TheFDA's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee will discuss results from clinical studies and make a recommendation to the FDA on whether pirfenidone should be approved as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The FDA does not have to follow the advice of its panels. But if pirfenidone gets a positive recommendation for the panel, it is more likely to be approved.

InterMune shares rose more than 70% to 25.37 early Friday, their highest point since May 2007. The stock was near 23 in midday trading.

Some 200,000 people in the U.S. and Europe have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to Intermune. No drugs are approved to treat the disease in the U.S. InterMune wants to market the drug under the name Esbriet.

The drug developer soared 59% to 23.28 after the FDA issued a review of InterMune's (ITMN) experimental drug pirfenidone that had a much milder tone than expected. Regulators are concerned about unclear trial results and possible side effects. [Read the full article]

But the big bucks stop with skin-care products. Once the economy tanked, Ryan stopped buying the expensive Estee Lauder-brand makeup and switched to cheaper labels.

"As soon as the recession hit, I kept using the good skin-care product because it lasts long," said New York-based Ryan. "But the recession showed me I could buy cheaper brands of blushes, bronzers and other makeup at the drug store and get a similar result."

Estee Lauder makes quality skin-care, makeup, fragrance and hair-care products sold at better department stores and specialty stores. Its brands include its namesake, Clinique, M.A.C., Bobbi Brown and Aveda.

Like other makers of prestige beauty products, Estee Lauder got stung by the economic downturn, which led to weak demand and caused many consumers like Ryan to trade down to cheaper brands.

In 2009, retail sales of prestige beauty products sold in U.S. [Read the full article]

The company relies heavily on Feraheme, a new IV injection treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease.

People with chronic kidney diseases often suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Without enough iron, the body can't produce enough hemoglobin in red blood cells. That makes people tired and pale because of a lack of oxygen in blood cells carried throughout the body.

Feraheme can be injected into a patient in 17 seconds, while conventional IV iron treatment takes 15 to 60 minutes for infusion, AMAG says. Also, Feraheme requires twice-a-week injections while other IV irons need up to 10 treatments a month.

"The benefit of Feraheme is that it's a lot more convenient than what's been out there," said analyst Yaron Werber of Citigroup.

The drug is a product of nanotechnology. It uses tiny nano-particles of iron oxide, which makes quick injection possible. The Food and Drug Administration approved it in June. [Read the full article]

Through the end of December, the restaurant industry suffered through six straight quarters of traffic declines, according to the NPD Group.

It was the weakest and longest running downturn the research firm has seen since it began tracking the industry in the mid-1970s.

Panera Bread has been one of the top performers in IBD's Restaurant group as new stores offset weaker traffic at the casual chain.  View Enlarged Image

In the quarter ending in December, year-over-year traffic fell 2.9%, better than the 4% drop in the three months ending in September. Improvements continue, analysts say.

"We're hearing inklings of consumers spending a little bit more," said Bonnie Riggs, NPD Group's restaurant analyst. "We do have pent-up demand. And we do see life here and there."

In an industry notorious for low profit margins, nothing shakes up operations quite like a recession. [Read the full article]