Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc(NASDAQ:BOTA) announced that an interim update has been provided from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, with respect to the Stop-Work Order the company recently received from BARDA and its pending decision regarding a recent In Process Review of its contract to support the development of laninamivir octanoate. 

Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc(NASDAQ:BOTA) has a 50 day moving average of $5.80 and a 200 day average of $4.96.

Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK), which is in the process of selling its $14B consumer healthcare unit, is working with an investment bank on the potential sale of a portfolio of off-patent drugs that could fetch more than $15B and draw interest from generic drugmakers, said Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter. 

Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK) has a 50 day moving average of $56.30 and a 200 day average of $52.30.  The current quarter consensus EPS is $3.44.

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc(NASDAQ:ICPT) announced the appointment of Rachel McMinn, Ph.D. to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer. Dr. McMinn will be responsible for leading corporate strategy and business development. Since 2009 until joining Intercept, she was a managing director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc(NASDAQ:ICPT) has a 50 day moving average of $321 and a 200 day average of $215.  The current quarter consensus EPS is $-2.97.

Pfizer Inc.(NYSE:PFE) CEO Ian Read is in London to urge ministers to back his company’s proposed takeover of AstraZeneca (AZN), with Read telling the Financial Times that any move to preserve a smaller U.K. “national champion” would be misguided.

Pfizer Inc.(NYSE:PFE) has a 50 day moving average of $31.34 and a 200 day average of $31.19.  The current quarter consensus EPS is $2.24.