Wells Fargo analyst David Marris tells investors that the failed Phase 3 study by Anika Therapeutics' (ANIK) Cingal product in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis removes a potential threat from Flexion's (FLXN) Zilretta. The analyst contends that the runway for Flexion is now clear as it progresses through its early Zilretta launch phase. Marris keeps his Outperform rating on Flexion.

BTIG notes that seven Medicare Administrative Contractors, or MACs - CGS, WPS, NGS, Palmetto, Novitas, First Coast, and Noridian - this morning published new proposed local coverage determinations, or LCDs, regarding the coverage of skin substitutes grafts and cellular and tissue based products for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, or DFUs, and venous leg ulcers, or VLUs. This marks "the second attempt in the past 12 months where MACs have proposed an LCD that would drastically shake up the advanced wound care market," says the analyst, who highlights that the proposed LCD includes non-coverage products from Integra Lifesciences (IART), Organogenesis (ORGO), Smith & Nephew (SNN), MiMedx (MDXG), Anika Therapeutics (ANIK) and numerous smaller, private wound care companies. The firm adds that it thinks Integra and Organogenesis both have meaningful exposure to the LCDs based on their product portfolio and the revenue mix within their Advanced Wound Care businesses.