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
Could Affymetrix Be Next Takeover in BioHealth? (AFFX, CALP, LIFE, QGEN)
Everyone wants to know which stocks in biotech and medical technology will be the next buyout target. It is rare that research reports or interviews from traditional brokerage firms point out an obvious takeover candidate, but that is exactly what came about in shares of Affymetrix Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFX) this morning. We first saw a move today in the company’s stock options volume on the heels of an analyst’s comments today.
The company is into consumables and systems for genetic analysis in the life sciences and clinical healthcare markets with its integrated GeneChip microarray platform including disposable DNA probe arrays consisting of nucleic acid sequences. It also operates or sells in North America, Europe, Latin America, India, the Middle East, China and the Asia Pacific regions. It has collaboration partnerships with Caliper Life Sciences (NASDAQ: CALP), CapitalBio Corporation, Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), Pathwork Diagnostics, and Qiagen (NASDAQ: QGEN). Of these partnerships, Qiagen and Life Technologies are both far larger than Affymetrix.
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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
Geron Delay Dulls Stem Cell Sector (GERN, ASTM, CYTX, NBS, STEM, KOOL, OSIR, LIFE, CCEL)
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) has some bad news in the land of stem cell investors. The stem cell leader has announced that its Investigational New Drug application for a cell therapy for neurologically complete, subacute spinal cord injury has been placed on clinical hold by the FDA pending the agency’s review of new nonclinical animal study data submitted by the company. This is an order that the FDA issues to a sponsor to delay a proposed trial or to suspend an ongoing trial.
As a reminder, no patients have yet been treated in this study. But this has investors spooked, even if it is just for a review of additional data. Stem Cell stocks often move hand in hand, and these are the other issues to watch on the news:
- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM)
- Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX)
- Neostem, Inc. (NYSE: NBS)
- StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM)
- Thermogenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL)
- Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR)
- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE)
- Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CCEL)
Geron noted that the company has been undertaking studies to enable dose escalation of its spinal cord injury product and has also been investigating application of the product to other neurodegenerative diseases.
The company has also been performing additional product characterization and conducting further animal studies and the data from this work has been submitted to the FDA. Geron said that it will work closely with the FDA to facilitate the review of the new data and to release the clinical hold.
JON C. OGG
AUGUST 18, 2009
Persistent Merger & Acquisition Talk In Stem Cell Sector (GERN, ASTM, CYTX, NBS, STEM, KOOL, OSIR, LIFE)
It is not uncommon at all to have takeover rumors in the drug or biotech sector. That is also true in the speculative groups inside this. But we keep hearing the notorious “takeover chatter” in the stem cell sector, and particularly in Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN). This is out there again, but be advised that we have seen the same notes getting passed around on multiple occasions with nothing that has ever come from it.
What we wanted to show you was where these stocks are now compared to the date of March 9, 2009 when the Obama administration was signing the executive order breaking the Bush ban on embryonic stem cell funding. Some of the other stem cell companies are as follows:
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) is at $0.40, and was at $0.62 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is $69 million.
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX) is at $2.83 and was at $3.20 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is $97 million.
Neostem, Inc. (NBS) is at $2.16 and was at $0.69 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is almost $17 million.
StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) is at $1.75 and was at $2.15 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is $182 million.
Thermogenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL) is at $0.55 today, was at $0.57 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is $31 million.
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR) is in a stem cell pact with Genzyme, but for adult stem cells. This is a $12.19 stock, and shares were at $17.97 when we covered it on March 9; market cap today is $399 million.
There is also a much larger company called Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) and it has the Invitrogen unit that has many efforts, including a focus on creating unique primary and stem cell models for better and more efficient drug screening.
We would describe takeover chatter in this sector as something that feels like more fiction or a stretch rather than something we’d consider as any documentary evidence. The stem cell sector offers wonderful promises and wonderful cures for many diseases and conditions. But that is also after the ethical argument has been made. Despite the positive studies and the positive indications, the group overall is still in its infancy and there are now many international patent issues in the sector because this was largely off-limits for about seven years on the new development front from new lines of stem cells.
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