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 […]
XNPT – It’s Time to Join The Run To The Ph-3 Resutls
Xenoport, Inc. (XNPT) -Nasdaq Lately, the reals runner were those with pending clinical trial data, where we saw TSRX and ZIOP’s share price move much more than the PDUFA runners. After TSRX and ZIOP(data from both are expected this week), we want to have a look at XNPT, which is expected to release Phase 3 […]
Option Basics (1) – Conceptual Framework
It may surprise you, but an option is very easy to understand. In its most basic form, an option is an exchange-traded contract between two individuals to either buy or sell the stock of a company (the “Underlying” Stock) at a specific price (the “Strike” Price) until the contract expires (the “Expiration” Date). For this […]
ASTX – Astex Is One To Watch
Astex Pharmaceuticals is a promising small cap biotech company with both a marketed drug and pipeline products waiting in the wings. The Dublin, CA based company generates royalty revenue from sales of hypomethylating agent Dacogen (decitabine) for the treatment of AML and MDS. In recent years, the growing revenue stream has helped offset research spending […]
ZIOP – Quick update on Ziopharm
Ziopharm is nearing the top-line data from their Phase 3 study of palifosfamide in first-line soft tissue sarcoma. We have written extensively about them[ref] over the past 6 months in anticipation of this read out. After hours yesterday, CEO Jonathan Lewis gave a presentation at the Barclays Healthcare Conference in Miami[webcast here,transcript]. During this presentation […]
CLDX – A look at a potentially promising orphan drug
With orphan drugs all the rage these days, we wanted to visit an asset owned by a company we follow quite closely. By choosing indications with high unmet need and targetable pathways, companies have commercialized new drugs at lower development cost, shorter clinical studies and streamlined pathways to approval. They’ve also been able to charge […]
