The outlook for Valeant Pharmaceuticals' (VRX) Xifaxan, which represents 13% of the company's revenue, improved last year following safety issues for competitor Viberzi and delays for generic challenger Teva (TEVA), Deutsche Bank analyst Gregg Gilbert tells investors in a research note. More recently, the analyst notes, questions have been raised as to whether Cosmo's rifamycin could pose a threat to Xifaxan, either in the near term from off-label prescribing for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, or longer term if eventually approved for IBS-D. After due diligence, Gilbert believes rifamycin could potentially be a longer-term threat to Xifaxan if it works for IBS-D, but he does not see "material risk" from off-label use in the interim. His model continues to assume mid-single digit Xifaxan sales growth for several years and a generic cliff in 2025. The analyst keeps a Hold rating on Valeant with a $20 price target.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals "announced that the Supreme Court denied Vanda's petition for a writ of certiorari in its HETLIOZ(R) Abbreviated New Drug Application litigation against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp." CEO Mihael H. Polymeropoulos stated: "We are disappointed that the Supreme Court has decided not to hear our case and clarify the lower court standard for obviousness in patent law. However, we are pleased that our case has drawn attention to an area of law that has broad and significant implications in life sciences innovation."