Court Rules in Favor of Acadia Pharmaceuticals in Patent Litigation\n\nThe U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has issued a Claim Construction Order in favor of Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ACAD) regarding its ‘721 formulation patent for NUPLAZID® (pimavanserin), the company’s drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis. This is the second ruling issued today by the Court pertaining to Acadia’s patents covering NUPLAZID.\n\nIn the Order, the Court adopted Acadia’s interpretation of key disputed terms of the patent, affirming the strength of the patent. As a result, a claims construction hearing scheduled for December 19, 2023, has been cancelled. The case remains scheduled for trial in December 2024.\n\nAcadia’s formulation patent is set to expire in 2038, with a method of use patent on the 10mg tablet of NUPLAZID running to 2037 and a NUPLAZID composition of matter patent running to 2030. These patents, along with the recent rulings in favor of Acadia, demonstrate the strength and longevity of the company’s patent estate.\n\nNUPLAZID® (pimavanserin) is a selective serotonin inverse agonist and antagonist that targets 5-HT2A receptors, believed to play a role in neuropsychiatric disorders. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016 for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.\n\nAcadia Pharmaceuticals has been at the forefront of healthcare for 30 years, developing and commercializing therapies for various neurological disorders. The company is also currently working on potential treatments for schizophrenia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.\n\nIn a statement, Acadia’s President and CEO Steve Davis expressed the company’s satisfaction with the Court’s ruling and its impact on the ongoing patent litigation. He also emphasized the importance of establishing claims construction in patent litigation.

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) Expands Reach with Strategic Partnerships\n\nAffirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has been making headlines recently with its impressive growth and strategic partnerships. The company's recent collaboration with Blackhawk Network (BHN) has opened up new opportunities for consumers and merchants alike. \n\nThe partnership with BHN will provide consumers with a transparent and flexible payment option for purchasing gift cards. Through Affirm's platform, consumers can apply for a loan and choose from a variety of tailored repayment plans with annual percentage rates (APR) starting at 0%. This move not only expands Affirm's reach in the digital gift card market, but also provides an opportunity for the company to boost fees from merchants in return for higher sales generated through the usage of financing products.\n\nThis strategic move comes at a time when the demand for digital gift cards is growing at a rapid pace. According to BHN management, the growth rate of digital gift cards is more than double that of physical gift cards. This partnership will also help Affirm reach a wider audience, as BHN has over 300 million shoppers globally. With the ongoing holiday season, the timing of this move seems opportune, as 70% of Americans are expected to purchase a gift card. This trend is further supported by the record-breaking Black Friday sales, with a significant portion of online sales being made through buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options.\n\nIn addition to the partnership with BHN, Affirm has also made significant strides in the tech and travel industries. In November, Amazon (AMZN) chose Affirm as the first pay-over-time option available at the checkout point of its business-to-business store, Amazon Business. This was followed by a partnership with Booking.com in September 2023, providing flexible payment options for consumers in travel bookings. These collaborations have contributed to Affirm's impressive stock performance, with a 67.3% surge in the past three months.\n\nAffirm's strong fundamentals and strategic initiatives have also played a significant role in its success. The company has consistently outperformed earnings estimates and has a positive outlook for future earnings. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Affirm is well-positioned for growth and resilience in the media industry.\n\nOther top-ranked stocks in the Business Services space include FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS) and Huron Consulting Group Inc. (HURN), both currently carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). These companies have also outperformed earnings estimates and have a positive outlook for future earnings.\n\nIn a Affirm's recent partnership with Blackhawk Network and its strategic initiatives have positioned the company for growth and success in the digital gift card market.