The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sanofi-Aventis and NCR

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Jun 17, 2011, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, June 17, 2011 /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: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN), Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) and NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR).

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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Another Feather in Bristol-Myers' Cap

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's (NYSE: BMY) product portfolio was boosted further when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its drug Nulojix (belatacept) to prevent the rejection of transplanted kidneys in adults.

We remind investors that Bristol-Myers has succeeded in getting the drug approved in the US for the indication in its second attempt. In the second quarter of 2010, the FDA issued a complete response letter in response to biologic license application (BLA) submitted by the pharma major for Nulojix , asking for additional information. Subsequently, Bristol-Myers submitted it.

In December 2010, the agency had thereby announced that it would review the re-submitted application by June 15, 2011 (action date). The agency cleared the drug following the review thereby delivering a further boost to the company.

We note that the European approval of the drug for the same indication is on track. In April 2011, Bristol-Myers announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had issued a positive opinion and recommended approval of the drug in the European Union (EU).

We note that apart from Nulojix, some other major drugs of Bristol-Myers too have got cleared by the regulatory authorities this year. In March 2011, skin-cancer drug Yervoy was approved by the FDA and launched in April. Yervoy is under review in the Europe.

Moreover, in May 2011 the European Commission cleared Bristol-Myers' blood-thinner Eliquis (apixaban) in the EU for preventing venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adults who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery. Bristol-Myers has co-developed Eliquis with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

We note that Bristol-Myers has two more key action dates coming up this year. The FDA is scheduled to decide by August 4, 2011, on a subcutaneous formulation of Orencia for treating adults suffering from moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Furthermore, the US regulatory body is expected to decide on dapagliflozin, co-developed with AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN), for treating adults suffering from type II diabetes by October 28, 2011.

Bristol-Myers is looking to strengthen its product portfolio by launching new drugs to make up for the loss of revenues that is feared on the impending genericization of key drugs at Bristol-Myers, including the blockbuster blood-thinner Plavix. Plavix has been co-developed with Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY).

Our Recommendation

We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Bristol-Myers in the long-run. The stock carries a Zacks #3 Rank (Hold rating) in the short-run.

NCR Brings SelfServe to Banking

NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR) remains deeply committed to ensure self-service solutions for customers of financial institutions. The company added another feather to its cap with the launch of its advanced financial kiosks, designed to take routine bank transactions away from teller windows.

Through NCR's newest offerings -- SelfServ 4 and SelfServ 8 -- customers can now open and maintain accounts, study and purchase financial products, pay bills and fines as well as search for loans, credit cards, insurance rates and even purchase tickets.

The NCR SelfServ 4 is targeted at all non-cash transactions such as check-in and account services. SelfServ 8 features cash-deposit capability for all kinds of payments. Both machines are equipped with the touchscreen technology and APTRA software applications.

Hopefully, the kiosks will shorten teller lines. As per research conducted by NCR itself, tellers spend 90% of their time on basic account maintenance and payment transactions and just 10% in interaction with customers.

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