With Trio Of 2011 Deals, Alexion Looks To Nearly Double R&D Spending In 2012

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s strategy of label expansion for high-priced terminal complement inhibitor Soliris (eculizumab), combined with targeted acquisitions to add other candidates for ultra-orphan conditions to its pipeline, appears to be bearing fruit. Following its quarterly earnings call Feb. 9, in which it outlined above-projection sales for Soliris and an aggressive R&D program for 2012, a quartet of Wall Street analysts rated the firm’s stock either “buy” or “outperform.”

This year, the Connecticut biotech plans to nearly double its R&D spending – from $127