Regulatory Approval, Presentation of Data, Appointment, Clinical Study Results, and Increase in Quarterly Dividend - Research Reports on Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Medtronic, Amgen and Covidien

NEW YORK, September 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Analysts Review released its research reports regarding Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Covidien plc (NYSE: COV). Private wealth members receive these notes ahead of publication. To reserve complementary membership, limited openings are available at: http://www.analystsreview.com/6679-100free.

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Johnson & Johnson Research Reports
On September 15, 2014, Mentor Worldwide LLC, (Mentor) a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four additional styles of the MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants, expanding its suite of silicone breast implant products. The Company informed that MemoryShape® Implants are supported by unsurpassed 10-year prospective clinical data. The Company expects that with the addition of these styles, the MemoryShape® Implant product line will better satisfy a wide range of patient needs. David J. Wilson, Worldwide President, Mentor, said, "Our growing portfolio can now more effectively meet the needs of patients undergoing either breast reconstruction or augmentation surgery by allowing a better match between the patient and the implant on height, width and desire for optimal projection." The full research reports on Johnson & Johnson are available to download free of charge at:

http://www.analystsreview.com/Sep-23-2014/JNJ/report.pdf

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Merck & Co., Inc. Research Reports
On September 17, 2014, Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) announced the presentation of the first data from the Phase 3 clinical development program for omarigliptin, Merck's investigational once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The Company informed that during a study in Japanese patients, omarigliptin provided comparable efficacy and tolerability to Merck's once-daily DPP-4 inhibitor JANUVIA® (sitagliptin) 50 mg, which is the standard starting dose for sitagliptin in Japan. Merck presented these data on omarigliptin, which has been shown to produce sustained DPP-4 inhibition, at an oral session at the 50th European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting. Peter Stein, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Research, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories, said, "Merck is committed to helping patients reduce the complexities of managing diabetes. If approved, omarigliptin, as a once-weekly medication, could provide an important new treatment option to help patients attain their blood sugar goals." The full research reports on Merck are available to download free of charge at:

http://www.analystsreview.com/Sep-23-2014/MRK/report.pdf

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Medtronic, Inc. Research Reports
On September 17, 2014, Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic) announced that the Company's Board of Directors has elected Elizabeth Nabel, M.D., President of Brigham & Women's Hospital and Brigham & Women's Faulkner Hospital, to the Board as an Independent Director. Omar Ishrak, Medtronic Chairman and CEO, said, "We are pleased that Elizabeth Nabel will join our Board of Directors. With her extensive experience and leadership in healthcare, she will be a valued adviser as we move forward with our vision of expanding quality healthcare to people around the world, and continuing to develop innovative therapies that provide both clinical and economic value to patients." The full research reports on Medtronic are available to download free of charge at:

http://www.analystsreview.com/Sep-23-2014/MDT/report.pdf

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Amgen Inc. Research Reports
On September 15, 2014, Amgen Inc. (Amgen) announced results from a new exploratory analysis of the open-label extension study of the pivotal Phase 3 fracture trial, which found that treatment with Prolia® (denosumab) for eight years enabled a substantial proportion of women with osteoporosis to achieve non-osteoporotic T-scores (>-2.5) at the lumbar spine and total hip from baseline. The Company informed that Prolia is the first approved therapy that specifically targets RANK Ligand, an essential regulator of bone-removing cells (osteoclasts). Further, the data from the trial was presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2014 Annual Meeting in Houston on September 12, 2014 through September 15, 2014. Sean E. Harper, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Amgen, said, "We are pleased to present these new Prolia analyses at this year's meeting, which add to the growing body of evidence supporting proven treatments for osteoporosis." The full research reports on Amgen are available to download free of charge at:

http://www.analystsreview.com/Sep-23-2014/AMGN/report.pdf

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Covidien plc Research Reports
On September 17, 2014, Covidien plc (Covidien) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a 12.5% QoQ increase in quarterly dividend to $0.36 per ordinary share. According to Covidien, the quarterly dividend is payable on November 6, 2014, to shareholders of record as on October 7, 2014. The Company informed that at the new rate, the Company's annual dividend is $1.44 per ordinary share compared to the previous rate of $1.28 per ordinary share. José E. Almeida, Chairman, President and CEO, Covidien, said, "This increase is consistent with our Board's stated objective of moving to a higher payout ratio and returning free cash flow to shareholders. In the last 12 months we have returned 100 percent of our free cash flow1 through dividends and share buybacks, well above our ongoing target of 50 percent." The full research reports on Covidien are available to download free of charge at:

http://www.analystsreview.com/Sep-23-2014/COV/report.pdf

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