In This Article:
Breast augmentation tops the plastic surgery trends in the United States, rapidly attracting investors' interest. Last year alone, a total of 313,735 breast augmentation procedures were executed in the country.
On average, an implant costs $5,925, raking in huge profits for manufacturers. In fact, Global Market Insights states that the global breast implant market was valued at $2.3 billion in 2018 and is expected to see a CAGR of 10.5% by 2025, drawing potential investors.
Health Perils
However, with a steady rise in breast implant use, the FDA has identified the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (non-Hodgkin's), a rare type of cancer.
Last month, the agency asked pharmaceutical bigwig Allergan AGN to voluntarily recall nearly a dozen of its Biocell textured implants since those were linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Notably, the FDA cited an additional 116 cases of breast implant anaplastic large cell lymphoma in women undergoing breast augmentations. Moreover, regulators have become aware of 33 deaths related to the disease, up significantly from nine deaths in February.
This emerging health hazard is likely to build pressure on several breast implant manufacturers, keeping potential investors at bay.
Let’s take a look at a few companies which offer a broad spectrum of breast implants and therefore might experience a slump owing to rising health concerns.
Stocks Likely to Bear the Brunt
Given the health concern, we have zeroed down on three stocks, each carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which might be in for trouble. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Also, these stocks have underperformed their respective industries over the past month.
We have already discussed the recall of Allergan’s breast implant devices. It is disappointing to note that the Biocell implants were banned in Europe last December, following 481 cases of lymphoma resulting from the company’s Biocell implants. Additionally, nine models of Allergan's textured breast implants may soon face a ban in Australia for similar reasons.
Resultantly, the company’s second-quarter revenues have been impacted. Earlier, it also saw a 30% drop in worldwide breast implant revenues.
Experts opine that Allergan might as well be required to cease import, manufacture and export of the devices.
Reflective of these, over the past month, the stock has rallied 4.3%, underperforming the industry’s 5.7% rise.
Next on our list is Johnson & Johnson JNJ. The New-Jersey based MedTech bigwig acquired aesthetic surgical product manufacturer, Mentor, in 2017. Since then, the company has been raking in billions from its breast augmentation and breast reconstruction products. Notably, the FDA-approved flagship MemoryGel — a silicone breast implant — has seen robust demand. However, in the recent past, the implants have been said to be causing muscle pain, nausea and other such discomforting symptoms, leading to the filing of a lawsuit in a California state court.