Are Geron & Stem Cell Stocks The Biotech Winners of 2009? (GERN, STEM, OSIR, GENZ, ASTM, NBS, KOOL, OPXA)

January 23, 2009 · Filed Under General · Comments Off 

Yesterday we saw a rally in stem cell players of Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) and StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM).  These are both winners that are currently in a winning sector, assuming that Obama administration opens the stem cell floodgates that have been dammed up for the last eight years.

Last month StemCells (STEM) won FDA approval for clinical trials.  Today we have Geron (GERN) leading the sector on FDA approval for starting trials for embryonic stem cell studies on spinal cord injuries.

Geron (GERN) is up huge today.  Shares are up 35% at $7.10, a new 52-week and a high back to levels not seen since 2007. Geron closed out 2008 at $4.67, so this is now up 50% for 2009.

StemCells (STEM) is also following suit with its shares up almost 14% at $2.45.  This stock closed out 2008 at $1.36.  That makes a gain of 75% or so for 2009 so far.

Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) entered into a pact in recent months with Genzyme (NASDAQ: GENZ) to develop and commercialize first-in-class adult stem cell products.  Osiris is up a mere 1.5% today at $19.13.  That is about flat compared to its 2008 close-out of $19.16.

But there is play in the speculative names in the sector as well.  Technically, all of these are speculative stocks in the stem cell sector.  But here are some of the “even more speculative names” in stem cells:

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (ASTM) up 21% at $0.62, up from a 2008 close-out price of $0.50.

Neostem, Inc. (NBS) is up 26% at $0.95 today, up from $0.47 as a 2008 close-out stock price.

Thermogenesis Corp. (KOOL) is often overlooked as a stem cell stock.  But this one is up over 8% at $0.59 today.  It closed out 2008 at $0.43.

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (OPXA) is also one of the more speculative names, and its stock is up over 20% at $0.43 today.  It is hard to get excited about penny stocks for most skep[tics, but this stock is currently now up more than 100% from the $0.19 stock price where it closed in 2008.

There are other stocks in teh sector, but these are the main ones we follow in thr group.  We rarely include pink sheet and OTC stocks.

Jon C. Ogg
January 23, 2009

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Stem Cells Win In 2008 Presidential Election (STEM, GERN, ASTM, NBS, CHBP, KOOL, OSIR, OPXA, ACTC)

November 3, 2008 · Filed Under stem cells · Comments Off 

Tomorrow is the US Presidential Election, and while we do not have the known votes in, the exit polls for early voters and the polls taken from national sources are showing Obama over McCain by a small but widening margin.  We are not a political sight and do not pretend to host any political opinions here.  But there is one thing that looks more and more for sure: Stem Cells might as well be declared a winner regardless of who wins the election tomorrow.

In the past we have covered at 24/7 Wall St. how both Obama and Clinton attacked the Bush policies on stem cell research.   After a quick review of “McCain Stem Cell” there is also a link on the McCain website showing that he has supported stem cell research.

StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) has seen a monster rally today with shares up some 40% at $2.02 on more than 7 million shares (almost 20-times volume) after the stem cell company said that its proprietary HuCNS-SC product candidate made from purified human neural stem cells can protect the retina from progressive degeneration when transplanted into a well-established animal model. Retinal degeneration leads to loss of vision in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.  We’d like to note that the company had that old shelf filing.  StemCells had also received a patent for neural stem cells from all tissue sources.

What is interesting here is that there have been many bits of data today and in recent days on the topic.  We can’t assure you that the administration that takes control can stop the rampage in speculative stocks in a bear market.  But either candidate is going to be more “pro-stem cell research” in their policies than what we have seen over the last eaight years.

Shares of Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) are also up over 11% as the hopes that good news in one stem cell company will translate to universal benefits.  Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) is also up even much more with gains of 46% today, but its stock is well under $1.00 at $0.58.

NeoStem, Inc. (Amex: NBS) has agreed to acquire China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CHBP).  This acquisition is anticipated to expand the capabilities and reach of NeoStem, which is pioneering the pre-disease collection, processing and long-term storage of adult stem cells for future medical need.  Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the primary subsidiary of China Biopharmaceuticals is located in Suzhou, China and is currently tracking to generate revenues of approximately US$50 million and net over US$7 million in 2008.  NeoStem will hold a 51% controlling stake in Erye who currently manufactures over 100 drugs on seven GMP lines, including small molecule drugs.  Erye has been in business for more than 50 years and is respected for its quality, service and reliability. Erye has begun its three year expansion and relocation program which is anticipated to enhance revenues, profits, and manufacturing capabilities in one of the fastest growing medical markets, the Peoples Republic of China.

This is an old feature, but a small company won a new patent in bone marrow & stem cell transplants.

Thermogenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL) is a small overlooked stem cell related stock engaged in the design, manufacture, and marketing of automated and semi-automated devices, and single-use processing disposables

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR) reports earnings tomorrow, although revenues here are negligible.

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXA) is focused on autologous cellular therapy applications of its proprietary T-cell and stem cell therapies.  In August it completed a $3 million private placement, to support the ongoing clinical development of Tovaxin, the company’s novel treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (OTC-ACTC) is involved in the development and commercialization of human embryonic and adult stem cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine.  This is the most volatile of stem cell stocks and its stock has fallen from $1.00 to just over $0.04 of late.  But the reason we have listed it here is because its shares are rather active and are active on most trading days.

Jon C. Ogg
November 3, 2008

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