Today, we detected some large moves in the option markets for multiple names we follow. As we enter the fourth quarter, we suspect this increase in frequency. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA) The February $16 puts were very active today, with over 9,000 in volume (vs open interest of only 76 contracts). One trader sold two […]
Updates out of ESMO12
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2012 kicked off this weekend and goes until October 2nd(Tuesday). Abstracts with data for those presentations that have already occurred can be viewed and searched here(link). We did get several updates from companies that we would like to review. First up is Threshold Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: THLD). On Saturday, they presented […]
PPHM – Little value in Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
For a very brief period of time, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PPHM) had become the phoenix that rose from the ashes. Peregrine recently posted overall survival(OS) data from their randomized Phase II trial in second-line non-small cell lung cancer that excited many. It talked up being approached by over a dozen big pharma companies to partner […]
ZIOP – Analysis of Ziopharma
Biotech investors are currently looking for Ziopharm Oncology (NASDAQ: ZIOP) to announce top-line results of their Phase 3 trial of Palifosfamide. Ziopharm appears close to an inflection point and everyone is awaiting these results. Below we map out the next few months at the company and what to expect. Upcoming events ESMO Presidential Symposium presentation on […]
BMRN – Spotlight on Biomarin
We have talked about BioMarin several times before( #1, #2 and #3). Today, we wanted to put out a brief note on some recent options activity we have noticed. On Friday, we saw some very large options activity that is certainly worth mentioning. The largest trade that happened was a 3-way trade, that does not appear tied […]
Upcoming events for REGN, MDVN, and BMRN
This is the third installment in our series about upcoming events across the biotech sector(be sure to see our 1st piece and 2nd piece). This time around we want to take a look at some upcoming events at some larger biotech companies and what we will be drivers for them going forward. If there are any companies […]
Upcoming events for EXEL, ARQL, CLDX
This is the second installment in our series about upcoming events across the biotech sector(see our 1st piece). As we have said before, this fall should be full of meaningful data catalysts for biotech companies. In our next segment, we will take a look at a few larger biotech companies and what we will be […]
XNPT – What’s going on at Xenoport
Many market commentators have been amazed by the recent move in Xenoport(NASDAQ: XNPT), which is up more than 100% since April. Much of this move is easily explained by excitement for their early-stage drug, XP23829. As we will explain below, there appears to be good rationale for this move and likely a move higher. XP23829 […]
Upcoming events for NKTR, THLD, ASTX
Given the plethora of data coming in the next 3 months, we thought we would do a few short series on biotech companies that will be quite busy this fall. We hope to do 3 or 4 installments in the next few weeks to give readers some broad coverage of what’s happening from small marketcap […]
Upcoming medical conferences(September thru October)
With the summer almost over, we want to highlight some of the major medical meetings that will be pivotal events for many companies. September thru early December is ripe with upcoming data releases that can be presented at these events. We have attempted to list some of the more important conferences, but it’s entirely possible […]
Smallcap Phase 3 data expected by year-end 2012
This report will focus on some of the most anticipated Phase 3 trials that should read-out by the end of 2012. We’ve provided some thoughts on the potential for success of each program. This installment will focus on companies with market capitalizations below $1 billion. (Note, they are in alphabetical order, not most to least […]
ESMO12 Abstracts of interest
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2012 kicks off on September 28th thru October 2nd. Abstract titles are currently able to be viewed and searched here(link), but no other descriptive information is available. Abstracts will be available before-hand on September 17th, with late-breaking abstracts coming during the Congress. Synta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNTA) Several sources […]
September at the FDA
Upcoming regulatory decisions at the FDA in September should make for another FDA decisions expected on 4 New Drug Applications(NDAs) Salix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SLXP) – 9/5/12 Salix has a PDUFA date of Wednesday, September 5th, for Crofelemer 125 mg tablets. The indication sought is “for the control and symptomatic relief of diarrhea in patients with […]
ONCY – What’s going on at Oncolytics
Oncolytics Biotech (NASDAQ: ONCY) is running a two-stage Phase III clinical trial examining REOLYSIN® in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with platinum-refractory head and neck cancers (REO 018). We originally believed there was a chance to see data before August options expiration. This analysis provides further insight into why we believe this trial […]
PPHM – More downside expected in Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
We have recently posted on Peregrine Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PPHM) in the forums and decided to further elaborate on the company. There appears to be significant reasons to be cautious with this name. Upcoming catalysts for Peregrine over the next 12 months The following catalysts are expected, which are led by the median OS readouts from […]
AMRN – Issues surrounding the NCE status
We wanted to take a moment to post some analysis on the upcoming FDA decision around Amarin (NASDAQ: AMRN). Amarin’s AMR101 was approved on July 27th under the tradename, VASCEPA. There has been a substantial amount of worry on whether VASCEPA will receive New Chemical Entity(NCE) status and the benefits it brings a new drug. […]
HZNP – Horizon Pharma’s unsustainable business model
Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: HZNP) currently has 2 FDA approved products, one of which is also approved in select EU countries. I view this company as significantly overvalued given their products have no data suggestion superiority claims over cheap generics. Products Duexis is a combination of ibuprofen 800 mg and famotidine 26.6 mg, indicated for rheumatoid […]
BMRN – Update on BioMarin’s BMN-673
As a follow up to our initial piece on BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: BMRN), we caught the 2Q quarterly conference call. We were particularly interested in what was said with respect to their oncology program, BMN-673, a PARP inhibitor. This program is currently being evaluated in 2 Phase 1 trials, one in hematological malignancies and another […]
Recent updates to our proprietary database
We wanted to walk you through the process of how we update our database and highlight a recent updates that we noticed. First off, we tend to update entries in the database about once a week, sometimes faster or slower depending on the number and importance of clinical/regulatory updates. (We get particularly hammered when the […]
GILD – Gilead’s battle plans for Hepatitis C
During their quarterly conference call on Jul. 26th, Gilead essentially showed their hand in HCV. With such swift plans in place and competitors much further behind, Gilead should have a commanding lead and marketshare for the foreseeable future in HCV. Their results presented at EASL12 in April have even been convincing some in the medical […]
