The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Actelion, Bayer, Pfizer, Gilead Sciences and Honeywell International

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Nov 06, 2013, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Actelion Ltd. (OTC:ALIOF-Free Report), Bayer (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report) Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE-Free Report), Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD-Free Report) and Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON-Free Report).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:

U.S. Launch of Actelion Hypertension Med

Actelion Ltd. (OTC:ALIOF-Free Report) announced the launch of Opsumit 10 mg in the U.S. for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH WHO Group I) to delay disease progression. Disease progression includes events like death, commencement of intravenous or subcutaneous prostanoids or clinical worsening of PAH.

The SERAPHIN study established the effectiveness of Opsumit in PAH patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Opsumit was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct 18, 2013

The approval of the drug in the EU for the PAH indication is also on track. Last month, Actelion received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for Opsumit. Actelion is looking to get Opsumit approved in the EU as monotherapy or in combination, for the long-term treatment of PAH in adults of WHO functional class II to III. A final decision on Opsumit should be out by year end. It has also filed for approval in other regions.

Opsumit is also being evaluated in a pivotal phase III program in patients suffering from digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis. Results from this study are expected in the first half of 2014. In addition, Opsumit is being evaluated for the treatment of glioblastoma (phase I).

We believe the launch of Opsumit in the U.S. will strengthen Actelion's cardiovascular portfolio. Opsumit is the first drug to have proved its efficacy in delaying disease progression over the long term in PAH patients. However, the PAH market looks extremely competitive with the presence of Bayer's (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report) Adempas, Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE-Free Report) Revatio and Gilead Sciences Inc.'s (Nasdaq:GILD-Free Report) Letairis.

Actelion carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while Bayer is a Zacks #2 (Buy) Ranked stock.

Refinery Modernization by Honeywell

Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON-Free Report) was recently selected by Swedish oil producer Preem AB to modernize one of Europe's largest refineries. Honeywell's Enhanced High Performance Process Manager (EHPM) industrial process controllers will help Preem to upgrade the refinery and increase through-put while maximizing legacy investments and intellectual property. The upgrade is expected to be complete before the end of this year.

Additionally, the adoption of other technologies by Honeywell can also be used by Preem to enhance its overall refinery operations. These include continuous and batch processing controls such as Experion C300, and Honeywell's fault tolerant ethernet FTE technology that offer faster network diagnostics and improved security.

The technological up-gradation is cost effective for the company as it saves on time and cost of entire control system replacement. The project should considerably extend the life of the existing control system at the refinery. At the same time, the enhanced high-performance process manager will triple the capacity of the refinery's existing controllers.

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