Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) increased the U.S. price of Dupixent by 3.0% from $2,846.16 to $2,941.54 per package, effective June 29, SunTrust analyst Yatin Suneja tells investors in a research note, citing a third-party source. Piper Jaffray also highlighted the 3% price increase. This is the first price increase for Dupixent taken by Regeneron and partner Sanofi (SNY) since the drug was launched in March of 2017, the analyst points out. Suneja believes Dupixent could be on its way to becoming a multi-billion dollar franchise given its "rapid progress" in atopic dermatitis, October FDA action date for asthma and multiple Phase III readouts planned for later this year. The price increase should contribute $14M in incremental sales in 2018, Suneja predicts. The analyst keeps a Hold rating on Regeneron with a $344 price target. This report corrects the launch date of Dupixent.

Oppenheimer analyst Hartaj Singh raised the firm's price target on Regeneron to $1,175 from $1,125 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares ahead of the Q1 earnings report on May 2. Oppenheimer believes the areas of focus will be the status and dynamics of the Eylea High Dose launch, questions around the impending Dupixent COPD PDUFA, the status of the two oncology approvals expected in 2024, updates on various pipeline projects in immunology and oncology, and comments on capital allocation and financial planning by the new CFO at the company.