The trading today seemed a little calm (could be because I was out most of the morning) but this is not bad given the recent swings. A period of steady base building might be the most productive outcome but we still need to see many more days before we can be confident as to what […]
Quick Confirmation
I just talked to CNAT and confirmed that they have not seen any lipid abnormalities either at the pre-clinical or clinical stages. In addition, they noted that there is no reason to expect the emricisan mechanism of action to generate any lipid abnormalities. Obviously, this does not completely rule anything out but simply confirms my […]
March 18 Biotech Update- Cause for Optimism?
This morning was much more encouraging than yesterday with the sector finally seeming to outperform the broader market. Obviously one day does not make a trend and even despite the price action; most of it seemed on fairly light volume so this could still be the pause that refreshes for the next move down. In […]
March 17 Biotech Update- Due for a Bounce?
The sector looked good this morning but seemed more in line with the broader market and not necessarily a signal of strength. We are at a region where we should see a bounce in the IBB but the move this morning was not really encouraging. It seemed that there were more than enough sellers on […]
March 14 Biotech Update- Seeing Red as Value or the End?
Interesting morning for the sector with the broader market relatively unchanged and the biotech sector selling off hard. Why would this be the case? Is it something fundamental to the sector or just jittery traders dumping unnecessarily? Given the macro uncertainty in the Ukraine it could just be the case that traders are reducing risk […]
March 12 Biotech Update- Ovarian Cancer in the News
The broad sector continues to try and finds its footing, so there is really nothing new on that front. I want to spend this note talking about two companies that I have been receiving questions on the past couple of days. Please keep the questions coming as I want to make sure and touch on […]
March 10 Biotech Update- Do Not Underestimate CNAT
The sector seems to be searching for a bottom and it is not clear whether this is simply part of that process or a pause before the next leg down. As I noted last week, I will not try to call the bottom but will be a buyer on the large moves down. Whether this […]
March 7 Biotech Update- Selling Feeding Selling
I am going to spend today talking about the sector in general and send this note out early in light of the significant sell off that started yesterday afternoon and continued this morning. While the bulk of the discussion seemed to center on GILD it should be noted that it was the sector that got […]
March 6 Biotech Update- Oh the Humanity
It is Thursday again and as usual I do not have much time to write anything in depth. In general, the broad market looked good but the sector seemed pretty heavy. I cannot shake the feeling that the sector is starting to turn in that the runs higher seem further apart and the intraday dips […]
March 5 Biotech Update- Rumors Dispelled
I am back from vacation and it looks like I did not miss much (I say tongue in cheek). Of course, even though I missed two big days of trading, my portfolio is basically unchanged since I left. I think that just goes to show how volatility is dangerous for a portfolio as one is […]
February 28 Biotech Update- Whose Afraid of a Little Selling?
Well, it was a good day for the market and sector, although it seems to be getting weaker as the day goes on. I think we need to be careful going forward as we are getting towards a seasonally weak portion of the year and the sector has had a nice run and is looking […]
February 27- A Quick Biotech Update
Thursday’s are always busy and today is no different. I wanted to post a quick update in terms of ECYT. 1. As I noted yesterday, I contacted the company and I did eventually get a response. Essentially, ECYT does not want to discuss anything about the CHMP process with individuals for fear of selective disclosure. […]
February 26 Biotech Update- Questions about Questions
The broader market and sector is more of the same so I will focus less on the macro simply because nothing has really changed. There are two stocks of interest this morning and both are fairly relevant, so I will get this note out sooner than usual and with less editing than usual (so it […]
February 25 Biotech Update- Some Upcoming Catalysts
It is another day with the sector trading basically in line with market and the real outperformers/underperformers have news associated with them. At this point the real tension in the sector is between the clear continuation of the rally and the fear/expectation of a larger macro correction that will take the sector down with it. […]
February 24 Biotech Update- Blowing Bubble Talk (Again)
The broader markets certainly started the week off strong and took the biotech sector with them. That being said I did not see any really strong outperformance. The large caps were up but generally in line with the broader market and small caps more or less the same. So I really see today’s move as […]
February 21 Biotech Update- Data and Earnings Movers
Today seemed like a mixed day. There was certainly some areas of strength but nothing really seemed to catch a bid outside of news specific movers. While I do not know if this is true in terms of the performance, the sector really seemed sort of heavy early in the morning. Eventually some buyers came […]
February 20 Biotech Update-: Onconova Disappoints
It is a bust day and I do not have much time to write. I wanted to get something quickly out on $ONTX. You can read my street article that talks about what went wrong. In general, $ONTX got tripped up just where we figured it might. That being said the trial was close (as […]
February 19 Biotech Update- Talking Gene Therapy
We have had a strong couple of days and clearly the biotech rally is in continuation mode but I still would not be surprised to see a day or two like today where it rests a little. Keep in mind that the IBB index is essentially an index of large cap biotechs and will move […]
February 17 Biotech Update- A Presidents Day Bonus
The market is obviously closed today but I wanted to have a brief note because I am not sure I will have time to write anything significant tomorrow. 1. One question that has been in the back of my mind is M&A. I keep expecting to see more as BMY, GILD, PFE, and others have […]
February 14 Biotech Update- A Churning, Choppy Day
The market has been good the past couple of days with biotechs continuing higher, although it still seems to me that we are in a pause that should refresh as opposed to being ready to move higher. In some ways it depends on the macro environment but perhaps we will finally get to a stock […]
