I really thought the week would start with more of a bang but it seems much more like a whimper. Sure we had more VRX news/speculation but we really did not learn anything that new. The bears are bears and the bulls are hiding and most have no clue what exactly is going on. The […]
October 23 Biotech Update
Unfortunately, the discussion for the sector continues to revolve around specialty pharma. This has brought the sector down (although perhaps not down as far as we would have thought, so perhaps that is a positive) and generated significant underperformance to the broader market. At some point, the negative headlines for the sector will end and […]
October 21 Biotech Update
The sector continues to be under pressure, although we seem to be staying above the recent lows which remains critical. We are entering earnings season and it will be interesting to see if earnings without M&A is enough to spark buying. My base case is good earnings will be enough to stop the decline but […]
October 19 Biotech Update
Another slow start to a week with expectations of merger Mondays once again dashed. The only real news was the VRX earnings, which is where we will focus today. VRX is one of many earnings that we will analyze to see not only how the fundamentals of the sectors perform but also how the stocks […]
October 16 Biotech Update
Some interesting news that I want to focus on today. It seems that sentiment is finally starting to turn as the sector is rallying even though we have some less than bullish news events. Obviously every recent rally has been sold, so it will take some time before we can get comfort that the pattern […]
Raptor Pharma: Of Cystinosis and Huntingtons
Raptor Pharmaceuticals is a small Novato, CA. company that markets Procysbi for the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis. It has active clinical trials in Huntington’s Disease and Leigh Syndrome. A recent acquisition has provided entry into the Cystic Fibrosis field. Procysbi- also known as RP103- took a different route to market from that of most newly […]
October 14 Biotech Update
I am not sure if the sector sold off yesterday as simply a normal short term move or whether there were real concerns about the democratic debate. I suspect a portion of the selling was likely related to the debate, which is silly as I have noted before politicians have moved on from the pricing […]
October 12 Biotech Update
Another start to the week and another week without the M&A that many think is needed to move the sector higher. I worry a little about that argument as one would like to see the sector move higher off of fundamentals and not adding more and more takeover premiums into stocks. That being said I […]
October 9 Biotech Update
I would say after yesterday that the sector looks a little better but I think more to the point it seems that volatility is the best word that describes the trading action. The biased bull in me sees this volatility as slowly healing the charts and putting in a bottom. The bear in me sees […]
October 7 Biotech Update
So I think the sector told us what direction it wanted to move. We are getting to dangerous territory for another large leg downward. It does not help in the short term that oil seems to have bottom, which is likely making the energy sector a more attractive near term place to put money given […]
October 5 Biotech Update
Today is going to be a nice tell for the sector. We essentially have a positive market backdrop but more importantly competing headlines. There is the continued pricing discussion highlighted by high profile VRX articles in the New York Times and then the positive data from ONCE. If the sector can shrug off the pricing […]
STARTRK-1: Lost In Space [RXDX]
This is a brief analysis of recent entrectinib data presented by Ignyta. Entrectinib is a multi-kinase inhibitor with potent activity against TrkA/B/C, ROS1, and ALK. It was licensed from Nerviano Medical Sciences in November 2013, whereupon Ignyta took over development of the compound. Entrectinib is currently being studied in two Phase 1 studies- one in […]
Sarepta Patent Issue – Ask The USPTO Reg Attorney
This week BioMarin (BMRN) announced it won the first DMD patent battle against Sarepta (SRPT) in a press release stating, "BioMarin Receives Favorable Ruling in the Use of Exon 51 Antisense Oligonucleotides Patent Interference". On the other hand, Sarepta press release said, "Sarepta Therapeutics Announces USPTO Decision in Patent Interference Case with BioMarin Pharmaceutical" […]
October 2 Biotech Update
Just when it seemed like the market could have been getting its footing we have the weak jobs report and we are back to a macro driven sell off. I think down continues to be the near term trend until proven otherwise. I am looking at both the VIX and put/call ratios and think they […]
September 29 Biotech Update
I want to get out a quick note this morning as I am not sure I will have time for my usual Wednesday note and there has been some interesting news. The biggest issue remains the macro and the selloff in the sector. This is beyond weak hands and this is the liquidation of large […]
September 28 Biotech Update
The market has been ugly and rough and at times like this you simply want to throw up your hands and walk away but this is where values develop, so it is worth staying engaged even if we are not at the bottom. I think it is a legitimate question as to whether we are […]
September 25 Biotech Update
The sector continues to get hit with the broader market. It feels like the sector is still facing the headwinds from the pricing discussions but as it fades into the background, the headwind will lift. Of course, it has to fade into the background and that remains an open question. My base case remains that […]
2 Biotech Stocks In The Breakout Territory
Biotech traders have to adapt to any changes in the stock market, trying to adjust their trades and the game plan along with the markets condition. It is easier to take swing trades, long or short during a bull or bear market, but lately the choppiness and indecision hurt both longs and the shorts […]
September 23 Biotech Update
The sector and market have been hit hard in recent days and, at least for the sector, it comes down to drug pricing discussions. Drug pricing occasionally comes up as an issue and you have to expect that as long as it is part of the narrative it is going to be a headwind for […]
INCY: Predicting Success in Pancreatic Cancer
Incyte Pharmaceuticals’ lead drug Jakafi (Ruxolitinib) is approved for the treatment of the bone marrow disorders Myelofibrosis and Polycythemia Vera. It is expected to reach blockbuster sales despite these relatively niche indications. The company has ambitions to expand Jakafi into solid tumors with Pancreatic cancer leading the way. Top line data from a Phase 2 […]
