Health Care Update

Health care industry update As of October 10 2007
There has been a lot of activity in the broad market for the healthcare industry. Many of the top stories have to do with international markets. Many analysts remain bullish on the industry has a whole, as they expect it to continue double digit growth in many areas.
Ruppe Appreciation on HealthCare costs
The appreciation of the rupee is hurting the exports for the Health Care sector in India causing many of their goods and services to become overpriced in relation to the dollar.

IPO
Highlands Acquisition Corp announced today that it has completed its initial public offering of 12,000,000 units. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant, which entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $120,000,000 to the Company.

Look who they are targeting…..
Highlands Acquisition Corp. is a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, stock purchase, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with one or more operating businesses. The Company initially intends to focus its search for a target business in the healthcare industry.

Chinas role
Chinas pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow by 18% by 2010.
Recently Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., the Chinese drug maker that won FDA approval. Look for a trend of China having a larger role in the industry.

Pfizer As part of a broad effort to invigorate its pipeline and move more aggressively into biotechnology, Pfizer Inc. announced Thursday a new division dedicated to developing biotherapeutic drugs and research technologies.
Wal-Mart
Wal- Mart announces that they will expand their prescription drug program. They will include three fertility and prescription birth control medications, along with medicines for glaucoma, attention deficit disorder, fungal infections, acne, and more.

Wyeth Eyes Japan
Wyeth seeking approval to launch new pneumonia drug and osteoporosis drug in Japan, as part of its effort to raise sales in Japan to $1 billion by 2010, nearly double that of 2006.

Merck approved to test HIV products
FDA releases its review of Isentress ahead of a panel meeting and finds that any negative side effects from the HIV drug aren't enough to keep it off the market.

Health care plan costs
Employers' health-insurance premiums up 6.1% in 2007, the slowest annual growth rate since 1999 but still outstripping gains in workers' earnings and general inflation.