More Biotech Buyout or M&A Targets (OSIP, VRTX, AUXL, ITMN, HGSI, CELG, DNDN, ENZN, FACT, PBE, XBI)
After today’s hostile Astellas offer for OSI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OSIP), we have investors and traders alike looking for ‘the next takeover target’ in biotech. Buy now you know that there are many pitfalls in simply looking for biotech stocks to buy because they will be taken over. We have taken a look through our own recent stocks noted as takeover candidates and even gone through some sites of our partners looking through potential takeover candidates in the space.
Morningstar just last week had a short video with some key potential buyout targets in the biotech space. It noted Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX), Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUXL), and InterMune Inc. (NASDAQ: ITMN). Those are all names that have come up as takeout targets before.
But two that are on Morningstar’s list for buyouts are Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) for its REVLIMID franchise. The problem with Human Genome is that it is in the same boat we have addressed on multiple occasions: its size got away from the potential realm of buyers. And Celgene has just become too big at a $28 billion market cap for most potential buyers to consider it and the sales growth from $2.689 billion in 2009 is expected to go to $3.26 billion in 2010 and $3.75 billion in 2011 per Thomson Reuters estimates.
After looking around elsewhere, we went back to some Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) rumors from last month we covered. This was based somewhat on options trading, and we think this company may have to wait for a suitor. Taking the risk of buying the company out before the FDA approves PROVENGE for advanced prostate cancer is something companies are seeming to shy away from.
Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENZN) is another name that comes up routinely in the rumor mill. We noted this one hitting 52-week highs in January on fresh rumors.
Facet Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: FACT) has also fought off attempts from Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) as a new add-on for its MS franchise. Biogen has been rebuffed and it supposedly will not have an interest anymore.
ETF investors are chasing up names in the sector as well. PowerShares Dynamic Biotech & Genome (NYSE: PBE) is up 4% at $18.48 and the SPDR S&P Biotech (NYSE: XBI) is up 4.7% at $58.98.
Jon C. Ogg
Two key Analyst Call in BioHealth Space (DNDN, HGSI)
We have seen two very key biotech analyst calls this morning, and shares of both are responding. Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) and Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) were both given positive brokerage initiations this morning.
Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) is seeing gains this morning after the stock was started as “Overweight” and $46 target at JPMorgan. The call is based upon a belief that PROVENGE will be approved for advanced prostate cancer. This is actually not the highest price target as a $50 target does already exist, but this implies a 42% upside to the target price versus the $32.36 closing bell price on Friday. Shares are up 2.6% before the open on this call.
Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) was resumed at “Buy” with a $35 price target at BofA/Merrill Lynch. The belief here is that its Lupus drug BENLYSTA will be approved and a focus on its other franchises with more room for upside. The $35 price target implies upside of about 18.6% to Friday’s closing price of $29.47. The 52-week trading range was $0.45 to $32.07. Shares are only indicated up so 0.5% this morning before the open.
JON C. OGG
Buyout Rumors Resurface in Biotech, Maybe (DNDN, MYGN)
Sometimes it is the action seen in stock options gets traders moving more than the action in the stock. With more commentators on CNBC and other media outlets talking about ‘elevated options trading seen in…’ it gets even more on alert. From our best read today, that seems to be the case in Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) and Myriad Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN). There has been talk of ‘buyout rumors’ but we would first and foremost stress ‘caveat emptor’ when it comes to this.
Dendreon shares are up only 1.4% before the closing bell at $32.46 and not even on any crazy volume. But there was a new high today of $32.62. So far we have seen more than 18,000 CALLS and more than 6,000 PUTS trade today… but again, expiration may be part of the issue here.
Myriad Genetics saw more than 3,000 CALLS trade, but 1,100 of those were in the MARCH 2010 $24.00 CALLS, almost $2.00 above today’s share price. Myriad was up over 3% late in the day at $22.30, but its 52-week trading range is $20.62 to $47.08 and it traded about 150% of normal trading volume.
These ‘buyout rumors’ get tossed around far too liberally. Today was options expiration date and lots of the ‘unusual activity’ is frequently nothing more than expiration roll-outs in the last few trading days of each month when options are expiring. We’d also note that if there were genuine rumors of substance rather than of hope then you would be seeing much more than just a few thousand options contracts and more than 100% or 150% of normal volume.
Anything is possible, particularly in biotech. But for traders to really be honing in on buyouts, there is generally far more interest than this.
Earnings is getting tiring and the world is tired of it…. That being said i am going to do an early preview and have it ONLY focused on the big retail names so that it is targeted. That is the bulk of the earnings of big companies next week anyhow.
JON C. OGG
Top 2010 Established Biotech Stock Picks for Upside (MNKD, THRX, DNDN, INCY, ILMN, ALNY, GILD, SVNT, AMGN, ONXX, PDLI, OSIP, CELG)
BioHealthInvestor.com wanted to put together a list of key biotech and BioHealth-related stocks that had the most upside for 2010 according to consensus analyst price targets. This is of course no exact science for many reasons, but getting a lot of consensus price targets together is often a sign of at least where to start when looking for upward price targets in stocks. And we all know that BioHealth and biotech stocks often offer the upside of the century as these companies all hold a bit of your own personal lottery ticket in all of their share prices.
After taking a look at our normal universe of biotech and biohealth related stocks. it was obvious that MannKind Corp. (NASDAQ: MNKD) still has the most upside from the consensus price targets IF it is hit. Then in order of expected share price appreciation comes Theravance Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN), Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ: INCY), and then came Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNY), and Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD).
The stocks above all had upside of over 25%. The other stocks here are the ‘lower rung’ of upside expectations but are all still offering over 20% upside to the consensus analyst price targets (again IF they are hit). Of the 13 stocks with markets caps of $750 million (or almost $750 million) which we cover, these still had upside of over 20% except a few: Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVNT), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX), PDL BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDLI), OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP), and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG).
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Quest For 10-Baggers in BioHealth in 2010 (JAZZ, TRGT, VNDA, DNDN, HGSI, CGEN, BNVI, QCOR, ACHN, PSDV, ATHX, SNSS, AVNR, BIOD, ALXA, CTIC)
If one thing was noticed in biotech stocks, or BioHealth stocks as we often say, it was that investors, traders, and speculators all piled into the chase for the next ten-bagger late in the year. When you have as many biotech and BioHealth stocks that ran over 1,000% in 2009 that is only to be expected…. hence the 10-bagger comments. We had many biotech and biohealth shares rally from their lows significantly this year, with companies such as Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAZZ), Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT), Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNDA), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN), and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) all being in or having been in the 10-bagger club this year.
But late in 2009 we started seeing an onslaught of low-priced stocks with small cap or micro-cap values running rapidly higher on news. In some cases these faded, and in some not. We saw the traders run up shares of Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), Bionovo, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNVI), Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN), pSivida Corp. (NASDAQ: PSDV), Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX), Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNSS), and AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR) on news late in 2009. Also covered as potentials for this are Biodel Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOD), Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXA), and Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTIC).
We have reviewed each of these and given a synopsis for each to see if these could be the 10-baggers for 2010.
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Is Sunesis The Next 10-Bagger? (SNSS, DNDN, JAZZ, TRGT, VNDA, HGSI)
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNSS) has become the next small cap and low-prices biotech craze this week. We have seen this occur this year in other stocks, and now it seems that investors and traders are ready to jump into many of these small-cap biotech stocks with the hope of catching the next 10-bagger (1,000% return on investment). When you look at the amazing performance of many stocks in the sector, you probably won’t be too shocked to see why traders and speculating investors pile in:
- Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) is up 900% from its lows over the last year.
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAZZ) has jumped about 1,400% from lows.
- Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT) has jumped over 1,000% from lows.
- Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNDA) has popped over 2,000% from its lows.
- And the biggie…. Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) was under $0.50 in March, making those fortunate few who bought after the March price tank have a gain of 50-fold if had they still held on today.
Today’s action dwarfs what was seen on Tuesday after Sunesis announced positive data from its two Phase II clinical trials of its lead drug candidate called voreloxin. The company said that the results showed strong efficacy and safety profile when used as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy in patients with difficult to treat acute myeloid leukemia.
This data was presented at the 51st American Society Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Sunesis showed that the high rates of remission in both trials have translated into durable effects with meaningful preliminary overall survival results.
With an anticipated median survival of three and a half to six months on currently available therapies, primary refractory and first relapse AML patients are particularly in desperate need of more effective treatment options. The company said that it plans to discuss the data with the FDA in End-of-Phase 2 meeting scheduled for the first quarter of 2010.
This stock closed at $0.44 on Monday before the data was released. But then on December 8 it had trading volume of 10,042,800 and closed up at $0.53. Yesterday it closed up at $0.60 on 4.1 million shares. The 52-week trading range was $0.05 to $0.90, which shows how this was a dormant stock. But then this morning traders began piling into the stock. And piled and piled. At 2:00 PM EST the stock is up a whopping 120% at $1.32 on 23 million shares having traded, but the stock traded as high as $1.84 on the day.
If you smooth out the most recent trading action and if you smooth out the exact lows you have an average share price of probably $0.30 or $0.35. If we see one more day of this action, a 10-bagger is more than just theory.
Even after the run this week, this is a mere $45.4 million market cap stock. At the end of September, it held $3.87 million in cash. Always keep in mind that there is a nasty side to major price gains in small speculative biotech stocks that release positive study data. That is the “news selling” where companies raise cash in private placements. Don’t be too shocked if you see the company use the gains to raise cash.
JON C. OGG
Key Biotech Short Selling Changes in November (AMGN, BIIB, CELG, GILD, GENZ, GERN, LIFE, DNDN, HGSI, AMLN, OSIP)
We have now seen the changes in short selling in biotech stocks via the late-November short interest report from NASDAQ. This marks the changes seen at the November 30, 2009 settlement date versus a November 13 settlement date. We have given short interest data on Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ), Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN), Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI), Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN), and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP).
Again, the change reflects the November 30 date versus a prior date of November 13:
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) 18,247,560 shares versus 15,888,876, a gain of 14.8%.
Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) 8,914,221 shares versus 8,201,010, a gain of 8.7%.
Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) 19,334,491 shares versus 20,330,539, a drop of -4.9%.
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) 7,800,195 shares versus 8,122,937, a drop of -4.0%.
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) 3,835,576 shares versus 4,531,522, a drop of -15.4%
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) 13,846,894 shares versus 13,653,745, a gain of 1.4%.
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) 8,686,786 shares versus 8,950,719, a drop of -3.0%.
Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) 9,881,341 shares versus 9,105,303, a gain of 8.5%.
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) 17,100,782 shares versus 17,571,094, a drop of -2.7%.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN) 8,353,185 shares versus 8,538,392, a drop of -2.2%.
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP) 5,471,010 versus 5,517,134, a drop of -0.8%.
JON C. OGG
December 10, 2009
Dendreon Files To Raise Capital (DNDN)
Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) has just filed an automatic shelf registration statement with the SEC. This will allow the company to raise capital, although no terms nor dollar amounts were listed initially (see below). As with most initial shelf registration of this sort, no underwriters were named as well (see update below).
- Update: After 5:0 PM EST Dendreon disclosed that it was going to sell 15 Million shares via lead underwriters JPMorgan Securities and Deutsche Bank Securities.
The net proceeds from the sale of common stock under this prospectus are earmarked to fund Dendreon’s commercialization activities for Provenge, including the investment in new facilities for the expansion of manufacturing capabilities, investment in sourcing of components for Provenge, the hiring of additional personnel and investment in specialized technology systems. Also noted as a use of funds is funding additional clinical trials for Provenge and for Dendreon’s other product candidates.
The use of funds is one that goes on as well. The company will fund other research and preclinical development activities for active immunotherapies, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule products. It can also satisfy third party obligations, and can use funds for general corporate purposes.
OUTSTANDING SHARES TODAY: As of the date of this prospectus, its certificate of incorporation, authorizes it to issue up to 260,000,000 shares of capital stock of which 250,000,000 shares are of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares are of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of December 7, 2009, 116,002,033 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
MOST RECENT BALANCE SHEET DATA: At the end of September, Dendreon had cash and equivalents of over $177.3 million, short-term investments of $over $71 million, and long-term investments of over $16 million.
Jon C. Ogg
December 8, 2009
Key Biotech Short Interest Changes (AMGN, GILD, BIIB, CELG, GENZ, GERN, LIFE, DNDN, HGSI, AMLN, OSIP)
We have now been able to see the short interest changes that took place over the month of October-2009 in the world of biotech stocks. There were some key gains seen in a couple names, but the overall trend in biotech short selling seems to be down. We have given short interest data on Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD), Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), and Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ), Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN), Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI), Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN), and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP).
Key data is below with the short interest and the percentage change from mid-October to the end of october:
Amgen Inc. (AMGN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 14,737,921 -9.5%
10/15/2009. 16,286,597
Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 16,198,837 +10.2%
10/15/2009. 14,703,407
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 7,370,581 -4.6%
10/15/2009. 7,725,108
Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 8,574,239 -2.9%
10/15/2009. 8,827,991
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 5,118,715 -36%
10/15/2009. 8,085,099
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 12,907,169 -1.9%
10/15/2009. 15,152,295
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 7,746,689 +8.0%
10/15/2009. 7,173,192
Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 8,427,630 +0.4%
10/15/2009. 8.398,235
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 17,160,491 -4.5%
10/15/2009. 17,967,328
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 10,199,665 -17%
10/15/2009. 12,347,842
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
10/30/2009. 5,415,588 +4%
10/15/2009. 5,212,729
JON C. OGG
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Biotech Short Sellers Changing Beat (AMGN, GILD, BIIB, CELG, GENZ, LIFE, DNDN, HGSI, AMLN, OSIP)
Over the weekend we got to see some of the short interest changes for the key biotech stocks. While these was no clear unified directional move, there were some interesting changes seen. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD), Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), and Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ). Due to growing market caps in the sector, we have also included Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN), Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI), Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN), and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP)in the run down this month.
Amgen Inc. (AMGN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 18,363,198.. 5% GAIN
9/15/2009 17,449,497
Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 16,015,311.. 3.8% GAIN
9/15/2009 15,466,285
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 8,177,698.. 9% DROP
9/15/2009 8,935,957
Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 9,459,673.. 1% DROP
9/15/2009 9,565,418
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 8,771,379.. 19% GAIN
9/15/2009 7,388,108
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 6,799,196.. 3% DROP
9/15/2009 7,033,841
Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 8,939,869.. 2% DROP
9/15/2009 9,146,253
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 19,786,339.. 1% DROP
9/15/2009 19,867,823
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 13,171,869.. 5.7% DROP
9/15/2009 13,928,154
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP)
AS OF DATE Short Int. Change
9/30/2009 5,444,450.. 5.8% GAIN
9/15/2009 5,137,212
JON C. OGG
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