BioHealth Business Daily (ALXA, ALKS, ALTH, DNDN, JNJ, GERN, GENZ, IMGN, JAZZ)

The world of biotech and biohealth is seeing a flurry of news today.  This is bringing on many winners and losers in the sector.  We are tracking the news and the moves in Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXA), Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS), Allos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTH), Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN), Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ), Immunogen Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN), and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAZZ).  We have tracked the move and news and added on color on each where applicable.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXA) is getting crushed after the FDA declined to approve its AZ-004 for treatment of agitation in schizophrenic or bipolar disorder patients.  This is and was its lead program.  Shares hit a new 52-week low under the prior 52-week range of $1.93 to $3.92; shares are down a whopping 52% at $1.45 and we have seen 8.3 million shares trade hands.

Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS) is trading slightly lower ahead of its decision due Tuesday for the approval of its opioid addiction treatment Vivitrol.  The drug is already approved as an injection treatment for alcohol dependence and the company has already had Phase III results showing that Vivitrol helped patients against opioid addiction. A panel has already recommended approval of the drug.  Shares hit a new 52-week high again this morning of $16.03, but shares are currently down 0.9% at $15.78.

Allos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTH) is down after its experimental drug called pralatrexate increased non-small cell lung cancer patients’ survival rate more than an existing treatment in a mid-stage study.  Unfortunately, the data was mixed enough that shares are down 5.7% at $4.31 in active trading.

Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN) is up despite potential competition.  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) showed that study data in men with advanced prostate cancer lived nearly four months longer on a new pill,  one which the company noted would change clinical practice.  Dendreon shares are up 3% at $40.41 on fairly active trading and its 52-week trading range is $24.79 to $57.67.

Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) is trading up after it enrolled the first patient for its early stage human-embryonic stem-cell treatment for spinal cord injuries in less than two months after the FDA removed a clinical hold.  Shares are up over 7% at $5.74 on active volume versus a 52-week range of $4.37 to $7.18.

Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) is still in the mystery category.  The company’s denial of a $69 bid from Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) was met with a final seeking of strategic alternatives to find a bidder who would pay more.  The biotech giant even went as far as to call it an opportunistic bid that is now hostile.  Shares closed at $72.75 on Friday, so it seems as though there may not be a huge hope of a competing bid that is aggressively higher than Sanofi-Aventis’ $69 offer.  Shares are trading up 0.25 at $72.92 today on hope of a higher offer.

Immunogen Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN) is trading higher after positive cancer data and a deal with Novartis (NYSE: NVS).  Full news is at BioHealthInvestor and shares are up 5.7% at $7.71 on very active trading.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAZZ) did not get a FDA nod  for its JZP-6 for fibromyalgia.  The FDA said more studies are needed,  and shares are actually up today.  In late-morning trade, shares are up 3.3% at $10.45 on active trading volume.  The 52-week range is $6.01 to $13.95.

You can join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about dividend trends, analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG