Included today is the news, the share move, relative performance and valuation data, and added in additional market color where applicable.

UPDATED FOR CLOSING BELL PRICES

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTIC) is continuing to see traders buy up the stock after Monday’s FDA denial implosion.  Frankly, the moves higher here are becoming harder and harder to explain other than “trader sentiment” and the pesky minutes charts used by traders.  This still seems to be more like “sell therapeutics” based on the news, but the move has actually been one of recovering losses.   Shares have come well off the highs today but the stock is still up 8.7% at $0.697 on 53 million shares. UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed up only 1.6% at $0.647 on 72 million shares.

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYCC) reported last night that its Q4 net loss was $4.3 million or -$0.18 per share versus a net loss of $7.9 million or -$0.39 per share for Q4-2008.  Shares are down 4.4% at $2.40 on only about 1.3 million shares.  This one is too small for an earnings analysis. UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed down 5.2% at $2.38 on 1.844 million shares.

China Biologic Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO), a Chinese player you may have never known, is one of the larger gainers in the sector today.   The plasma-based biopharma reported last night that Q4 revenues increased 185.6% year-over-year to $37.6 million, and excluding Dalin, revenues rose 46.7% year-over-year to $19.3 million or 51.4% of total revenue.  The company also showed that gross profit increased 208.6% year-over-year to $27.3 million.   This is up 15% at $10.44 on almost 400,000 shares.  The 52-week range is $1.69 to $13.70 and the average volume is only 135,000 shares for this $244 million market cap Chinese player. UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed up 24% at $11.26 on 504,000 shares.

Gentium S.p.A (NASDAQ: GENT) is one of the biggest winners today of all sectors, not just biotech and biohealth.   In a presentation data, its Defibrotide was shown to generate a 40% drop in the incidence of hepatic veno-occlusive disease in what was called high-risk pediatric patients within 30 days after stem cell transplant.  Stem cells.   Shares are up a whopping 56% at $2.82 on 2.8 million shares.  Average volume is only about 50,000 shares and the 52-week range is $0.36 to $4.00 for the tiny $42 million market cap.  UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed up a whopping 77.5% at $3.23 on over 3.6 million shares.

Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) effectively got the worst situation it could have for the troubled Allston plant.  This FDA enforcement action may need a third-party inspection and review of plant operations for an extended period and will require payments to the government.  The company believes that shipments out of the plant will continue on an uninterrupted basis, although it does not know the financial impact of the call yet.  Shares are down more than 6% or down by $3.80 at $55.30 on 11.5 million shares.  Unfortunately, its chart before today was starting to show something traders and investors might have thought was not this bad.  UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed down 6.4% at $55.33 on 14.5 million shares.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDRA) is soaring on an analyst upgrade after the firm was raised to Market Outperform from Market Perform at Rodman & Renshaw.  The price target is $10.00.  That still implied as double, because this stock is up 9.25% at $5.54.  The 231,000 shares compares to average volume of 35,000 shares and the 52-week range is $4.48 to $8.50.  UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed up 10% at $5.58 on 275,000 shares.

Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) loves swine flu, or so its stock says.  The stock is surging on positive results from a Phase I of its two-phase clinical study in Mexico for a H1N1 vaccine.  Shares are up 11.5% at $2.61 on almost 6 million shares.  Average volume is now back down to about 1.4 million shares per day.  UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed up 10.7% at $2.59 on over 6.7 million shares.

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PARD) is down today after the company suspended its effort seeking regulatory approval for picoplatin in small cell lung cancer.  The company announced that it has also hired the firm Leerink Swann to conduct a review of strategic alternatives, but many seem to doubt its value or worth after disappointments.  This one is down 17.5% at $1.29 on almost 9 million shares.  Shares hit $1.18 today, a 52-week low.  UPDATE FOR CLOSE: shares closed down 16.8% at $1.30 on 10.19 million shares.

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Warner Chilcott plc (NASDAQ: WCRX) have no news, but they are items you should consider today.  An unrelated dividend story showing Starbucks initiated its first dividend ever has investors looking for which others might be next in line. At BioHealthInvestor.com, we have previously outlined why these may become next in line for dividends.

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JON C. OGG

Anika Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIK) moving up after reporting solid first quarter earnings this morning. The leader in tissue protection products and healing and repair based on hyaluronic acid (“HA”) technology showed double digit revenues in each product line for total revenue growth of 39%. Shares are up over 12% at $9.68. The 52-week range is $7.85 to $22.49.

Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) dropping a whopping 23% today on no relevant news. Shares are down $0.70 to $2.30. The 52-week range is $1.55 to $10.00.

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) up over 8% to $5.37. They announced that first quarter earnings will be released May 8 after market close and on May 9 they will provide a pipeline update. The 52-week range is $4.19 to $11.00.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDRA) announced today that under its collaboration agreement with Merck (NYSE: MRK), they achieved a preclinical milestone with a novel Toll-Like Receptor 9 agonists for an adjuvant in cancer vaccines. Idera should receive a milestone payment from Merck. Idera is up 3% to $14.34 off a 52-week range of $6.21 to $14.00. Merck is up over 1% to $38.77 on a 52-week range of $ 36.80 to $61.62. 

Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMPI) is up over 7% to $8.62 on now news. The 52-week range for the skincare developer is $6.80 to $25.60.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) up 5% today after first quarter results were released this morning. They showed a loss of $11.6 million, or $0.15 EPS, narrower than the $29.9 million loss in first quarter 2007. Shares are up $1.11 to $20.73. The 52-week range is $13.55 to $28.74.

SCOLR Pharma Inc. (AMEX: DDD) up over 8% today after announcing that it entered into a lease buyout deal to move into a cheaper location, with the proceeds of over $4 million, the company said it will be able to fund 2009 expenses. Shares are trading at $1.26. The 52-week range is $0.13 to $4.07.

Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) up today after reporting financial results after close yesterday. They posted a net loss of $8.6 million compared to a loss of $3.8 million in first quarter last year. Revenues increased by 7%. Shares are trading up over 8% to $6.85 on a 52-week range of $3.16 to $11.63.

Rachel Lopez
May 1, 2008