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Big-cap biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals ( REGN ) hit a 16-month low Tuesday after its Q4 earnings disappointed investors. Last month, Regeneron revealed Q4 sales of its eye drug Eylea, which accounts for the great majority of its revenue. Results announced early Tuesday, though, show that the recently launched cholesterol drug Praluent sold well short of expectations, at $7 million, while collaboration revenue from partner Sanofi ( SNY ) was also lower than expected. Overall, Q4 revenue rose 37% over the year-earlier quarter to $1.1 billion, about $80 million below analyst consensus, according to Thomson Reuters. Earnings of $2.83 a share also missed Wall Street’s average estimate of $3.36. EPS rose just 1% from the year-earlier quarter, breaking a four-quarter streak of double-digit growth. Regeneron last month also guided 2016 expenses, and on Tuesday it added that U.S. Eylea sales should grow 20% this year, which was slightly above analyst consensus for 19% growth. The company does not provide overall revenue or earnings guidance. Evercore ISI analyst Mark Schoenebaum calculated that the implied 2016 earnings guide from the expense forecast is $11.57 to $14.14, which is on the low side of the consensus projection for $13.92. The weak Praluent number, which was less than half the consensus estimate, followed a likewise underwhelming report from Amgen ( AMGN ) on its similar drug Repatha in its Q4 results last month . “This slow start is consistent with the current market feedback about (Praluent’s) initial launch and is certainly going to put pressure on long-term revenue expectations for the product and class,” wrote Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges in a research note. Regeneron stock dropped as much as 10%, to 350.26, in early trading on the stock market today , its lowest point since October 2014. Shares closed the day down 6.3%, at 365.97, which also is the stock’s lowest closing price since October 2014. Sanofi stock fell a fraction Tuesday, to 38.87. Scalper1 News
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