IBB – Biotechnology Index at All Times High
Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund ETF (IBB) The best indicator for our biotech portfolio are the biotechnology indexes like IBB, NBI, XBI or XLV. Since we already published “The IBB and SPX In The Decision Zone“, we will maintain our focus on the IBB. By looking at the IBB daily chart, we get the whole picture […]
Upcoming FDA approval decisions
The end of April will be marked by 2 FDA decisions. On Tuesday, April 30th, Raptor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RPTP) will receive the FDA’s decision on PROCYSBI (RP103, Cysteamine Bitartrate Delayed-Release Capsules) for treating nephropathic cystinosis. The original PDUFA date of 1/30/13 was delayed 3-months following additional data submitted by Raptor. It is a novel reformulation […]
Upcoming earnings and conferences this week
With the first quarter behind us, we look to updates across the biotech industry on new product launches and guidance for the year. We are also coming upon the summer medical conference series. Additionally, we briefly discuss 2 upcoming FDA approvals. Upcoming earnings releases and updates Monday, April 22nd After-Hours: ILMN Tuesday, April 23rd Pre-Market: […]
POZN – Hurdles Lay Ahead For Pozen
We have been actively following Pozen for the last couple years and believe now is a good time to pick up coverage once again. The company submitted an NDA for PA32540/PA8140 only a month ago, a full year after announcing positive top-line results from the second of two Phase III trials. An indication will be […]
Q2 outlook for ARIA, AEGR, CLDX, GHDX, ISIS, MNTA, RPRX, XNPT
First quarter updates for 2013 are on the horizon. Below we outline some of the main events for some biotech companies we’re tracking closely. Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AEGR) Most investors will be focused on the how the US launch of Juxtapid(Lomitapide) is tracking. JUXTAPID was approved by the FDA in December 2012. They anticipate a […]
Whats next for ALXN, BMRN, INCY, MDVN, ONXX, REGN, VRTX
First quarter earnings for 2013 are on the horizon. We want to outline some of the main events for some of the larger biotech companies we follow. It can be hard to track the progress of such large companies, but there are meaningful updates still expected in the next 6 months. Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ALXN) […]
Three bloated valuations with approaching exclusivity and patent expirations
With the strong performance of pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks over the past few years, some have even outperformed expectations. Specialty pharmaceutical companies have filled various niches recently with reformulated products for various indications. However, at some point, their valuations exceed the fair value of their respective opportunities and do not account for the risks they […]
ACHN – Sell Achillion, Buy Idenix
A lot has happened since we last discussed HCV stocks back in October ahead of AASLD. One thing that remains unchanged is Gilead’s dominant lead in the development of next-generation HCV drugs. Beating expectations, Gilead is set to submit its regulatory filing of an all-oral combo consisting of sofosbuvir and GS-5885 by mid-2014 with potential […]
EDAP – A look at microcap device maker, EDAP TMS
Last year, we had projected that EDAP TMS (NASDAQ:EDAP) would report data from their Phase 2/3 trial(ENLIGHT) trial for the indication of low risk, localized prostate cancer. However, we have seen no statement on the results of the trial thus far. Ablatherm HIFU has been approved in the EU for quite some time, but their […]
SRPT – A Quick Look At The Chart
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc – Nasdaq(SRPT) Quick update: A big drop in SRPT today leaving the traders with speculation that there could be a leak about the decision to file for accelerated approval(AA) or not yet. For now, let’s take a look at the chart & check the technical standpoint. Daily Chart The price has been trading […]
AVEO – An analysis of Aveo’s upcoming advisory committee
(in collaboration with Juan Pedro Rodriguez Serrate) The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) is slated to review AVEO Oncology (NASDAQ: AVEO) / Astellas Pharmaceuticals’ Tivozanib for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during the morning session of its meeting on May 2, 2013. An FDA decision is expected by Jul […]
DCTH – Soaring Ahead of The Upcoming Advisory Committee
Delcath Systems, Inc. (DCTH) -Nasdaq DCTH has been on our watch list for a while, looking for an entry point. we kept following out the stock performance at the forum and stated a position at $1.63 just after the price found a support around the 200-day Moving Average, also added more shares to the position at […]
ECYT – Update on Endocyte
It’s been awhile, but we wanted to update our coverage on Endocyte (NASDAQ: ECYT). Endocyte has a novel small molecule drug conjugates or SMDCs, and companion imaging diagnostics; think Seattle Genetics(NASDAQ: SGEN), but given orally. Endocyte expects that its cash will be between $145-160 million at the end of this year. Following the strong move […]
DCTH – Our take on Delcath’s upcoming advisory committee
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) is slated to review Melblez (previously known as Chemosat) on May 2nd. An FDA decision is expected on June 15th. Melblez is a chemosaturation system that isolates the liver in order to allow the administration of high doses of melphalan for the treatment of liver metastases from other […]
CRIS – Curis Pipeline May Propel Shares
Curis is best known for its hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor Erivedge, which has been licensed to Genentech (Roche). Erivedge was approved for the treatment of inoperable basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in January 2012. The launch has been slow; sales reached only $30.6 million last year. Partnered early, Curis receives only 5% royalties, escalating to high […]
Recent Biotech IPOs
We want to highlight some biotech companies that have recently come public. The end of 2012 and continuing into the spring of 2013 brought forward a number of companies in search of new funding across various stages of development(Phase 1-3). Initially, shares in these companies will be rather illiquid, so expect to see some volatility. […]
Option Basics (3): Volume and Open Interest
The other basic information included in an Option Chain is Volume and Open Interest. Volume is easy to understand: it represents the total number of options traded for each Strike during a day (just as the volume for a stock represents the total number of shares traded during a day). For example, the SEP 16.0 […]
Option Basics (2): The Option Chain
A good way to learn about options is to study the topic in the actual format used in a real-life trading situation: from the Option Chain. When you trade options, you will trade from Option Chains contained on your broker’s website. The Exhibit below provides an example of a basic Option Chain for ABC stock […]
