It looks like we started the week in rally mode but last week certainly shows how quickly that can change from day to day just as today changed quickly as well. I feel like the market is Schrodinger’s Cat at this point. On the one hand, we are at support that has been very strong […]
October 10 Biotech Update
I am still not convinced that the market is done correcting. Even if we have another rip roaring rally, it just seems like the path of least resistance over the near term is lower. In fact, I would not be surprised if we are not beginning the long awaited 10% correction. If that is the […]
CNAT – A Quick Chart Update
Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CNAT) –Nasdaq CNAT was trading within a downtrend channel since June 16th after reaching the high of $9.90, finding a base around the $6.00 weekly support line as mentioned several time at Chimera’s twitter private feed and was moving side way in a consolidation mode for two weeks. J: $CNAT bouncing 8.5% […]
October 8
It was basically a neutral open in the market this morning with more green than red. While I would certainly prefer a market ripping higher, it seems like a sharp short covering rally is not going to halt the down trend. A slow grind higher as buyers enter the market seems better but after the […]
October 6 Biotech Update
The market is OK this morning with biotechs not the strongest sector. That is not completely unexpected given the 60 Minutes story on cancer drug pricing. As such you would expect a little bit of weakness early but I am curious as to see if this is simply reflex selling or something more sustained. 1. […]
SRPT- A Squeeze In The Making
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (SRPT)-Nasdaq Sarepta is preparing for a busy 4th quarter ahead of the NDA submission as confirmed again by the company’s CEO Chris Garabedian during the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Conference on September 10th. We received guidance in April from the FDA that outlined a very clear path-forward, which resulted in a plan […]
SRPT and SAGE: Quick Notes
Nice 36-month Natural history study (or “Pane Study”) in Duchenne published essentially confirming what’s pretty much already known- that boys age 7 and over decline more rapidly than those under 7. They had previously reported 24 month results. This study and the Eteplirsen study are largely comparable. Average age of the older boys subgroup are […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 29 (10/2/14)
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: CEMP:Top line (efficacy/safety) […]
October 3 Biotech Update
We are finally starting to see the snap back rally and the question at this point is going to be the sustainability. Ideally we would like to see increasing volume and closing near the highs and at this point my base case is that this has some legs over the near term. What I find […]
October 2 Biotech Update
Surprise, surprise but the markets a not great (again). While we are not seeing the selling (yet), there is still not a lot of buying going on. We did get that additional move down I was expecting but I still have the sense that the path of least resistance is lower but we are probably […]
GW Pharmaceuticals: Quick Update
Investors are waiting impatiently for GW Pharma’s December R&D day. The most sought-after information is updates on the Epidiolex Expanded Access Program in Dravet Syndrome. A previous analysis involved 27 patients; there are now 100 boys being treated as of the third quarter. Even if a significant number of patients are excluded as data immatures, […]
October 1 Biotech Update
The market is weak again and that is starting to sound like a broken record. At this point, it seems like we should be closer to the end of this correction than the beginning as the internal indicators that I have seen are indicating oversold conditions and we are at good levels of support. That […]
[Free Report] JNJ Aquires Alios: What This Means For Achillion
Johnson & Johnson announced today it will acquire privately held Alios BioPharma for $1.75 Billion in cash, gaining rights to the mid-stage treatment for infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), AL-8176, and early stage nuc AL-335 for HCV. “We are excited that this acquisition will enable us to explore treatment options for a number of […]
ECYT Fails to Meet OS Endpoint; Hope Rests on Tubulysin
Endocyte presented much anticipated results from its Phase II TARGET trial of vintafolide in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. The study compared vintafolide to vintafolide plus docetaxel, to docetaxel alone as second line treatment in folate-receptor positive patients with NSCLC. As a reminder, Vintafolide is a […]
September 29 Biotech Update
A crappy start to the weak but perhaps we will get a wash out followed by a rally. Despite the selling, the sector is doing OK but clearly everything is being hit. There was a good amount of news this morning and I want to focus on two of them and follow up with additional […]
Catalyst Watch – Vol. 2, Edition 28 (9/26/14)
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: CNAT: I continue […]
September 26 Biotech Update
Well, we have some more news today but still not a ton. I wanted to get out a quick and early note because I will be busy the rest of the day. The market seems to have no memory from day and day and is really trying to find a direction. I still lean towards […]
September 25 Biotech Update
It was a quiet news day on the biotech front and the market was quite weak early. Going into that environment I would expect a continued selling of biotechs but they seemed to hold up rather well. Perhaps I am focusing too much on the strength in GILD but even without that performance, biotechs seemed […]
[Free Report] Gilead Files NDA in Japan for HCV, Plans US, EU Filing for HIV
Gilead announced today it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) with Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for approval of a fixed dose combination of NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir and nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir for the treatment of patients with genotype 1 HCV. The NDA is supported by a Japanese Phase 3 study […]
September 24 Biotech Update
After a fairly weak start to the week, the sector seemed a little stronger this morning but the markets are teetering on a much larger correction. At this point, however, the markets may be oversold enough to get a near term bounce. The key is whether that bounce will be significant enough to push the […]
