Financial Results, FDA Approvals, Study Results and Legal Settlements - Research Report on Aetna, Intuitive Surgical, Abbott, Questcor, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals

NEW YORK, November 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Analysts' Corner announced new research reports highlighting Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET), Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

Aetna Inc. Research Report

On October 29, 2013, Aetna Inc. (Aetna) reported its Q3 2013 financial results. The Company's total revenue increased 46.2% YoY to $13.0 billion during the quarter. Net income attributable to Aetna was $518.6 million or $1.38 per diluted share in Q3 2013, compared to $499.2 million or 1.47 per diluted share in Q3 2012. Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna Chairman, CEO, and President, said, "Aetna's diversified business model produced another solid performance in the third quarter, which includes our first full quarter of results from the Coventry operations. Bolstered by the acquisition and continued strong performance in our Commercial and Medicaid businesses, Aetna generated higher operating earnings and operating revenues year over year." The Full Research Report on Aetna Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/cbe9_AET]

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Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Research Report  

On October 24, 2013, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical) reported results from two independent analyses that compared robotic-assisted surgery and open surgery performed on patients with urologic cancers, which revealed that robotic-assisted surgery results in fewer overall complications during and after surgery, less blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay. As per the release, in the first analysis, published in the October 2013 issue of Cancer Treatment Reviews, the authors (Li K, Tianxin L, Xinxiang F, et al.) reviewed the available literature on the efficacy and advantages of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) versus open radical cystectomy (ORC) performed for bladder cancer. Meanwhile, in the second analysis, published in the World Journal of Urology by Dr. Gianni Vittori from the Universita` di Firenze, compared kidney patients who had received robotic-assisted partial kidney removal with those who had received open partial kidney removal. "As individuals and agencies seek to understand the impact of robotic-assisted surgery on healthcare outcomes, evidence-based medicine and all peer-reviewed clinical publications become increasingly important in understanding appropriate treatment options," said Myriam Curet, MD, Chief Medical Advisor of Intuitive Surgical. The Full Research Report on Intuitive Surgical, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/5f98_ISRG]

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Abbott Laboratories Research Report

On October 25, 2013, Abbott Laboratories (Abbott) announced that the Company's first-in-class catheter based MitraClip therapy has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval and hence will be launched immediately in the U.S., to provide physicians with a breakthrough treatment option for patients suffering from mitral regurgitation. Chuck Foltz, Senior Vice President, Vascular, Abbott, said, "FDA approval of MitraClip marks an important milestone for Abbott as we continue to bring forward innovative therapies to help patients live better lives. We look forward to making this technology available to specialized centers in the U.S. with multi-disciplinary teams experienced in the management of patients with heart valve disease, a model that facilitates dialogue across physician specialties and provides patients with the best treatment outcomes." The Company added that Abbott's MitraClip repairs the mitral valve without the need for an invasive surgical procedure. The device is delivered to the heart through the femoral vein, a blood vessel in the leg, and once implanted, allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently, thereby relieving symptoms and improving patient quality of life. The Full Research Report on Abbott Laboratories - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/05c1_ABT]

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Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. Research Report

On October 29, 2013, Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Questcor) reported its Q3 2013 financial results. The Company's total net sales increased 68.4% YoY to $236.3 million during the quarter. Net income increased 69.6% YoY to $94.4 million, and net income per diluted share increased 67.0% to $1.52 in Q3 2013. Commenting on the results, Don M. Bailey, President and CEO of Questcor, said, "Our net sales continued to expand with rheumatology, neurology, and nephrology exhibiting growth year-over-year. This quarter's performance was primarily driven by a continued increase in Acthar usage among both rheumatologists and nephrologists. Additionally, there was a record number of paid prescriptions for MS relapse during the quarter." The Full Research Report on Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/a415_QCOR]

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Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Research Report  

On October 28, 2013, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Valeant Pharmaceuticals) announced that the Company has entered into a settlement agreement with Anacor Pharmaceuticals (Anacor) to resolve all outstanding disputes, including previously disclosed disputes involving Anacor and Valeant's subsidiaries, Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences Inc. (Dow) and Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (Medicis). Valeant said that it would pay Anacor $142.5 million no later than November 8, 2013, to settle all existing and future claims related to Anacor's intellectual property, confidential information, and contractual rights, and the payment includes the previously announced interim final award of damages and legal fees related to Anacor's contractual dispute with Dow. The Full Research Report on Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/9fdd_VRX]

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