Wednesday’s Top Biotech & Medical Stocks
by H.S. Ayoub
BioHealth Investor
Biotechnology
NOVAVAX INC [NVAX] +19.32%
NPS PHARM INC [NPSP] +18.44%
HANA BIOSCIENCES INC [HNAB] +13.64%
INNOVIVE PHARMACEUTL [IVPH.OB] +10.71%
QUESTOR PHARMACEUTCL [QSC] +9.68%
Diagnostic Substances
INTERLEUKIN GENETICS [ILI] +4.44%
ABAXIS INC [ABAX] +4.08%
IDEXX LABS [IDXX] +3.34%
MYRIAD GENETICS [MYGN] +2.69%
MONOGRAM BIOSCIENCES [MGRM] +2.34%
Drug Delivery
QUIGLEY CORP THE [QGLY] +7.76%
INSITE VISION INC [ISV] +3.28%
NOVEN PHARMACEUTIC [NOVN] +2.66%
ELAN CP PLC ADR [ELN] +2.23%
PENWEST PHARM CO [PPCO] +2.22%
Drug Manufacturers
MARSHALL EDWARDS [MSHL] +15.25%
ELITE PHARMA INC [ELI] +9.13%
JAVELIN PHARMACEUTIC [JAV] +8.85%
PRANA BIO LTD ADS S1 [PRAN] +7.92%
ISIS PHARM INC [ISIS] +5.76%
Drug Related Products
MEDICAL NUTRITN USA [MDNU] +8.70%
AUXILIUM PHARMACEUT [AUXL] +6.06%
IMAGENETIX INC [IAGX.OB] +5.77%
INTEGRATED BIOPHARMA [INBP] +4.56%
MANNATECH INC [MTEX] +2.05%
Generic Drugs
HELICOS BIOSCIENCES [HLCS] +12.13%
LOTUS PHARMACEUTICAL [LTUS.OB] +4.48%
ISOLAGEN INC [ILE] +2.64%
WATSON PHARMACEUTCLS [WPI] +1.66%
BARR PHARMA INC [BRL] +1.42%
Medical Appliances & Equipment
RESTORE MEDICAL INC [REST] +13.74%
THERAGENICS CORP [TGX] +8.99%
SONIC INNOVATIONS [SNCI] +8.10%
AMER MED SYS HLDG [AMMD] +6.32%
UROLOGIX INC [ULGX] +6.13%
Medical Instruments & Supplies
EP MEDSYSTEMS INC [EPMD] +18.78%
DEXCOM [DXCM] +14.53%
ISORAY INC [ISR] +11.95%
NEPHROS INC. [NEP] +9.85%
HEMOSENSE INC. [HEM] +7.95%
Medical Laboratories & Research
BIO-IMAGING TECH [BITI] +8.60%
ALLIANCE IMAGING INC [AIQ] +5.09%
GENOMIC HEALTH, INC. [GHDX] +5.08%
PSYCHEMEDICS NEW [PMD] +3.99%
ARRAY BIOPHARMA IN [ARRY] +2.66%
BioHealth Investor.com
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MRSA Update: Cepheid, Basilea and Nektar
by Michael Shulman
BiotechBlitz
The news and activity surrounding the killer-staph infection, MRSA, is increasing. A brief update and then a couple of companies of interest:
• Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois is set to introduce MRSA legislation next week. This bill would require a government agency — the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality — to promulgate guidelines on how to control MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections. The bill would force hospitals to report infection rates to the CDC. This action follows, by one day, a call by Senator Charles (Chuck) Schumer of New York for hospital reporting of infections.
• A recent study showed MRSA has spread to the animal population, possibly from pets serving as companions to people in nursing homes and other long-term café facilities.
• More and more cases of non-hospital-acquired MRSA are being reported around the country, mostly in schools and mostly among athletes or kids frequenting athletic facilities.
• So far, the tort lawyers are not involved. Stay tuned.
Why do I mention tort lawyers? Because several countries in Europe have virtually eliminated MRSA and the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs reduced it 75% in a pilot program.
The infection can be contained and perhaps eradicated over time in a hospital setting, BUT a hospital with a bad infection rate is going to be a target for these attorneys. Go get ‘em, I say!
That will get the hospitals’ collective butts in gear. There is no excuse for the level of infections and the thousands of deaths – the CDC suggests at least 17,000 per annum – caused by MRSA.
Is there money to be made? Check it out yourself – the best and increasingly dominant test is from Cepheid (CPHD). I own the stock. And a new form of antibiotic is being developed by Basilea (SWX: BSLN). Nektar (NKTR) is working on an inhaled form of antibiotic useful in niches.
BiotechBlitz is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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If only US health care could be more like the Patriots (or even the Red Sox) and less like the Yankees
David E. Williams
Health business blog
I don’t much care for sports analogies but today I can’t help myself.
The US health care system is like the New York Yankees: spending more money than anyone else, under-performing its peers that spend less than half of what it spends, and constantly looking to reform itself with expensive new programs.
The ideal system would be like the New England Patriots: achieving unprecedented superiority (the headline after yesterday’s 52-7 victory over the Redskins: “Washington slapped here“) despite spending roughly the same amount as everyone else thanks to the salary cap, emphasizing teamwork over individual performance, and constantly innovating. It helps to have a Wesleyan grad at the helm.
We’ll never get to the ideal state in health care, but I’d be more than satisfied with something like the 2007 Boston Red Sox: spending the second most of any team and achieving the best results.
Well, we can dream.
Health Business Blog is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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Minneapolis Firm Raises $11.8M for Lymphedema System
by Sara Calabro
Med Tech Sentinel
Tactile Systems Technology, a Minneapolis, MN, company whose technology treats vascular disorders such as lymphedema, has raised $11.8 million. The financing, led by Galen Partners of Stamford, CT, will be used to increase sales of the company’s lead product, Flexitouch, within the lymphedema market, and to expand into the chronic-wound space.
The Flexitouch system consists of a programmable controller that attaches to segmented garments covering the limb, trunk and chest. Therapy is delivered through chambers in the garments that inflate and deflate sequentially, simulating manual lymphatic drainage. This at-home therapy usually follows manual lymphatic therapy provided by therapists in clinical settings. Tactile received FDA approval for Flexitouch for lymphatic drainage in 2002 and more recently for the treatment of wounds.
“This funding will enable us to accelerate our growth in the market and provide important therapy to the increasing number of patients with lymphedema,” said Gerald Mattys, Tactile’s CEO, in a statement. “We intend to increase the size of our direct sales force, fund larger clinical trials proving product efficacy and expand into new clinical indications, such as the treatment of chronic wounds.”
Lymphedema is the abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid in body tissues, typically in the dermis of the arms or legs due to blockage or inadequacy of lymph circulation. It is often the unintended consequence of cancer treatment. Approximately 25 percent of breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema within two years of treatment.
Twelve-year-old Tactile had revenue of less than $200,000 in 2003; each year since, revenue has more than doubled. Earlier in 2007, the company was named “Corporation of the Year” by the Lymphatic Research Foundation.
Med Tech Sentinel is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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Tuesday’s Top Biotech & Medical Stocks
by H.S. Ayoub
BioHealth Investor
Biotechnology
QUESTOR PHARMACEUTCL [QSC] +14.81%
3SBIO INC [SSRX] +14.03%
NORTHWEST BIOTH NEW [NWBO.OB] +10.00%
VIA PHARMACEUTICALS [VIAP] +9.92%
AMERICAN ORIENTL BIO [AOB] +7.65%
Diagnostic Substances
EZ EM INC [EZEM] +24.91%
AVALON PHARMACEUTIC [AVRX] +7.79%
ROSETTA GENOMICS LTD [ROSG] +5.54%
QUIDEL CP [QDEL] +3.53%
ISTA PHARMACTLS [ISTA] +3.16%
Drug Delivery
QUIGLEY CORP THE [QGLY] +4.68%
FLAMEL TECH SA ADR [FLML] +3.17%
PENWEST PHARM CO [PPCO] +2.40%
GENEREX BIOTECH CORP [GNBT] +0.67%
BIOVAIL CORP [BVF] +0.56%
Drug Manufacturers
BRADLEY PHARMACTCL [BDY] +22.88%
SEPRACOR INC [SEPR] +16.12%
NEUROGESX, INC. [NGSX] +10.55%
[SCMP] +10.20%
SUPERGEN INC [SUPG] +7.69%
Drug Related Products
INTEGRATED BIOPHARMA [INBP] +6.82%
CURATECH INDUSTRIES [CUTC.OB] +2.50%
MEDICAL NUTRITN USA [MDNU] +2.22%
IMAGENETIX INC [IAGX.OB] +1.96%
PACIFICHEALTH LABS [PHLI.OB] -0.99%
Generic Drugs
LOTUS PHARMACEUTICAL [LTUS.OB] +0.76%
Medical Appliances & Equipment
EXACTECH INC [EXAC] +9.93%
INVACARE CORP [IVC] +9.70%
PALOMAR MED TECH [PMTI] +7.48%
THERAGENICS CORP [TGX] +7.43%
ACCURAY INCORPORATED [ARAY] +7.19%
Medical Instruments & Supplies
AMDL, INC [ADL] +7.76%
STRATEGIC DIAGNOST [SDIX] +6.91%
OCULUS INNOVATIVE SC [OCLS] +6.22%
PRO-DEX INC NEW [PDEX] +5.93%
APA ENTERPRISES [APAT] +5.36%
Medical Laboratories & Research
BIO-IMAGING TECH [BITI] +6.79%
ALLIANCE IMAGING INC [AIQ] +2.39%
PSYCHEMEDICS NEW [PMD] +2.19%
LABORATORY CORP NEW [LH] +1.12%
BIO-REFERENCE LAB [BRLI] +0.09%
BioHealth Investor.com
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Another OTC Attempt for Mevacor
by Mark S. Senak
Eye On FDA
In July of 2000, two companies tried to take statins from RX to OTC. The first was Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) attempting to switch Pravachol and the other was Merck trying to switch Mevacor. Today, there is a Federal Register notice published that Merck (MRK) is back for more and will attempt to persuade the Non-Prescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee to vote for the switch.
I was present at both meetings in July 2000. One of the things that stood in the way of a switch was a key factor involved in RX-OTC switches - the ability of patients to self-diagnose and self-treat. A patient does not easily have a way to take and monitor cholesterol levels. In addition, the advisory committees seemed to be seeking a great deal of additional information and studies prior to an approval. Lastly, there were concerns about what dose people take the statin and how people can self-titrate if they can’t self monitor - yet the higher the dose, the higher likelihood of adverse events. It was a lot for a sponsor to work out. And the OTC statin presents unique challenges that are coming up not only with this meeting, scheduled for December 13, but which will occur just weeks after the FDA meets to consider the issue of behind-the-counter (BTC) drugs.
The environment for this proposed switch is in contrast to that of 2000. For one thing, the first attempt occurred when the FDA was still enjoying its gold standard. Will the agency’s risk-averse nature today affect a switch like this? Also, Since the time of the original OTC switch attempts, the cast of characters has changed - each committee is made up of different persons. And lastly, there is new research on statins that suggest added benefits beyond lipid lowering, i.e., a role in cancer prevention. That may spell a benefit of even greater magnitude, or it could mean that people who feel at risk for cancer, might start taking a statin for that benefit rather than lipid lowering. Is that a risk or a benefit. The committee will have a lot to talk about.
Eye On FDA is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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Anecdotes — JNJ, CPHD, AMLN, DNA
by Michael Shulman
BiotechBlitz
It’s Monday and so far, the world is safe:
• The Sawx won the world series – I predicted a sweep while being interviewed on the Fox Business Channel. (DirectTV Channel 359 or check your local listings.) I’m on a few days a week for a few seconds, but it is all worthwhile — of course, I predicted a sweep by the Rockies, not of the Rockies, so, well, I was just one preposition off.
• The Giants beat the Dolphins in London, the teams destroying the brand new field, and the Redskins lost 52-7, the Patriots destroying the team whose colors of mustard and ketchup reflect my opinion of them.
• And the government – Uncle Sam and others – are spending a bit more time worried about healthcare costs, which actually makes me feel good – not bad. I don’t own Big Pharma stocks and don’t recommend those companies that live on price increases and loosely controlled healthcare costs.
About controlling costs, some anecdotes from here and abroad:
• Britain’s National Health Service will allow use of Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) cancer treatment Velcade with a proviso – a moneyback guarantee for those patients who do not respond. That makes sense to me and this will eventually spread to the U.S., despite lobbying by Big Pharma and biotech, alike.
If this happens, there will be lots of winners and losers and they are not what you think – and Genentech (DNA) is not a loser in this scenario.
• Senator Charles – ah, a good guy from New York, let’s call him Chuck, like his press secretary wants us to – has called for nationwide testing for the killer staph infection MRSA. While this is great politics, great headlines and also makes sense. More importantly it is a great center of cost savings for hospitals – with at least 17,000 deaths a year (maybe as many as five times that number), and billions of dollars in medical costs. A simple $36 (wholesales cost to the hospital) test offered by Cepheid (CPHD) would find patients with the disease as they enter the hospital, who could then be screened and isolated an cured easily when the infection is in its earliest stages. Again, it would save lives and billions of dollars.
• Former FDA Commissioner – a great one and a great public servant now making money as a consultant (his kids are nearing college age) – said that we cannot control healthcare costs until we control disease, with a specific focus on obesity and its cousins, diabetes and weight-related cardiac problems.
And some government officials and politicians are actually beginning to listen. Look for new obesity and diabetes control products and companies in the coming years. The only one with a real medical treatment, right now, in trials is Amylin (AMLN).
Just another non-manic Monday. I think I’m on Fox from 11-12, Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week.
BiotechBlitz is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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Friday’s Top Biotech & Medical Stocks
by H.S. Ayoub
BioHealth Investor
Biotechnology
3SBIO INC [SSRX] +16.10%
IDM PHARMA INC [IDMI] +15.50%
CURAGEN CORP [CRGN] +11.30%
SANGAMO BIOSCIENCE [SGMO] +9.47%
MICROMET INC [MITI] +9.09%
Diagnostic Substances
ADVANCE MAGNETIC [AMAG] +6.48%
ICAGEN, INC. [ICGN] +6.32%
MYRIAD GENETICS [MYGN] +4.87%
SURMODICS INC [SRDX] +4.52%
AKORN INC [AKRX] +4.23%
Drug Delivery
DELCATH SYSTEMS INC [DCTH] +24.95%
ARADIGM CORP [ARDM.OB] +2.36%
FLAMEL TECH SA ADR [FLML] +2.22%
ELAN CP PLC ADR [ELN] +2.15%
MATRIXX INITIATVS [MTXX] +2.05%
Drug Manufacturers
MIDDLEBROOK PHARMACL [MBRK] +20.93%
TAPESTRY PHARMA INC [TPPH] +16.95%
DUSA PHARM INC [DUSA] +13.39%
ADAMS RESPIRATORY TH [ARXT] +5.67%
NOVOGEN LTD ADS [NVGN] +5.10%
Drug Related Products
NATURAL ALTERNATIV [NAII] +5.07%
PERRIGO COMPANY [PRGO] +1.38%
LABOPHARM INC. [DDSS] +1.36%
PRESTIGE BRAND HLGS [PBH] +1.21%
AUXILIUM PHARMACEUT [AUXL] +1.03%
Generic Drugs
CATALYST PHARMACEUTI [CPRX] +2.61%
BARR PHARMA INC [BRL] +1.37%
MYLAN INC [MYL] +0.67%
ISOLAGEN INC [ILE] +0.66%
WATSON PHARMACEUTCLS [WPI] +0.47%
Medical Appliances & Equipment
ROCKWELL MED TECHS [RMTI] +9.02%
ACCURAY INCORPORATED [ARAY] +8.06%
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY I [ALGN] +6.90%
ARRHYTHMIA RES TECH [HRT] +5.86%
SYNERGETICS USA INC [SURG] +5.56%
Medical Instruments & Supplies
NMT MEDICAL INC [NMTI] +6.05%
MESA LABS INC [MLAB] +5.82%
CARDIOTECH INTL [CTE] +5.67%
CONCEPTUS INC [CPTS] +5.23%
[TSON] +5.20%
Medical Laboratories & Research
NEOGENOMICS INC [NGNM.OB] +6.15%
AETERNA ZENTARIS [AEZS] +3.17%
RADNET INC [RDNT] +2.12%
GENOMIC HEALTH, INC. [GHDX] +0.86%
SPHERIX INC [SPEX] +0.67%
BioHealth Investor.com
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Protalex Plummets on Strange Stock Offering
by H.S. Ayoub, DMD
BioHealth Investor
What must be the strangest stock offering of all time, at least in my trading experience as limited as it is, Protalex Biotherapeutics (PLX) sold 10 million additional shares on the market today at $5 per share. Why strange? Because the stock closed at $36 a share on Wednesday! Today, the stock’s wild trading session ended at a price of $6.31
Why would the company sell their stock at a price so much lower than market valuation? Even more strange is that Phillip Frost, the founder of IVAX and the main player behind recent successful stocks such as Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services (LTS) and Opko (OPK), held around 11% of Protalex stock. That means Dr.Frost had lost more than $200 million after the stock offering. This is not indicative of his investment track record, not even close.
There has been no word from anyone related to the company, nor Dr.Frost. It is in the company’s best interest to release some kind of statement for investors as I am sure many will not be sleeping well tonight.
RELATED READING:
- eXegenics: Dr.Frost Continues His Hot Hand
- Follow Along with Dr. Frost and Invest in Continucare
BioHealth Investor.com
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Thursday’s Top Biotech & Medical Stocks
by H.S. Ayoub
BioHealth Investor
Biotechnology
ENTREMED INC [ENMD] +13.95%
ALSERES PHARMACEUTCL [ALSE] +13.11%
HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA [HEB] +11.13%
XTL BIOPHARMACEUTICA [XTLB] +7.43%
DYAX CORP [DYAX] +5.75%
Diagnostic Substances
ABAXIS INC [ABAX] +21.46%
INTERLEUKIN GENETICS [ILI] +14.74%
MERIDIAN BIOSCIENC [VIVO] +9.21%
AVALON PHARMACEUTIC [AVRX] +7.74%
INFINITY PHARMACEUTI [INFI] +4.69%
Drug Delivery
FLAMEL TECH SA ADR [FLML] +27.98%
BIOVAIL CORP [BVF] +5.19%
INSITE VISION INC [ISV] +3.17%
ALKERMES INC [ALKS] +3.16%
COLUMBIA LABS INC [CBRX] +1.54%
Drug Manufacturers
ALEXION PHARM INC [ALXN] +10.26%
WUXI PHARMATECH ADS [WX] +7.65%
ATHEROGENICS INC [AGIX] +6.88%
UNIGENE LABS INC [UGNE.OB] +6.86%
PHARMASSET INC. [VRUS] +6.50%
Drug Related Products
INTEGRATED BIOPHARMA [INBP] +3.17%
AUXILIUM PHARMACEUT [AUXL] +2.98%
PERRIGO COMPANY [PRGO] +1.99%
SCHIFF NUTRIT INTL [WNI] +1.05%
DRAXIS HEALTH INC [DRAX] +0.95%
Generic Drugs
CARACO PHARMA LABS [CPD] +1.15%
BARR PHARMA INC [BRL] +1.09%
WATSON PHARMACEUTCLS [WPI] +0.60%
HI-TECH PHARMACAL [HITK] +0.36%
HELICOS BIOSCIENCES [HLCS] +0.08%
Medical Appliances & Equipment
SPO MEDICAL INC [SPOM.OB] +11.11%
VARIAN MED SYS INC [VAR] +10.35%
SYNERGETICS USA INC [SURG] +7.95%
ZYNEX MEDICAL HLDGS [ZYNX.OB] +5.69%
MISONIX INC [MSON] +5.30%
Medical Instruments & Supplies
STRATEGIC DIAGNOST [SDIX] +9.04%
NUVASIVE, INC. [NUVA] +8.31%
OCULUS INNOVATIVE SC [OCLS] +8.27%
VYTERIS INC [VYHN.OB] +7.89%
MILESTONE SCIENTIFIC [MLSS.OB] +7.32%
Medical Laboratories & Research
PHARM PROD DEV [PPDI] +4.13%
RADNET INC [RDNT] +3.81%
INSIGHT HLTH SVC HLD [ISGT.OB] +3.57%
BIO-IMAGING TECH [BITI] +3.53%
GENOMIC HEALTH, INC. [GHDX] +2.47%
BioHealth Investor.com
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