Based primarily on demand for its top-selling Alzheimer's drug, Aricept, Japanese pharmaceutical Eisai (OTC BB: ESALY) has recorded an 8% increase in profits that is setting it apart from that country's counterparts. Earlier this year, the Japanese government mandated drug price cuts that have dipped into earnings, but since most of Eisai's Aricept profits are derived from sales in the U.S. -- sales here rose 38% -- it has been less affected by the decree.
While management believes that Aricept has not yet peaked for the company because of growing demand for Alzheimer's treatments (and probably won't for the next few years), enthusiasm needs to be tempered a little because of the decision by the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence that it will no longer pay for Aricept or similar drugs. Even so, the decision would affect less than 10% of Eisai's revenues, since all of Europe accounts for just 14% of total sales.
More encouraging was the FDA's decision to expand use of Aricept to moderate to severe stages of the illness. It had previously been prescribed for only mild to moderate symptoms, but now becomes the only Alzheimer's drug that can be prescribed for the full spectrum of the illness. It will now compete directly against Namenda, the Alzheimer's treatment made by Forest Labs
Eisai has declined to speculate on how much market share it will take as a result, but surely the other pharmas that market Alzheimer's drugs, like Novartis
Yet it also can't be denied that Eisai needs another blockbuster drug like Aricept, which it co-markets with Pfizer
It is also making a move into oncology, buying a portfolio of drugs from Ligand Pharmaceutical
Right now, though, Alzheimer's and Aricept are where Eisai's money is being made, and it appears likely that it will continue to grow in this area for the foreseeable future.
For further Foolishness:
- NICE Is Just Dumb
- FDA Expands Alzheimer's Treatment
- Patent? What Patent?
- Eisai Has a Yen for Profits
Remember that the Motley Fool CAPS investor community is the fun, new way to research stocks! More than 2,200 stocks have been rated already by more than 12,000 players. Join today!
Fool contributor Rich Duprey owns shares of Eisai, but does not own any of the other stocks mentioned in this article. You can see his holdings here . Johnson & Johnson is an Income Investor pick. Pfizer is an Inside Value selection. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.