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: […]
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 […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 5 (2/25/14)
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: CHTP: […]
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 […]
Week’s Option Activity (2/04 ~ 2/19)
The following stocks had notable activity in their options during the past week(s): $ARRY (2/4): 2,000 JUN 5.0 strike Puts were sold to open (stock at $4.52) against the purchase (to close) of 2,000 FEB 5.0 strike Puts for net proceeds of $100,000. Seller makes money as long as stock trades above $4.50 by expiration. […]
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 […]
A look at Auspex Pharma
Lately, it seems like there is a new biotech IPO being filed every other day. Today, we want to take a look at a recent IPO, Auspex Pharmaceuticals (ASPX). Auspex recently raised 7 million shares at $12 per share and has roughly 22.5 million shares outstanding. It is currently valued around $550 million in market […]
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 […]
High Risk, High Reward With GW Therapeutics (GWPH)
In just a year’s time, GW has morphed from a company focused on the marketing of an approved product to one dedicated to the development of an early stage orphan drug candidate. A majority of the company’s valuation is now derived from this Phase I anti-epilepsy treatment. Crucial data from an ongoing Investigator Sponsored Trial […]
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 […]
February 12 Biotech Update- Getting Stretched or the Pause that Refreshes?
It seemed more like a treading water day in the market than a directional move, which is again not bad for biotech. It is said that markets do not give you a lot of time to sell at the top or buy at the bottom and to me this means that the sideways trading is […]
Update on Protalix
On Wednesday, Protalix (PLX) will present data from their phase I clinical trial of oral glucocerebrosidase (GCD), or Oral GCD (PRX-112), in patients with Gaucher disease. The presentation will be at 1:15pm PST at the Lysosomal Storage Disease Network WORLD Symposium (LDN WORLD). While Sanofi/Genzyme are nearing potential approval of Cerdelga (eliglustat), the data should […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 4 (2/11/14)
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: […]
February 11 Biotech Update- Some Positive Catalysts
It was a good day for the broader markets and a decent day for biotechs, although it seemed a little like a mixed bag with some stocks underperforming the rally. That being said simply following the broader market higher at this point is good for biotechs and likely means that this rally (relief or continuation) […]
Arrowhead Research (ARWR)– Great Technology, But is the Company Over-Promising on ARC-520?
Two billion people globally have been infected with hepatitis B (HBV), and approximately 350 million are chronic carriers, including approximately 750,000 persons in the US. Among the chronically infected, 15% – 40% will develop cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Each year approximately 5000 people in the US and 1 million worldwide die from cirrhosis, liver failure […]
