Genentech, J&J earnings expected to rise

It's a big couple weeks for earnings, and so a couple of newspapers are offering a rundown on which pharma companies will report when and what results we're likely to see. Naturally, we're passing the news along so you can know what to expect. Here are the highlights; click through for more details.

• Genentech reports later today; analysts are estimating earnings of 86 cents a share, compared year-over-year with 78 cents. As the Wall Street Journal Health Blog notes, it's the first full quarter with Avastin approved as a breast cancer treatment.
• Johnson & Johnson unfurls its results tomorrow, and the market is expecting to see results from the company's aggressive cost-cutting program.  Plus, the company lost Risperdal patent protection, but a copycat form didn't hit the market till quarter's end. Analysts think J&J will bring in $1.12 per share compared with $1.05 a year ago.
• Merck has had a tough quarter, what with the FDA's rejection of Cordaptive, continued trouble on the Vytorin/Zetia front, and flattening Gardasil sales. Its earnings hit the news on July 21.
• Pfizer's earnings could take a hit from falling scrips: Chantix, because of psychiatric safety concerns, and Lipitor because of competition from generic simvastatin. We'll see on July 23.
• Amgen reports its numbers July 28, and though its anemia-drug sales are still down, the company has affirmed its 2008 earnings expectations.

Stay tuned as the numbers hit the street. We'll pass those along, too.

- see Boston Globe's earnings calendar
- check out the roundup at the Health Blog

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