Buzz Stocks: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Baxalta, eLong

U.S. stocks are poised to continue dropping after yesterday's sharp decline. In company news, today's stocks to watch include biopharmaceutical concerns Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:REGN) and Baxalta Inc (NYSE:BXLT), and China-based hotel reservation firm eLong, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:LONG).

• REGN is nearly 5% higher in pre-market trading -- and destined for record highs -- thanks to a solid earnings showing. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, as sales for its blockbuster eye drug, Eylea, soared 58%. In addition, the company upped its 2015 sales forecast for the drug.  REGN is a technical powerhouse, riding along support from its 10-week moving average to close yesterday at $554.27. Despite this outstanding performance, options players remain unconvinced. REGN's current Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.32 ranks in the 68th percentile of its annual range. An unwinding of this pessimism could serve to push the equity higher still. Plus, a short squeeze could help REGN, as short interest represents more than eight sessions' worth of pent-up buying demand, at the stock's average pace of trading.

• Continuing in the biopharmaceutical realm, Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG) offered to buy BXLT for roughly $30 billion in stock, or about $45.23 per share -- a 36% premium to yesterday's closing price of $33.15. Baxalta Inc was approached in early July about the potential buyout, but decided not to continue with discussions. SHPG decided to go public with the proposal because the company believes BXLT shareholders "deserve an opportunity to consider it." Those shareholders would own roughly 37% of the new combined company, which would be a "leading global biotech company in rare diseases," opined Shire CEO Flemming Ornskov. Ahead of the bell, BXLT is pointed 15.4% higher and headed for all-time highs.

• LONG received a go-private offer from Tencent Holdings Ltd. for $18 per ADS -- a 27% premium to yesterday's close at $14.22. As a result of this offer, the Chinese online travel company is set to open in the $17 region. This news follows eLong, Inc.'s announcement yesterday that it lost $1.58 per share in the second quarter. Prior to this announcement, LONG had been battling resistance in the $14.50 region. 

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