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Bristol-Myers Stock Collapses After Disastrous Cancer Study Failure (BMY)

By U.S. News & World Report

Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (ticker: BMY) fell more than 16 percent Friday after the company announced that its Opdivo drug failed a study that would have expanded its use to lung cancer patients.

BMY stock dropped more than $12 a share, or 16 percent, in early trading as the company announced the failure of the Checkmate -026 study.

“Opdivo has become a foundational treatment that is transforming cancer care across multiple tumor types,” says CEO Giovanni Caforio. “While we are disappointed CheckMate -026 did not meet its primary endpoint in this broad patient population, we remain committed to improving patient outcomes through our comprehensive development program.”

The drug’s failure comes as a surprise, and is challenging assumptions about BMY’s position as a leader in lung cancer research and treatment, according to The Wall Street Journal. Bristol Myers was the first company to bring to market immunotherapy drugs such as Opdivo as a treatment for cancer. Opvido was brought to market in 2014 as a treatment for skin cancer, and is also approved for use for patents with melanoma, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, advanced renal cell carcinoma and relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Despite the study results, BMY stock is still considered a good value on Wall Street, according to some analysts. Zacks Investment Research changed its rating on Bristol-Myers from a “buy” to a “hold” and noted that the company has good upside potential.

“The company raised its 2016 earnings guidance once again buoyed by strong trends across the business, primarily Opdivo and Eliquis, which is encouraging,” Zacks says in the research note. “Meanwhile, we are positive on Bristol-Myers’ efforts to develop its pipeline. It has been working on strengthening its product portfolio as well as pipeline through acquisitions and deals. The company recently announced a couple of clinical trial collaborations with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and AbbVie (ABBV) for lung cancer. However, generic competition for several of the company’s key products is concerning.”

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Bristol-Myers Stock Collapses After Disastrous Cancer Study Failure (BMY) originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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