Tag Archives: technology

Amazon Fire TV Gets Its Voice On Through Alexa

Amazon.com ( AMZN ) is adding voice-control features to its Fire TV system through Alexa, Amazon’s personal assistant app and rival to Apple’s Siri. The new Alexa features coming to Fire TV include the ability to control playback of Amazon Video, launch apps, access local movie showtimes, and search local businesses and restaurants, Amazon said. Users can also find local movie showtimes and where they are playing. The new Alexa features will be automatically delivered via free, over-the-air software updates in the coming weeks, Amazon said. Many of the new features are similar to what’s available on the Apple ( AAPL ) TV system through its Siri technology. Amazon’s Fire TV has a library of about 4,000 channels, apps and games, and supports 4K Ultra HD playback. Amazon stock fell 2.2% in the stock market today , to 695.27, where 700 had been a point of resistance.

AbbVie’s Biggest Drug Gets Patent Setback; Stock Tumbles

Shares of big pharma AbbVie ( ABBV ) nosedived Monday after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office agreed to review a challenge to a patent on its best-selling drug. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board accepted a request for inter partes review (IPR) by generic-drug startup Coherus Biosciences ( CHRS ) on patent 8,889,135, or the “methods” patent, for rheumatoid-arthritis treatment Humira. The patent is due to expire in 2025, but if Coherus is successful, it could launch its biosimilar version of Humira earlier. That might not happen too soon, though, since the review normally takes a year and is then open to appeal. AbbVie stock, which had opened flat on the stock market today , abruptly dropped 4% after the news came out mid-morning, to near 60, and ended Tuesday’s session at 60.23, down 3.6%. Coherus’ more lightly traded stock jumped 16%, to 18.85. AbbVie is No. 1 in its Industry Group — find out more at IBD Stock Checkup . Humira is currently the top-selling drug in the world, with $14 billion in sales last year. Coherus is one of several companies developing biosimilars of Humira — others include privately held Boehringer Ingelheim, which has some outstanding IPR requests on several different patents, and Amgen ( AMGN ), whose IPR request on a different Humira patent was denied back in January. Coherus has also filed IPR requests on two other patents. “Keep in mind AbbVie also has methods patents which cover other approved Humira indications, such as Crohn’s (disease), and we would expect additional IPRs/litigation to commence prior to potential biosimilar approvals (Amgen’s Humira biosimilar could be approved later this year),” wrote Evercore ISI analyst Mark Schoenebaum in an email. “Thus, these IPRs will likely be the first of many legal actions against AbbVie’s methods patent estate.”

Agilent Hits 15-Year High As Q2 Earnings Point To Revived Growth

Shares of scientific-instrument maker Agilent Technologies ( A ) popped to a 15-year high above 45 in early trading Tuesday after the company beat fiscal Q2 estimates and raised guidance late Monday. The 16% earnings growth and 6% top-line growth were the highest since Q1 2012, and a vindication of CEO Michael McMullen’s strategy since he attained his position just over a year ago, according to Evercore ISI analyst Ross Muken. “We see Mike’s vision of superior top-line growth, an inflection in operating margins and improved free cash flow/deployment as a differentiating factor vs. LST (life-science tools) peers going forward,” Muken wrote in a research note, raising his price target to 48 from 43 while affirming a buy rating. Agilent’s peers include Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO ) and Danaher ( DHR ). Leerink analyst Dan Leonard raised his price target to 51 from 44 while keeping an outperform rating. He noted that in addition to lifting its organic-growth guidance for this year to 4.5%, the company had offered a glimpse into next year. “Management offered an initial view of fiscal 2017, projecting 4.5% organic revenue growth, and reiterated its commitment to target 22% operating margins,” Leonard wrote. “Assumptions for growth include continued momentum in biopharma and China, which are expected to sustain throughout the second half of 2016 and full-year 2017, and the C&E (chemical & energy) market bottoming out by year-end.” Agilent stock early Tuesday hit its highest point since January 2001, at 45.34, though in afternoon trading it was up just 2.5%, near 44. The move broke the stock out of a consolidation that had been going for over a year. The stock’s Relative Strength and Accumulation/Distribution ratings have both been improving over the last couple of weeks, reaching 82 and B, respectively, both well above average.