Catch up on the weekend’s top five stories with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. AstraZeneca (AZN) said in a statement that, “Following a recent concern raised around thrombotic events, AstraZeneca would like to offer its reassurance on the safety of its COVID-19 vaccine based on clear scientific evidence… A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country.” 2. Eli Lilly (LLY) announced that Phase 2 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ results presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s & Parkinson Diseases and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine expand on previously reported top-line data that found donanemab met its primary endpoint and showed slowing of decline on the integrated Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale, a composite measure of cognition and daily function, in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease compared to placebo. Additionally, data from secondary analyses showed donanemab consistently slowed cognitive and functional decline, with ranges between 20%-40% in all secondary endpoints with nominal statistical significance at multiple times compared to placebo, Lilly said in a statement. Further, prespecified exploratory analyses showed donanemab slowed the accumulation of tau across key brain regions in patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease, it added. Specifically, at 76 weeks compared to baseline, treatment with donanemab slowed decline by 32% compared to placebo as measured by the iADRS, which was statistically significant. As early as nine months after initiation of treatment, a significant difference in decline by iADRS was observed, Lilly said. In addition, 40% of participants treated with donanemab achieved amyloid negativity as early as six months after starting treatment and 68% achieved this target by 18 months. 3. This past week, GameStop (GME) soared 9% after the naming of Ryan Cohen to a board committee dedicated to the company’s transformation, Alex Eule wrote in this week’s edition of Barron’s. But at its core, the GameStop phenomenon feels like a rush of nostalgia, the author contended, adding that it is a vote for bricks and mortar over e-commerce, and physical over digital, and the nostalgic sentiment goes deeper than GameStop and fellow meme stock AMC (AMC). The best performing stock in the S&P 500 index in 2021 is ViacomCBS (VIAC). Sticking with the old media theme, there’s also Gannett (GCI), whose shares are up 69% this year, Eule noted. Meanwhile, Deluxe (DLX) stock is up 42% in 2021, while Joann (JOAN) returned to the market for the first time in a decade. In addition to these, the author also highlighted Cinemark (CNK), Mattel (MAT), Barnes & Noble (BNED), Pitney Bowes (PBI), Fossil Group (FOSL), H&R Block (HRB) and WW International (WW). 4. Disney’s (DIS) “Raya and the Last Dragon” stayed atop the domestic box office chart with $55M in its second weekend, falling only 35% with about half of indoor theaters in North American now open. The movie sports an A CinemaScore. Overseas, “Raya and the Last Dragon” earned another $11.5M from 32 markets for a global total of $52.6M. 5. Walker & Dunlop (WD), Coupang (CPNG), Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV), Travel + Leisure (TNL) and Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC) saw positive mentions in this week’s edition of Barron’s.
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