3 Stocks That Soared

Stupendously This Week

Americans had reason to cheer this week as the U.S. advanced to the next round of the World Cup.

Shareholders of these three health-care stocks cheered on also as their investments racked up massive gains.

Shares of the clinical stage pharmaceutical firm surged 35% this week.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AERI)

Source: Yahoo! Finance

• Aerie reported great results from its phase 2b trial of roclatan

• The drug, which targets treatment of glaucoma, met all clinical endpoints in the study

• Roclatan performed very well on the study’s primary endpoint, reducing mean diurnal intraocular pressures by 34%

• Aerie now plans to advance the drug to a late-stage clinical study

Why Aerie shares went airborne

Shares of the biotech skyrocketed 44% higher for the week.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Source: Yahoo! Finance

• Vertex announced positive results from two phase 3 studies

• Both studies focused on use of a VX-809/Kalydeco combo in treating cystic fibrosis

• Patients taking the drug combo experienced statistically significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second, a respiratory measure known as FEV1

• Next steps for Vertex include filing for regulatory approval in both the U.S. and Europe

Why Vertex shares vaulted higher

Shares of the medical products supplier soared almost 97% higher this week.

Medical Action Industries (NASDAQ:MDCI)

Source: Yahoo! Finance

• Owens & Minor (NYSE:OMI) announced plans to acquire Medical Action Industries

• The large health-care logistics company will pay $13.80 per share – reflecting a $208 million valuation of Medical Action net of cash

• Owens & Minor stated that the acquisition will create between $10 million and $12 million in cost synergies by the end of 2016

• Around 45% of Medical Action’s sales over the last year were to Owens & Minor

Why Medical Action shares took off

• Medical Action’s stock has likely seen about as much action as it’s going to get

• Aerie shares could continue to perform well after the great results for roclatan

• The nod for best pick, though, goes to Vertex

• Vertex has a good shot of winning regulatory approval after the solid results from the phase 3 studies for its VX-809/Kalydeco combo

• Some profit-taking is quite possible, but shares could resume their climb over the next few months in anticipation of approval decisions in the U.S. and Europe

Best pick to keep soaring?

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