As often happens when you have small children the best laid plans are often disrupted. So I am taking care of a child with a suspected strep throat infection (the irony is certainly not lost on me given how much time I spend researching antibiotics and the companies that are developing new treatments) and this […]
April 2nd Biotech Update
The sector was a little manic today in that the large caps continue to find a good bid but as you move down the market cap food chain the price action is more mixed. This makes perfect sense as investors are slowly coming back into the sector and are going after value and the security […]
April 1 Biotech Update- Trying Not to be Fooled by the Rally
So it appears that window dressing is over and people are now willing to buy small cap biotechs but as with every other morning we need to see if this interest continues throughout the day. I am not completely convinced that the small cap selling was entirely window dressing but there is something to be […]
March 31 Biotech Update- Is this the Bounce We are Looking For?
So this seems to be the rally we were looking for but that is assuming it does not fade in the afternoon like every other recent rally attempt. So far the rally is a little more broad based and stronger but we have seen this story before. That being said even if this is the […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 9 (3/28/14)
Below are current tactical and strategic thoughts on approaching FDA and clinical trial catalysts for select names. Estimates, values and views are as of the date published (or are noted), are subject to potential future, pre-catalyst revision and are not intended as investment recommendations. Please read our Disclaimer: (1) Catalyst Watch List – Update: CYTK: […]
A Follow Up
Just a really quick update. I had a good email exchange with one of the lead ACLF trial investigators and he basically confirmed what CNAT noted in their CC. The exclusion/inclusion criteria were so restrictive that it was virtually impossible for anyone to qualify. The investigator was confident that the issues were corrected with the […]
March 28 Biotech Update- Treading Water Can Be Dangerous
So today was another mixed day for biotechs but the large caps still are above the recent lows and even the “bad” news of the sovaldi new scripts being down for a week was not enough to push GILD to new lows or even really have much pin action across the sector. So all of […]
March 26- Biotechs are Not Dead Yet
This is a better day but sellers still seem there but buying seems more concerted today. It appears that yesterday was the buyers dipping their toes in the water to make sure the coast was clear and today they seemed much more willing to put cash to work. As we saw with yesterday, however, the […]
INSM – Quick take on Insmed
Insmed (NASDAQ: INSM) is expected to report top-line data from a Phase II trial of Arikace in non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infection tomorrow morning. This is a double-blind placebo-controlled study that has recruited 90 patients and is comparing the change in semi-quantitative mycobacterial culture density on a seven-point scale from baseline to the end of treatment […]
March 25 Biotech Update- Would it Help to Cry Uncle?
Today certainly started as a better day in the sector but I would be careful of chasing this move. Ideally, we spend time building a base but a day or two of running is possible given the oversold conditions in the space. At this point I would lean towards the sector having put in a […]
March 24 Biotech Update- Being Kicked When You Are Down
Every sell off starts the bubble talk and the more severe the selling the more intense the bubble talk. What is interesting about this time is that the bubble talk has a broader audience as the sector seems to have been on more radars. As I have been saying for awhile, this sell off is […]
March 21 Biotech Update
[This was written Friday but the site was down and I was unable to post it. I am publishing it as it was Friday and will write another column later today for more recent news] Well, it was a manic day with a very nice win followed by the broader morning bloodbath in the sector. […]
March 19 Biotech Update- Staying Focused
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 […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 8 (3/18/14)
Below are current tactical and strategic thoughts on approaching FDA and clinical trial catalysts for select names. Estimates, values and views are as of the date published (or are noted), are subject to potential future, pre-catalyst revision and are not intended as investment recommendations. Please read our Disclaimer: (1) Catalyst Watch List – Update: CYTK: […]
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 […]
Corcept – Fourth time a charm?
Corcept Therapeutics (CORT) is currently awaiting topline Phase III data for Korlym(mifepristone) in psychotic depression in the second quarter. Currently, Corcept projects Korlym will do net revenue between $24-$28 million under it’s limited label for endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, a rare condition in which the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol. Below you will find an assessment of […]
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 […]
Quick Take on GERN Clinical Hold
Geron announced this morning the FDA had placed a clinical hold on its lead drug Imetelstat. While the agency cited only trials in ET, PV, and MM, the company also expects a delay in its key Phase II MF study- originally set to begin mid-year. Shares plunged from $4.40 to as low as $1.39, but […]
