Biotech company, Biogen Inc. BIIB, reported first-quarter 2016 earnings per share of $4.79, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.48 and 25% above the year-ago earnings.Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) Street EPS & Surprise Percent - Last 5 Quarters | FindTheCompany Sales came in at $2.727 billion, increasing 7% from the year-ago period but just shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.758 billion. Currency negatively impacted revenues by $50 million.The Quarter in DetailOral multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Tecfidera, which grew 15% from the year-ago period to $946 million, declined 5% sequentially. This included U.S. sales of $744.3 million and EU sales of $201.6 million.First-quarter Tysabri revenues increased 3% to $477 million (U.S. $288.2 million, ex-U.S. $188.8 million) from the year-ago period.Combined interferon revenues (Avonex and Plegridy), in the first quarter, were $670 million (U.S. $467.5 million, ex-U.S. $202.9 million), down 11% from the year-ago period and 9% sequentially. Avonex revenues declined 19% from the year-ago period to $564 million.Plegridy contributed $106 million to first-quarter 2016 revenues, up 4% sequentially.Anti-CD20 revenues remained flat at $329 million in the first quarter.Alprolix and Eloctate, Biogen’s recently launched hemophilia treatments, recorded revenues of $75 million and $108 million, respectively, showing sequential growth of 5% and 6%, respectively.Our TakeBiogen’s first-quarter results were mixed with the company surpassing earnings expectations but missing on revenues by a slight margin. Cost control and a lower share count helped boost earnings.The stock has been under pressure on concerns regarding a slowdown in Tecfidera’s growth rate as well as overall concerns regarding pricing in the biotech sector. While Tecfidera’s sales declined 5% sequentially, a part of the decline can be attributed to inventory stocking of approximately $30 million in the U.S. in the fourth quarter. Biogen is working on growing Tecfidera sales and is pursuing commercial initiatives including new direct to consumer marketing programs.Biogen is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include Anika Therapeutics Inc. ANIK, Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. EBS and Gilead Sciences Inc. GILD. All three are Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GILEAD SCIENCES (GILD): Free Stock Analysis Report BIOGEN INC (BIIB): Free Stock Analysis Report ANIKA THERAPEUT (ANIK): Free Stock Analysis Report EMERGENT BIOSOL (EBS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research