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.
Read more
Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QCOR) Up On FDA News
Questcor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:QCOR) is up sharply to over $5 on news that U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) now considers that the firm has provided a complete response to all prior action letters for its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to market H.P. ActharGel (repository corticotrophin injection) for the treatment of infantile spasms. The FDA has set the user fee goal date (PDUFA) of June 11, 2010 for this sNDA.
Acthar is currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of MS exacerbations, nephrotic syndrome and many other conditions. Acthar is not approved in the U.S. for the treatment of IS, a potentially life-threatening disorder that typically begins in the first year of life. However, pursuant to guidelines published by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society, many child neurologists use Acthar to treat infants afflicted with this condition. Previously, the FDA granted Orphan Designation to Acthar for the treatment of IS.
Douglas A. McIntyre
Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QCOR) Hit On Earnings
Questor (NASDAQ:QCOR) announced very disappointing earnings for the last quarter ending September 30.
Net sales totaled $13.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $24.2 million in the year earlier period. Net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $1.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted common share compared to $9.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share in the year earlier period.
During the third quarter of 2009, Questcor shipped 1,354 vials of Acthar compared to 1,500 vials in the third quarter of 2008 and 1,564 vials in the second quarter of 2009. As a result of the reduction in vials shipped, gross sales were 10% lower in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008. Acthar is currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of MS exacerbations, nephrotic syndrome and many other conditions. Acthar is not approved in the U.S. for the treatment of IS, a potentially life-threatening disorder that typically begins in the first year of life.
At October 30, 2009, Questcor’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled approximately $71 million.
Shares were down 14% to $4.
Douglas A. McIntyre
