Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of DepoMed (ASRT 5.11%), a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to treat pain and other central nervous system disorders, jumped as much as 11% after announcing settlements with two Gralise abbreviated new drug application filers. Shares have since given up a good chunk of their gains and are now up just shy of 5%.
So what: According to the early morning press release, DepoMed has settled with two of the three defendants in an ongoing patent infringement case surrounding the trio's attempt to file separate ANDA's to bring generic versions of Gralise, a treatment for pain following a bout of the shingles, to market. Under the terms of the deal, neither defendant can begin selling generic Gralise until Jan. 1, 2024. The two settlements were struck with privately held Zydus Pharmaceuticals and Incepta Pharmaceuticals, however, DepoMed still notes that its patent litigation against the third party, Actavis, is ongoing.
Now what: Today's move higher is all about sustaining exclusivity for DepoMed and Gralise. Although Gralise's total sales were just $36.2 million last year, Gralise is by far DepoMed's top-selling therapy, and it's rapid growth of 109% sheds promise that DepoMed's top-line could grow considerably over the coming years when combined with newly acquired Cambia and Lazanda. At roughly 30 times forward earnings DepoMed might still be a bit pricey for my blood, but the pace of sales growth for its newly acquired therapies and Gralise could change that.
