter of 2014 and increasing 8% sequentially over the first quarter of 2015.

The company shipped 118 da Vinci Surgical Systems, compared to 96 in the second quarter of 2014 and 99 in the first quarter of 2015.

ISRG closed Tuesday's trading at $505.09, up 1.50%.

Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS) has initiated a phase 1/2a clinical study of ISIS-HTTRx in patients with Huntington's disease.

Isis is collaborating with Roche to develop antisense drugs to treat Huntington's disease. The alliance combines Isis' antisense expertise with Roche's scientific knowledge in developing neurodegenerative therapeutics.

With the initiation of the phase 1/2a study for ISIS-HTTRx, Isis earned a $22 million milestone payment from Roche.

ISIS closed Tuesday's trading at $56.18, up 0.90%.

Novavax Inc.'s (NVAX) investigational Ebola GP Vaccine has found to be highly immunogenic and well-tolerated in a phase I clinical trial, and in conjunction with the company's proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant, resulted in significant antigen dose-sparing.

The recent Ebola outbreak resulted in more than 10,000 deaths with at least 24,000 people infected.

NVAX touched a new high of $13.12 on Tuesday before closing the day's trading at $12.32, down 0.88%.