The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights:Bayer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Applied Micro Circuits

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Jul 30, 2013, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, July 30, 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 Bayer (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:REGN-Free Report), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report), Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Limited Company (Nasdaq:JAZZ-Free Report) and Applied Micro Circuits Corp (Nasdaq:AMCC-Free Report).

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Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Good News for Bayer

The HealthCare segment at Bayer (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report) recently received encouraging news from the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), when it gave a positive opinion on the EU approval of eye drug, VEGF Trap-Eye.

Bayer is looking to get VEGF Trap-Eye approved in the EU for the treatment of visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). A final verdict from the European Commission on the approval of VEGF Trap-Eye in this indication is expected later this year.

We note that though the European Commission is not bound to follow the CHMP's decision, it generally does so.

Bayer has a collaboration agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:REGN-Free Report) for the global development of Eylea (U.S. trade name of VEGF Trap-Eye). Per the terms of the agreement, Regeneron owns the entire U.S. rights pertaining to the eye drug. Bayer is however responsible for marketing Eylea in ex-U.S. markets on approval. The profit earned from the sales of Eylea in those markets will be shared equally by the companies. However, in Japan, Regeneron will receive royalties on Eylea's net sales.

VEGF Trap-Eye is already approved in the U.S. for the CRVO indication since Sep 2012 under the trade name of Eylea. Eylea is also approved in the U.S. for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

We also note that EYLEA is approved in Europe, Japan, Australia, and several other countries for the wet AMD indication.

Bayer is looking to expand VEGF Trap-Eye's indication further in the myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) indication. In Jun 2013, the company reported positive top-line results from the phase III MYRROR study on VEGF Trap-Eye in patients suffering from mCNV. Bayer intends to submit its first regulatory approval application in Asia for VEGF Trap-Eye in this indication later in the year.

Eylea sales came in at €49 million in the first quarter of 2013 as per Bayer.

Bayer, a large cap pharma stock, presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). However, another large cap pharma stock, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report), currently looks better positioned with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other companies in the pharma space that are worth considering include Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Limited Company (Nasdaq:JAZZ-Free Report), which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Applied Micro's SoC: a Super Hit?

Applied Micro Circuits Corp (Nasdaq:AMCC-Free Report) recently claimed that its embedded Server-on–a-Chip (SoC) products have gained traction in the Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) and Enterprise markets. The embedded server on chips are used in a variety of designs, including enterprise and consumer access points, Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA) gateways and Long Term Evolution (LTE) gateway boxes.

Applied Micro has gained a formidable position in the server solutions and wireless market, fuelled by its advanced and innovative technologies. The company has shipped over two million embedded processors to Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) – a provider of premium Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) services of advanced wireless communications products to service providers.

Applied Micro's product portfolio and continued efforts to provide maximum consumer satisfaction have augmented its market position. The integrated offload engines and advanced PacketPro architecture offer quality service and security and performance to its customers. With advanced PacketPro solutions, the company aims to deliver world-class carrier gateway systems.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Applied Micro is a leading provider of high-bandwidth low power integrated circuits (ICs), which are essential for the processing, transporting and storing of information. The company provides semiconductor solutions for the enterprise, telecom and consumer/small medium business.

In the last reported quarter, net sales for the company came in at $54.1 million versus $41.3 million in the year-earlier quarter. Applied Micro expects to continue its healthy revenue momentum with new product developments and increased market acceptance in the coming quarters.

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