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Fly News Breaks for October 8, 2019
NVS, REGN
Oct 8, 2019 | 09:14 EDT
Piper Jaffray analyst Christopher Raymond is "incrementally positive" on Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) after the FDA approved Novartis' (NVS) Beovu for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. While the approval was anticipated and physician anticipation of the drug has been high, doctors are likely to view the drug's label "as a significant let-down," Raymond tells investors in a research note. The analyst says that with inflammation and immunogenicity rates meaningfully higher than Regeneron's Eylea, and the lack of flexibility to dose more frequently, he sees little reason for doctors to switch. And while some investors may point to price as another meaningful lever, off-label Avastin makes for an "insurmountable bar for the price-sensitive segment," says Raymond. He keeps an Overweight rating on Regeneron shares with a $435 price target. The label "renders Beovu as little more than an also-ran," contends the analyst. As such, Raymond thinks Eylea's dominance in remains intact.