Sometimes you have to make enemies to make new friends. Such is the case for Abbott Labs
The data, which is only from the first half of a 96-week study, showed that the two combinations are equal in their ability to keep the HIV virus at bay in recently diagnosed patients. Considering that Isentress is a relatively new compound, having been approved less than three years ago, this is clearly a win for Merck. Grabbing some of the $2.5 billion in sales that Truvada managed last year sure would be nice; the allure of a potential revenue gain is the reason Merck supplied the Isentress to the study.
Running the study makes it look like Abbott loves Merck more than Gilead, but I think Abbott would be just as happy combining Kaletra with HIV drugs made by Johnson & Johnson
Abbott will consider making a single pill combining Kaletra and Isentress once the full study is complete. Combination products such as Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb's
Gilead won't be all that excited about the news, but considering it's developing a four-drug quad pill of its own, I doubt there's any love lost between it and Abbott.
Tim Hanson and Brian Richards express their love for penny stocks.