Why Emergent BioSolutions Shares Are Crashing Today

6/8/20

By Keith Speights, MotleyFool

What happened

Shares of Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) were crashing 18.4% lower as of 11:13 a.m. EDT on Monday. The big drop came after the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey reached a decision after the market closed on Friday in a patent lawsuit regarding opioid overdose treatment NARCAN, a nasal spray. The court ruled in favor of Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) and against Emergent and its partner, Opiant Pharmaceuticals.

So what

The decision by the U.S. District Court is a huge blow to Emergent. NARCAN generated $72.2 million in sales for the company in the first quarter of 2020, nearly 38% of its total revenue.

Gavel on top of $100 bills

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

Technically, the court decision applies only to the NARCAN 4 mg nasal spray. Emergent also markets a 2 mg version of the product. However, Emergent and Opiant are also in litigation with Teva over the lower-dose version of the product.

Should the court's ruling stand, Emergent will face generic competition from Teva for its top-selling product. It also is involved in similar patent litigation with Perrigo over NARCAN 4 mg nasal spray.

Now what

Emergent BioSolutions stated that it intends to appeal the decision by the U.S. District Court. The company, though, plans to provide an update to its 2020 financial outlook as a result of the negative ruling when it announces its second-quarter results.

In the meantime, the main catalysts to look forward to with the biotech stock are related to its COVID-19 efforts. Emergent recently won a contract with the U.S. government worth around $628 million to manufacture novel coronavirus vaccines. It's also developing plasma-derived therapies targeting COVID-19.

Where to invest $1,000 right now

When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Recent Deals

Interested in advertising your deals? Contact Edwin Warfield.

Connect with these Baltimore Professionals on LinkedIn

  • Edwin Warfield

    Editor in Chief, Warfield Digital

    Connect
  • Jean Halle

    Independent Consultant

    Connect
  • Larry Lichtenauer

    President of Lawrence Howard & Associates

    Connect
  • Newt Fowler

    Partner at Womble Carlyle, LLP

    Connect
  • David Crowley

    Owner at Develop DC

    Connect
  • Carolyn Stinson

    Stinson Marketing Group

    Connect