Battling Deadly Diseases--13 Antibiotic Makers

Image via Wikipedia

Top Antibiotic Makers:

Trius Therapeutics--(TSRX)
Forest Labs--(FRX)
Optimer Pharmaceuticals--(OPTR)

These stocks haven't necessarily done extremely well this year, but the high cost of Clinical Trials leads to debt.  Once the clinical trials are approved and these antibiotics go on the market these should have noticeable gains.  I think these could have potential to invest in the long term futures.

Another company of note is SIGA Technologies (SIGA).  SIGA makes bioweapons vaccines for the government and recently announced a government contract for small pox treatment.  From Marketwatch:  SIGA soars on government contract. 
 
Hope In The Grim Fight Against Drug-Resistant Germs

Outbreak: NDM-1 and MRSA are Deadly Emerging Superbugs

MSRA Image by judy_breck via Flickr

Outbreak was one of my favorite movies.  I read books like The Hot Zone in school and knew I was going to study Microbiology and become a microbiologist.  Viruses were my favorites.  I now focus more on business, but right now a relatively common Staph Aureus, is gaining notoriety by being anti-biotic resistant.  Being a microbiologist, I know there are deadly germs hanging around in hospitals in the US today.  Outbreaks have hit several states and an epidemic of MRSA is fast approaching in the next few years.  Anti-biotic resistant bacteria is a very deadly condition where many young people die from these infections. 

Currently, research has not fully grasped the medicines to fully combat these Superbugs.  FDA hurdles are preventing new research into the matter.  Additionally, there is decreased funding in Research and Development at major pharmaceutical companies during this economic downturn we have been experiencing. 

Globalization causes these bugs to spread all around the globe in a matter of hours.  Anyone can get infected, not know they are carrying the bacteria for a few days, get on an airplane, and arrive to your city, and spread the disease to every hospital in a matter of weeks.  More stories to come on Superbug Anti-Biotic Companies in Phase III clinical trials.

 

Outbreak Movie Image via Wikipedia

Eight Deadly Superbugs Lurking in Hospitals

Forest Labs FDA Panel Review and Phase II Clinical Trial Results

Chemical Structure of Ceftaroline This just in to marketwatch today.

Forest-Gedeon Richter drug misses overall goal

TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Forest Laboratories Inc. FRX 29.56, +0.37, +1.27%) and Gedeon Richter PLC said Monday that in a Phase II study of cariprazine, a potential treatment for bipolar depression, the overall result for patients taking the drug was not statistically different from that of the patients taking placebo. In higher doses, however, the antipsychotic drug did show "evidence of a clinically relevant treatment effect," the drugmakers, based respectively in New York and Budapest, said. The primary endpoint was the scores on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, they said. The companies are mulling whether to do another Phase II study of the drug to examine a wider range of doses. Meantime, the drug is in Phase III trials for, separately, schizophrenia and bipolar mania

News concerning Tomorrow's FDA decision. This is an antibiotic up for approval up for review tomorrow Sept. 7th, 2010.

FDA Panel Alert: Forest Labs

Forest Labs Antibiotic Seems Effective FDA Notes Revealed

Image via Wikipedia FDA staff back safety, efficacy of ceftaroline

* Advisory panel to review drug on Tuesday
* Forest shares up 5.4 pct in afternoon
* Nearly $361 million in ceftaroline sales seen in 2014 (Revises first sentence, adds analyst comment, updates shares)
By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A Forest Laboratories Inc (FRX.N) antibiotic appears effective with risks similar to current options, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis that raised hopes for the medicine's approval.

Shares of Forest, which needs new medicines to offset looming patent expirations on its major drugs, were up $1.49 or 5.4 percent at $29.14 on the New York Stock Exchange after the Food and Drug Administration released its preliminary review on Thursday.

Analysts expect nearly $361 million in sales in 2014 for the potential new antibiotic called ceftaroline, according to Thomson Reuters forecasts.