Osiris and Genzyme Ink Adult Stem Cell pact (OSIR, GENZ)
Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) and Genzyme (NASDAQ: GENZ) have entered into a pact to develop and commercialize what the companies are calling first-in-class adult stem cell products. Osiris was also just mentioned yesterday as one of the many stem cell beneficiaries of the 2008 presidential election.
Stem Cells Win In 2008 Presidential Election (STEM, GERN, ASTM, NBS, CHBP, KOOL, OSIR, OPXA, ACTC)
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
Cloning, No Longer Just For Star Wars
Cloning may invoke more controversy than any topic, short of a few that we won’t go into. But there is a new pact out there regarding animal cloning that investors may be playing ahead. Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) and Exeter Life Sciences, Inc. announced a merger of Start Licensing, Inc., a joint venture between Geron and Exeter Life Sciences, and ViaGen, Inc., a subsidiary of Exeter Life Sciences. The deal was announced Tuesday but may have ramifications for years into teh future.
This venture called Start manages and licenses a broad portfolio of intellectual property rights related to animal reproductive technologies, which of course includes animal cloning. ViaGen is a leading animal genomics and livestock cloning firm. Does the name Dolly the Sheep ring a bell?
The merger of Start and ViaGen, combines the full breadth of intellectual property rights to nuclear transfer cloning technology, including that developed at the Roslin Institute for cloning Dolly the sheep. Customers can secure a license to practice or contract cloning services.
Modified or cloned animals may answer many questions to basic needs around the world, and of course it opens up another Pandora’s Box depending on how far this is allowed to go. The companies also note that cloning has applications in the production of biopharmaceuticals, such as therapeutic proteins in milk and antibodies in blood.
Cloning anything beyond compounds and certain animals is going to open up one major controversy out there. But independent business owners would probably line up right now if this was extended to you and me. They’d likely turn in an order for 3 units if they can afford it: two for work, and one for parts.
Jon C. Ogg
August 13, 2008
Smaller MS Players Stand To Benefit (BIIB, ELN, PSTI, ACOR, TEVA)
There is a shot that smaller speculative multiple sclerosis companies that have treatments in pre-clinical studies or those in early stage studies may tend to actually benefit from TYSABRI’s woes after Biogen-Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corp. plc (NYSE: ELN) dropped the bomb over the last week.
This morning a smaller company named Puristem Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSTI) is gaining after it released news that in-vivo tests for is PLacental PLX cells showed promising results in potentially treating MS. Keep in mind that these in-vivo tests were on animal models, and mice and monkeys oftemn react much differently than when the tests start being conducted on humans. Plristem’s shares are up about 5% at the open at $1.165.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) is also deemed a winner as its COPAXONE for MS is going to be less pressured now that it is making such a large acquisition. Either way, many patients in this field with MS are not going to switch to generics as this is a highly untreated and currently uncrable disease.
This bad TYSABRI news may have also kept Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) from being hit too hard after its 4 million share secondary was priced at $28.50 per share last week. Proceeds went to the company for further R&D and NDA filings.
Ultimately, Elan and Biogen will likely escape too much fallout from its MS woes after more PML cases in those using TYSABRI. But the woes will likely allow smaller companies making positive MS announcements in various studies to rally further on the news than they might have just a week or two ago. We are at least seeing that in one such stock this morning.
Jon C. Ogg
August 11, 2008
New Patent Awarded in Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplants
There has been an interesting award of a patent today in relation to treatment of patients in need of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (OTC-BB: CHKT) has announced they received this patent. The company is a micro-cap biotechnology company developing chemokine-based therapies to treat cancer, blood disorders and vascular diseases.
While all patents do add value in theory, we do caution that patents do not always translate to instant or near-term revenues (outside of milestones from partners) for small biotech companies.
But patent #7,378,098 is an interesting one in that it pertains to in-need-of bone marrow patients and stem cells. Both are huge growth areas for the companies that can score a win in them. The company noted that this strengthens the foundation for its work with its drug candidate CTCE-0214, for hematogical support; mobilization of stem cells and white blood cells into circulation, which is currently in Phase I development.
This patent, “CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Agonist Peptides,” is said to be based on evidence that treatment with SDF-1 chemokine analog prevents reduction of normal bone marrow stem cells and restores white blood cells, which reduce susceptibility to infections in cancer patients following chemotherapy treatment.
We would note that this company raised almost $1 million back in the middle of June, and calling the company a micro-cap would be an understatement. As with all companies, we urge ANY AND ALL traders and investors to do double the amount of due diligence on companies they are interested in the story of when it comes to micro-caps and OTC-BB stocks.
Jon Ogg
July 2, 2008