Option Expiration It is important to quickly discuss the finer points of Option Expiration. Options expire on the Saturday immediately following the 3rd Friday of the expiration month. This sounds confusing but it is not – if you look at a calendar, it is quite simple. The September 2010 Series expire on Saturday September 18, […]
GERN – Geron: Time To Turn Out The Lights
Once a high-flying stem cell company, Menlo Park based Geron has fallen on hard times. Year-to-date, shares are off some 25% even as most biotech indices have soared over 20%. The company is in the midst of a restructuring, reducing its workforce from 64 to 44; this is down from 174 employees in November 2011 […]
Week’s Option Activity (5/1~5/3)
The following stocks had notable activity in their options during the past week: $ASTX (5/1/13): 2,000 OCT 6/9 strike Call spreads (stock @ $6.88) were purchased for a net debit of 0.80 or total cost of $160,000. Buyer makes money if stock is greater than $6.80 by expiration. $NBIX (5/2/13): 1,874 JUN/AUG (long – front […]
Highlights from Day 2 at Needham
Today marked the end of the 12th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference. Below is a collection of slides from companies that we are following or have an interest in. These include Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP), Curis (CRIS), Cytokinetics (CYTK), Intercept (ICPT), Omeros (OMER), Sangamo (SGMO), TG Therapeutics (TGTX) and several others. (See our slideshow from Day 1 […]
Some highlights from Day 1 at Needham
The 12th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference began today with a number of presentations by widely biotech companies. Below we have a slideshow of the summary slides from companies that we are following or have an interest in. These include Astex (ASTX), Cubist (CBST), Infinity (INFI), Insmed (INSM), ISIS (ISIS), Sarepta (SRPT) and several others.
Busy week ahead for Biotech
This week is going to be particularly heavy on the earnings updates and FDA actions. Below are some of our views on potential updates and major events at biopharmaceutical companies this week. Additionally, the 12th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference takes place this week from 4/30-5/1. Monday, April 29th Main story for Dynavax will be the potential […]
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 […]
