24/7 Wall St. » ASTM

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (BAH, CVC, URBN, WPI, HON, ADES, BAMM, EBIX, LDL, RAVN, XRIT, ASTM, IDT, BBX, OMER, FFFD, CCIX, COOL)

Paul Ausick — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:04:41 +0000

Markets opened higher this morning following a solid report on US retail sales. Reports on both consumer and small business confidence both showed improvement in February (more coverage here and here). In the afternoon, the Federal Reserve left the fed funds rate unchanged and did not indicate any other changes to monetary policy (more coverage here). The Fed’s announcement pushed markets even higher to their best levels in nearly four years. The Treasury’s auction of 10-year notes boosted yields by three basis points. Crude oil moved higher today as well, with WTI crude closing up 0.4% at $106.71/barrel and Brent crude up 0.77% at $126.31/barrel. Gold settled at $1,694.20, down -0.3%

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 218 points to 13,177.83 (1.68%), the NASDAQ rose more than 56 points (1.88%) to 3,039.88, and the S&P 500 rose 1.81% or nearly 25 points to 1,395.97.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) cut to ‘market perform’ at Wells Fargo; Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) cut to ‘hold’ at Deutsche Bank; Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) maintained as ‘neutral’ but estimates lowered at Credit Suisse (more coverage here); Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: WPI) reiterated as ‘buy’ with $70 target price at Argus; and Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) reiterated as ‘buy’ with $70 target price at Argus.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night have led to some price changes as of the last half hour of trading today: ADA-ES Inc. (NASDAQ: ADES) is up 2.4% at $25.87 after posting a new 52-week high of $27.00; Books-a-Million Inc. (NASDAQ: BAMM) is up 6.9% at $3.10; Ebix Inc. (NASDAQ: EBIX) is up 5.2% at $23.86; Lydall Inc. (NYSE: LDL) is up 6.3% at $9.75; Raven Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVN) is up 3.8% at $63.77; X-Rite Inc. (NASDAQ: XRIT) is up 1.3% at $4.47; Aastrom Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) is up 1.5% at $2.07; and IDT Corp. (NYSE: IDT) is up 16.3% at $9.77.

Other standouts from today include the following stocks:

BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: BBX) is up nearly 87% at $3.60. The bank holding company received a sweetened deal this morning on its pending acquisition by BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT).

Omeros Corp. (NASDAQ: OMER) is up about 32% at $10.10 after posting a new 52-week high of $10.88 earlier. The biopharmaceutical company’s reported a successful phase III drug trial this morning.

North Central Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: FFFD) is up more than 36% at $30.03 after posting a new 52-week high of $30.10 earlier. The bank holding company is merging with Great Western Bancorporation Inc..

Coleman Cable Inc. (NASDAQ: CCIX) is down more than -20% at $10.35. The electrical equipment maker reported weak quarterly earnings and offered a weak forecast this morning.

Majesco Entertainment Co. (NASDAQ: COOL) is down more than -13% at $2.57. The video game maker reported weak earnings last night. More coverage here.

Stay tuned for Wednesday. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is giving a speech in the morning. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications
8:30 a.m. – Import and export prices
10:30 a.m. – EIA weekly petroleum status report
1:00 p.m. – 30-year Treasury bond auction

Paul Ausick

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire Tagged: ADES, ASTM, BAH, BAMM, BBX, CCIX, COOL, CVC, EBIX, FFFD, HON, IDT, LDL, OMER, RAVN, URBN, WPI, XRIT

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (JNJ, KSS, WTW, DHI, LEN, TOL, ACI, ALIM, ZUMZ, ARO, ANN, CCL, FGP, HALO, URRE, JVA, QSFT, ASTM, DYN, ZGNX, GMCR)

Paul Ausick — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:05:53 +0000

US equities opened higher this morning following the report on a US non-farm payroll gain of 227,000 jobs (more coverage here). In Europe, the Greek debt swap deal went off smoothly, but the declaration late this afternoon by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) that the swap was, in fact, a “credit event” sent stocks down sharply though the three major indexes remain in positive territory about half an hour before the markets close. The dollar opened up this morning and got stronger as the day went on, with the dollar index now up 1.07% at 79.987. Crude oil was up today, with WTI crude settling up 0.8% at $107.40/barrel and Brent crude trading up 0.29% at $125.80/barrel. Gold settled higher by 0.8% at $1,711.50/ounce.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up 14 points to 12,921.94 (0.11%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 18 points (0.6%) to 2,988.34, and the S&P 500 rose 0.36% or nearly 5 points to 1,370.87.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) started as ‘hold’ at Jefferies; Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS) raised to ‘buy’ at Jefferies; Weight Watchers International Inc. (NYSE: WTW) started as ‘overweight’ (!) at Barclays; D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), and Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) all raised to ‘outperform’ at Credit Suisse; and Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE: ACI) cut to ‘market perform’ at BMO.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night have led to some price changes as of the last half hour of trading today: Alimera Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ALIM) is down -3.4% at $4.00; Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) is up 5.7% at $34.16 after posting a new 52-week high of $34.44 earlier today; Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) is up 2.6% at $19.45; Ann Inc. (NYSE: ANN) is up 6% at $27.36; Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) is down -1.2% at $30.57 (more coverage here); Ferrellgas Partners LP (NYSE: FGP) is down -2.6% at $16.80; Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) is down -1.8% at $11.30; and Uranium Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: URRE) is up 3.1% at $1.00.

Other standouts from today include the following stocks:

Coffee Holding Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: JVA) is up nearly 38% at $10.81. The integrated coffee roaster and distributor posted better-than-expected quarterly results this morning.

Quest Software Inc. (NASDAQ: QSFT) is up more than 24% at $24.09. The firm has agreed to be acquired at $23/share. More coverage here.

Aastrom Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) is up more than 21% at $2.21. The biotechnology company has completed a private placement of $40 million in Series B convertible preferred stock. More coverage here.

Dynegy Inc. (NYSE: DYN) is down more than -38% at $0.72 after posting a new 52-week low of $0.59 earlier today. A Delaware court ruled that the company had engaged in a “fraudulent transfer” of assets prior to its bankruptcy filing.

Zogenix Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGNX) is down nearly -18% at $2.05. The drug maker posted a wider than expected loss after the markets closed yesterday.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is down nearly -16% at $52.61. The company is being hit hard by yesterday’s announcement from Starbucks Inc. (NASDAQ: SBUX) that it will launch a single-cup espresso and coffee machine to compete with the Keurig products from Green Mountain. More coverage here and here.

Stay tuned for Monday. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

11:30 a.m. – 3- and 6-month Treasury bill auction
1:00 p.m. – 3-year Treasury note auction
2.00 p.m. – US Treasury budget report

Have a great weekend.

Paul Ausick

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire Tagged: ACI, ALIM, ANN, ARO, ASTM, CCL, DHI, DYN, FGP, GMCR, HALO, JNJ, JVA, KSS, LEN, QSFT, TOL, URRE, WTW, ZGNX, ZUMZ

Mid-day Movers (ASTM, JVA, QSFT, GMCR, ZGNX)

Paul Ausick — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:03:34 +0000

Shortly before noon ET today, all three major US stock indexes have posted gains, with the DJIA up about 41 points at around12,949, the Nasdaq up about 20 points at 2,991, and the S&P 500 up more than 7 points to around 1,373. This morning’s report on US non-farm payroll gains. In Europe, the Greek debt swap deal went off smoothly, but it will be interesting to see what happens if the deal triggers a “credit event,” as many expect. The dollar is up sharply today, with the dollar index up 1.10% at 80.013. The stronger economic news is pushing up crude prices, with Brent up more than 0.50% and WTI up around 1.3%.

Among the major movers at around noon today are Aastrom Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM), Coffee Holding Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: JVA), Quest Software Inc. (NASDAQ: QSFT), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR), and Zogenix Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGNX).

Aastrom is up more than 30% at $2.37. Volume is already about 6x the daily average of about 205,000 shares traded. The biotechnology company has completed a private placement of $40 million in Series B convertible preferred stock.

Coffee Holding Co. is up more than 26% at $9.92. Volume is already nearly 10x the daily average of about 276,000 shares traded. The integrated coffee roaster and distributor posted better-than-expected quarterly results this morning.

Quest Software is up more than 23% at $23.90. Volume is already about 16x the daily average of around 500,000 shares traded. The firm has agreed to be acquired at $23/share. More coverage here.

Green Mountain Coffee is down more than -16% at $52.21. Volume is already approaching triple the daily average of around 5.5 million shares traded. The company is being hit hard by yesterday’s announcement from Starbucks Inc. (NASDAQ: SBUX) that it will launch a single-cup espresso and coffee machine to compete with the Keurig products from Green Mountain. More coverage here.

Zogenix is down nearly -14% at $2.15. Volume is already more than double the daily average of around 555,000 shares traded. The drug maker posted a wider than expected loss after the markets closed yesterday.

Paul Ausick

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire Tagged: ASTM, GMCR, JVA, QSFT, ZGNX

BioHealth Business Daily, Major News Breaks (QCOR, DNDN, GERN, STEM, ASTM, CYTX, NBS, BTIM, PSTI, SVA, VVUS, OREX, ARNA, SNTS, GENZ, SNY, TEVA, AMGN, ACOR, CELG, HGSI, BIIB, GILD, EXAS, ZGEN, DYAX, IDXX, VPHM)

Administrator — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:57:35 +0000

Biotech and BioHealth stocks are on the move today and there is more news in the emerging sector than there has been on a single day in months and months. The news is not even on any of the ten-bagger drug announcement tracking stocks that investors tend to fall in love with from time to time. We have individual news and moves seen in Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN), Santarus Inc. (NASDAQ: SNTS) and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SVA). There is a boatload of stem cell reactions to news today; obesity drug candidate companies are all not getting an up-market memo from the stock exchanges. We also have ongoing pending merger news and there were more drug and biotech research calls than you can easily count today.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR) is down over 5.5% at $9.79 after the FDA said it needed more time to review its Supplemental New Drug Application for its Acthar decision for infantile spasms.

Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN) is playing a 2% game of giveback today and shares are down at $40.99. There has been some steady hope of a deal here on and off coming down the pipe, but the Medicare review period over reimbursements (a possible price shakedown) is a steady thorn in the side of PROVENGE in the fight against prostate cancer.

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SVA) is trading up 7.5% at $4.30 on above average volume. The company disclosed that there were THREE upcoming presentations:

Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Unplugged Conference, New York, scheduled for September 14 at 2:10 pm ET.
Morgan Stanley China Global Healthcare Day, Boston, September 15 in one-on-meetings with investors.
UBS Global Life Sciences Conference, New York, scheduled for Monday, September 20 at 10:00 AM ET.

Stem cells are back in vogue…. Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM), Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX), Neostem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS), BioTime, Inc. (NASDAQ: BTIM) and Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSTI) are all trading higher on word that US District Court has lifted that ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cells.

VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) is down 3.5% at $6.11 but it is on light trading volume. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OREX) is down 3.4% at $5.14 on thin volume, and this is the one that Takeda got on the map for a potential $1 billion obesity pill pact announced in recent weeks. Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA) is also down 4% at $7.13 on fairly active trading volume.

Santarus Inc. (NASDAQ: SNTS) is up after it secured a license for a Type II diabetes drug for the exclusive manufacturing and commercial rights to Cycloset in the U.S. with S2 Therapeutics and VeroScience. The company will pay an upfront $5 million fee and will then pay royalties to its partners from the Cycloset sales. Santarus shares are trading up over 14% at $2.54 on about 10-times normal trading volume.

Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) is up today on hopes of a higher Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) bid, although this appears to be on a false rumor.

There was a massive push for drug and biotech research calls today. Stocks given new coverage, upgrades, and downgrades were Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NASDAQ: TEVA), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI), Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD), EXACT Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS), ZymoGenetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN), Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ: DYAX), IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), and ViroPharma Inc. (NASDAQ: VPHM) all have major research calls with a FULL RESEARCH SUMMARY WITH INDIVIDUAL CALLS HERE.

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

Filed under: Biotech, Drug companies, Pharmaceuticals, Trading Alert Tagged: ACOR, AMGN, ARNA, ASTM, BIIB, BTIM, CELG, CYTX, DNDN, DYAX, EXAS, GENZ, GERN, GILD, HGSI, IDXX, NBS, OREX, PSTI, QCOR, SNTS, SNY, STEM, SVA, TEVA, VPHM, VVUS, ZGEN

Stem Cells Versus The Constitution (GERN, STEM, ASTM, CYTX, NBS, BTIM)

Administrator — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:03:38 +0000

Stem cell stocks are getting hit pretty hard this Tuesday. On Monday came a ruling from a U.S. district judge which effectively blocks the federal government from funding research which involves human embryonic stem cell. The ruling was based upon the grounds that this type of funding violates a 1996 law that was intended to prevent human embryos from being destroyed.

This was a preliminary injunction by Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington, D.C. that stemmed from a case with two scientists challenging the Obama stem cell funding designed to catch back up and to expand federal support for stem cell research and this falls under the Dickey-Wicker Amendment.

Stem cells are still very controversial because of the moral and religious aspects. Those who want stem cell research feel that the field holds cure to cancer, blindness, paralysis, organ replacement, and on and on. This case will still have many steps along the way and ultimately this could end up being one of those cases that either tests the Constitution or that goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

According to the ruling, Congress did not make any specifications for exceptions. The current funding approved is for embryonic stem cells which have been destroyed and is not in support of new lines. Effectively, this would force stem cell research back under much of the same guidelines that had been in place under President Bush.

The current injunction does not appear to ban funding of stem cell research, but it keeps out the federal funding. To show why this matters, the National Institutes of Health has invested nearly $400 million in human embryonic stem cell research in the last five years. The current regulations before yesterday’s ruling had more than 70 human embryonic stem cell lines eligible and it covered stem cell lines that were derived from human embryos created from in vitro fertilization which are no longer needed.

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) is down 5.4% at $4.75 versus a 52-week trading range of $4.37 to $7.51. Geron recently received an FDA lifting of a clinical trial hold involving spinal cord injuries.

StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) is down 7.25% at $0.79 and its shares hit a 52-week low of $0.76 this morning versus a high of $1.79. This one recently had positive paralysis study data.

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) is down 4% at $1.44 versus a 52-week range of $1.32 to $4.16.

Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX) is down 4.8% at $4.52 and the 52-week range is $2.93 to $9.50.

Neostem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS) is down by 3.4% at $1.70 versus a 52-week trading range of $1.26 to $3.50. As we have outlined before, NeoStem is actually tied to adult stem cells rather than embryonic stem cells.

BioTime, Inc. (NASDAQ: BTIM) is down 5.2% at $4.56 versus a 52-week range of $3.02 to $8.42. BioTime recently noted that a peer reviewed Regenerative Medicine publication showed that the aging of human cells can be reversed.

It was just in late 2009 that the NIH announced the approval of the first 13 human embryonic stem cell lines for use in NIH-funded research under the NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research adopted in July 2009.

This latest round of news is a preliminary injunction. It is not a final ruling. If this ruling were to stand, then stem cell research would be severely hindered in the U.S. Again, this is a preliminary ruling and there are many steps which will come into play here before any final resolution comes to pass.

You can visit BioHealthInvestor.com for a full review of key developments and major news in STEM CELL research that goes back to 2008.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Biotech, Cult Stock, Drug companies, FDA, Law, Politics, Shareholder Issues Tagged: ASTM, BTIM, CYTX, GERN, NBS, STEM

Stem Cell Stocks Rise, Led By Athersys Inc. (ATHX, NBS, STEM)

247wallst — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:33:10 +0000

Stem cell stocks (tracked in Tickerspy’s Stem Cell Stock’s Index (*RXSTM) are up over 7% today, led by Athersys Inc (NASDAQ: ATHX). Athersys Inc. rose as high as 395% this morning following news that the company has entered into a deal with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to develop Athersys’s MultiStem, an experimental treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Athersys recieved an intial payment of $6 million in addition to funding for research. Should the program be successful Athersys will recieved as much as $105 million as well as royalties from sales of the drug should it come to mark.

Other stem cell stocks received a big boost from the news. Neostem Inc. (AMEX: NBS), which operates a operates a center for the collection and storage of stem cell, rose as high as 7.6%. StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), which attempts to treat organ disorders with stem cells, climbed as high as 7.2%

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted in Biotech, Pharmaceuticals Tagged: ASTM, ATHX, CUR, CYTX, GERN, KOOL, NBS, OPXA, OSIR, PFE, PSTI, STEM, stem cells

Stem Cell Stocks Take Off (ASTM, GERN, OPXA, STEM)

247wallst — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:35:44 +0000

Tickerspy’s Stem Cell Stock Index (*RSXTM) took off today, rising nearly 13%. The movement followed a release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announcing that 13 embryonic stem cell lines were approved for funding.

Opexa Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: OPXA) led the rise in stem cell stocks, surging over 40%. The company seeks to develop treatments to major illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes, through stem cell research. The company’s stock has risen 2837% off its lows for the year.

StemCells Inc (NASDAQ: STEM) rose over 30% to a high of $1.45. The company engages in research aimed at developing treatment for organ damage using stem cells. The company’s stock is up over 1544% off its low for the year.

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted in Biotech Tagged: ASTM, CUR, CYTX, GERN, KOOL, OPXA, OSIR, PSTI, STEM, stem cells

GE Taking Decisive Step Into Stem Cells (GE, GERN, STEM, ASTM)

247wallst — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:17:10 +0000

General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is taking a bold and controversial new step into the field of embryonic stem cell research. The company has signed an exclusive license and alliance pact with Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) to develop and commercialize cellular assay products derived from human embryonic stem cells for use in drug discovery, development and toxicity screening. As noted over at BioHealthInvestor.com, this may have implications for other stem cell stocks such as StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) and others.

The program will use stem cells derived from hESC lines listed on the NIH Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry. While financial terms were not disclosed, this is a major endorsement for Geron and will only add to its position as one of the leaders in the field of stem cell companies in the U.S.

This is a further step in GE Healthcare’s cell technology strategy and is meant to accelerate the development of hESC-derived products for drug discovery and development. GE Healthcare has been granted an exclusive license under Geron’s extensive intellectual property portfolio, which covers the growth and differentiation of hESCs, as well as a sublicense under Geron’s rights to the foundational hESC patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

This is being dubbed a multi-year alliance and GE Healthcare will fund the R&D program and will be responsible for manufacturing, sales and distribution of products developed under the agreement. Intellectual property rights that come out of the alliance program research will be shared, with GE Healthcare receiving rights for the development of drug discovery technologies and Geron receiving rights for cell therapy applications.

GE shares were up almost 1% before consumer confidence was released, but Geron is the real winner here with shares up 18% at $7.99 on the day.

The benefits of this could be the next Holy Grail in biotech. Stem cell research is hoped to lead into solid cures such as cancer, cardiac science, tissue regeneration, paralysis, and more. There has long been a ban on new embryonic stem cell lines which was lifted earlier this year. And then there is the controversy of the use of embryonic stem cells that crosses politics, morality, and religion.

Jon C. Ogg
June 30, 2009

Posted in Biotech, Conglomerates, Drug companies, Law, Medical, Politics Tagged: ASTM, GE, GERN, STEM

Should You Chase Stem Cell Stocks? (ASTM, CYTX, GERN, NBS, OSIR, STEM, KOOL)

247wallst — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:29:36 +0000

We are seeing massive gap-ups this morning in stem cell stocks. President Obama is signing an executive order which will lift the Bush ban on funding of embryonic stem cell funding. What is interesting here is that this is not really new news other than the timing and the formality. The following prices are as of 8:19 AM EST.

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) +87% at $0.62
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX) +38% at $3.20
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) +29% at $4.99
Neostem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS) NOT TRADED
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR) NOT TRADED…. in pact with Genzyme, but for adult stem cells.
StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) +55% at $2.15
Thermogenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL) +41% at $0.57

Many of these stem cell stocks will trade more on a “vote of confidence” rather than over what this means as far as “new news” is concerned.

JON C. OGG

Posted in Biotech, Politics Tagged: ASTM, CYTX, GERN, KOOL, NBS, OSIR, STEM

Super Tuesday Election Winner: STEM CELLS (STEM, GERN, ASTM, IVGN, KOOL, NBS, OSIR)

247wallst — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:33:26 +0000

Despite not knowing whom the ultimate winner of the 2008 Presidential election will be, it looks like stem cells may be one of the real bright spots as far as which area in biotech will be open for more funding down the road. If the Democrats win this is a shoe in. If McCain wins, the current research clamp-downs won’t likely be as stringent in 2009 and beyond as they are today. If Romney stages a comeback, despite many thinking of him as a religious figure our indications are that he at worst would not be anywhere as tough on the stem cell studies as the current administration. Public companies such as StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM), and others are going to be watching closely.

If you look at Tradesports.com for the political futures, you can see the Presidential nominee futures right now if you want to make a determination where the actual money bets are going right now. McCain is priced at $93.00 and Romney is now priced at $1.90, so this would indicate a 92.9% probability of a McCain nomination. The Democrat race is much closer right now with Tradesports showing a Hillary Clinton nomination with a $54.60 price (down $8.40), and Obama with a $47.40 price (up $8.90). So the futures are showing a McCain essentially as a shoe-in now, yet the Democrat race is still too close to call. Guess what, this would be a win-win for stem cell research beyond this year.

Last June (boy, these guys have been running forever already) both Clinton and Obama criticized Bush’s stem cell veto. There you can see a link to each comment from either candidate.

StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) shares have surged some 20% in the lasttwo trading days, and shares are some 40% under its 52-week highs.Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) shares are basically flat over thelast two days and are almost 50% under 52-week highs. AastromBiosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) shares are up over 20% in recentsessions with shares off more than 50% from their 52-week highs. Thereare some other stocks that have stem cell exposure as well:

Invitrogen Corp. (NASDAQ: IVGN) also has a broader stem cellmonitor kit for analyzing the state of human embryonic stem cells,although this is a much larger company and its shares are up some 3%after earnings.
Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) also has an FDA fast track designation for its stem cell treatment PROCHYMAL for the highly debilitating Crohn’s Disease.
Two smaller plays here are Thermogenesis (NASDAQ: KOOL) and the OTC stock Cryo-Cell International (OTCBB: CCEL).
There is also a smaller AMEX listed company called NeoStem Inc.(AMEX: NBS) that just yesterday announced a New York state license forADULT Stem Cell collection, so this one may have an implied ‘less controversial stance’ to it.

Obviously this is a controversial area for many, and there are manyarguments on both sides that have merit. This is the Wall Street angleto a controversial situation.

Jon C. Ogg
February 6, 2008