24/7 Wall St. » IVGN

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ADBE, CRL, GEOY, NOKU, HUN, IVGN, LRCX, NVO, RTN, YHOO)

247wallst — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:43:02 +0000

These are not all of the calls we are seeing in pre-market coverage, but these are ten of the calls impacting shares this Tuesday morning:

Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) downgraded to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
GeoEye (NASDAQ: GEOY) started as Overweight at JPMorgan.
Hoku Scientific (NASDAQ: HOKU) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Broadpoint.
Huntsman (NASDAQ: HUN) raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
Invitrogen (NASDAQ: IVGN) Raised to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) raised to Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy List from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) Raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) Raised to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) Downgraded to Underweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.

Elsewhere in analyst coverage, you can see the full medical & biotech calls at BioHealthInvestor.com and earlier we covered some more exclusive analyst calls in Telecom, Media & Tech as well as Credit Suisse initiating coverage on the Homebuilder sector.
Jon C. Ogg
June 24, 2008

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AG, T, VZ, GME, GE, IVGN, PPC, SNDK, SPWR, WEN, YRCW)

247wallst — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:29:14 +0000

These are ten of the analyst calls we are focusing on early this Monday morning:

AGCO Corp. (NYSE: AG) Raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.
AT&T (NYSE: T) & Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
GameStop (NYSE: GME) Raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
General Electric (NYSE: GE) Cut to Neutral from Outperform at JPMorgan.
Invitrogen (NASDAQ: IVGN) cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America.
Pilgrims Pride (NYSE: PPC) Cut to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) Raised to Market Perform from Underperform at JMP Securities.
SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) Raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Wendy’s (NYSE: WEN) Raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) Raised to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan.

Jon C. Ogg
June 16, 2008

The Week’s Top BioHealth Issues For Next Week (PFE, TEVA, CRA, IVGN, CMED, ANPI, ISRG, VVUS, CELG)

247wallst — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:31:00 +0000

One key stock to watch next week is Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE). While it has been in the land of the boring forever, watchers are looking to see if it will put in a rival bid over the $4.6 Billion Daiichi Sankyo bid from Japan for a majority stake in India’s number one generic drug maker Ranbaxy.

Speaking of Generics, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NASDAQ: TEVA) was weak all week after Mylan Inc. (NYSE: MYL) has signed a pact with India’s NATCO Pharma Ltd. to produce a generic version of Teva’s multiple sclerosis treatment called Copaxone. As this was an old favorite buy in generic investor hearts you can imagine this will be covered frequently this next week since the stock is now 15% off of its highs and closer to a 52-week low.

We know that Invitrogen (NASDAQ: IVGN) is buying Applera’s Applied Biosystems (NYSE: ABI) unit. But what about Celera Group (NYSE: CRA)? Traders may be looking for the "next merger candidate"and that might fit logically.

China Medical Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CMED) went up big on earnings news this last week and continued to rise even by the end of the week further than the initial reaction. Technicians may have this one on a momentum screen now.

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI) may be of interest after it showed some positive stent data, and its launch of QUILL may all help the perceptions next week on this small molecule company.

It’s always good to know what short sellers are targeting. The last short selling report showed a huge drop off in the short interest compared to prior reports in large cap biotech stocks like Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), and others. FULL SHORT INTEREST DETAILS HERE.

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) was defended by William Blair this last week and shares managed to rally during the week after that news was out. After seeing a 3-month low traders may focus here next week as a short bottom fishing attempt.

Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) is hanging tough after a huge gap up in its QNEXA treatment for obesity and for diabetics. Shares barely closed down on the week, rather impressive for a small cap with a history of not holding gains. Traders will definitely be keeping their radar eyes on this one for opportunities to buy it up or short it.

Lastly, there was a lot of news on the rheumatoid arthritis front with many companies delivering solid data for drug studies in the debilitating area from companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Array, Eli Lilly, Incyte, J&J, Schering-Plough, and Roche. Much of the news seems overlooked by the end of a summer week, so watch these for next week. Solid Developments for Rheumatoid Arthritis (ABT, ARRY, LLY, INCY, JNJ, SGP, RHHBY)

Jon C. Ogg
June 14, 2008

Biotech Business Daily (BIIB, GSK, ILMN, IVGN, LJPC, SIRT, STEM)

247wallst — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) is sliding marginally despite reported earnings today that showed a 23% increase in earnings riding on sales growth on Avonex and Rituxan. The earnings beat estimates and the company raised its outlook. Shares are down $1.06 to $63.56 on a 52-week range of $45.77 to $84.75.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) is up a marginal 1.5% to $44.42 on a 52-week range of $40.51 to $59.15. Today, the company showed a 13% decline in profit due to increased generic purchases that cut into sales on anti-depressants and heart medications. Yesterday, the company offered to purchase Sirtris Pharmaceuticals for $720 million.

Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) shares are up $8.12, 11%, after solid first quarter earnings that beat estimates and a strong positive outlook. The company posted earnings of $13.4 million after showing a loss of $298 the same quarter last year. Shares are trading at $80.59 and the 52-week range is $31.66 to $79.90.

Invitrogen Corp. (NASDAQ: IVGN) is up 7% after first quarter earnings showed doubled profit on sales increases, beating estimates. The company posted earnings of $58.7 million and $1.19 EPS. Shares are trading at $93.73 on a 52-week range of $65.00 to $99.15.

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. (NASDAQ: LJPC) reported positive results on interim antibody data on Riquent for treatment of lupus. Lupus is a condition in which antibodies attack tissues. The results showed that higher dosages of the treatment reduced levels of antibodies more effectively. The late stage trial is expected to close in the second half of 2009. Shares are up 18% to $2.15 on a 52-week range of $1.45 to $7.10.

Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRT) is seeing shares up a whopping 82% after GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) offered to buy the company yesterday for $22.50 per share, an 84% premium to Tuesday’s close, for a total value of $720 million. Sirtris focuses on enzymes that affect the aging process and is developing a type-II diabetes treatment. Sirtris shares are up $10.07 to $22.30. The 52-week range is $9.50 to $21.99.

StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM) received a patent for neural stem cells from all tissue sources. This patent will require all other third parties seeking to commercialize neural stems cells to obtain a license from StemCells. Shares are up $0.18 to $1.55, a 13% jump. The 52-week range is $1.00 to $2.83.

Rachel Lopez
April 23, 2008

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

Invitrogen’s Broader Stem Cell Monitor Kit (IVGN)

247wallst — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:46:40 +0000

Invitrogen Corp. (NASDAQ:IVGN) has announced the launch of a new kit that allows researchers to quickly and reliably monitor the state of human embryonic stem cells. The STEMPRO® EZChek™ Multiplex PCR Kit allows scientists to monitor stem cells with one reaction, using fewer sample cells than ever before. The STEMPRO® EZChek™ Kit allows for the analysis of four early differentiation markers using a small sample and a single-tube reaction. Without the kit, researchers need to carry out five separate reactions in five tubes, using many more cells.

Invitrogen is already the leader or one of the leaders with more than $300 million per quarter in revenues in supplying tools and reagents for stem cell research with more than 1,200 products in the related market. This may be a much broader consolidated test solution, but with a portfolio that wide it may just be another day at the office.

The stock has not seen any noticeable trading pre-market. Its market cap as of Friday’s $83.90 close was $3.89 Billion, and the 52-week range is $54.70 to $84.14.

Jon C. Ogg
October 8, 2007

52-Week Highs For September 7, 2007 (AEM, ABX, BDE, DRYS, GLD, GOLD, INSW, IVGN, JNPR, NWK, NYB, PDX, PLMD, RICK)

247wallst — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:47:20 +0000

Usually we cover 52-week lows as many traders look for the bottom fishing opportunities in battered and tattered stocks. But on big down days it is often important to look at which shares put in 52-WEEK HIGHS. Some of these didn’t close above their prior yearly highs, but you get the idea. Here is how crummy the market was today:

DJIA          13113.38    -249.97    -1.87%
NASDAQ 2565.7       -48.62    -1.86%
S&P500    1453.55    -25.00    -1.69%

The prevailing thought is that if stocks stay strong on a weak and crummy weak, imagine how well they’d do in an up-market. With strong gold you’ll notice a few gold names on here. Among others are a few tech names, and surprisingly a topless bar operator (not kidding). Here goes:

AGNICO Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) $49.19; 52-week $27.24-$48.35
Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX) $36.36; 52-week $26.94-$36.46
Bois d’Arc Energy (NYSE:BDE) $18.83; 52-week $12.49- $18.75
DryShips, Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) $76.92; 52-week $12.63-$76.45
streetTRACKS Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) $69.39; 52-week $55.55-$69.08
InsWeb Corp. (NASDAQ:INSW) $8.90; 52-week $1.96-$8.80
***Invitrogen (NASDAQ:IVGN) $80.00; $54.70-$80.56
***Juniper Networks (NASDAQ:JNPR) $34.58; 52-week $16.50-$35.09
Network Equipment Tech (NYSE:NWK) $11.54; 52-week $4.06-$11.54
***New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYB) $18.41; 52-week $15.69-$18.43
Pediatrix Medical Group (NYSE:PDX) $62.52; 52-week $43.85-$61.69
***PolyMedica (NASDAQ:PLMD) $51.86; 52-week $35.82-$51.97
Randgold Resources Ltd. (NASDAQ:GOLD) $28.48; 52-week $19.10-$27.42
Rick’s Cabaret (NASDAQ:RICK) $11.41; 52-week $5.02-$11.21

***denotes stocks that hit new highs intraday but didn’t hold them

Jon C. Ogg
September 7, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Biotechs & Pharmas Bracing For ASCO Annual Meeting

247wallst — Wed, 30 May 2007 18:30:12 +0000

This weekend we have the mother of all future cancer treatment conferences: ASCO, or The American Society of Clinical Oncology. Cancer stocks in the last few weeks have been seeing a muted response ahead of the event that biotech investors have traditionally braced for. At various points on the website you can find a full list of contributing and presenting companies. This is only a sample of the companies presenting data and it is very possible that the dates and even the companies may have changed. Also, you’ll probably start seeing news here at this ASCO News Site either late Thursday evening or Friday. Some of these dates and presentation schedules have been compiled over a multi-week period, so it is very likely that some of these will have changed.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Genentech (DNA) will show data with Roche on Avastin plus a chemotherapy dual-mix cocktail for first line treatment in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Later on at ASCO, a failed Avastin study for the treatment of pancreatic cancer will be shown. Some Phase III Avastin data in kidney cancer will also be presented next week. Genentech will also be showing data with partners OSI Pharmaceuticals (OSIP) and Imclone (IMCL) in later days.

Pfizer (PFE) will present data on Sutent’s safety and efficacy in Phase II liver cancer studies.

If you forgot about Dendreon (DNDN), this will be the company’s last known data presentation on Provenge after getting the FDA delay. Investors will be looking closely at any ‘New Data’ presented because much of the ongoing study data is being treated as old data.

Arqule (ARQL) and Exelixis (EXEL) are presenting data as well on molecules that are deemed cancer targets

Others to watch are Onyx Pharmaceuticals (ONXX) and partner Bayer (BAY), because their liver cancer studies are under concern over toxicity. Its Nexavar data will be presented later for liver cancer Phase III.

Amgen (AMGN) will have study posters up discussing safety of its anemia treatment Aranesp that many patients have to use. It is no secret that the reimbursement rates, effectiveness and safety, and the dosage have been under fire and worse for some time now. Most of the damage has been done and many feel that more cautionary and worrisome days are ahead.

Immunogen (IMGN) will be releasing some preliminary data on Herceptin-DM1 in its Genentech pact for the treatment of breast cancer.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

Telik (TELK) will post some data in the studies of Tecyta in overian cancer, which failed to meet endpoints.

Celgene (CELG) will be presenting data on a Revlimid-plus study in multiple myeloma patients.

Regeneron (REGN) will show Phase II data on VEGF-TRAP for advancedtreatment-resistant ovarian cancer and another phase II study innon-small cell lung cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) will present preliminary Phase III datadesigned to be a fight against advanced and chemo-refractory metastaticbreast cancer.

GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) will also present Phase III Tykerb studies for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) will present data on targeting pathways to kill tumor cells.

NEXT WEEK

GPC Biotech (GPCB) will post some new data in its Phase III prostate cancer studies.

Imclone (IMCL) will release details of a failed study of Erbitux for pancreatic cancer.

Merck (MRK) will discuss future molecular targets for pediatric cancer.

Pfizer (PFE) will be posting further Phase II data on monoclonal antibodies for the possible treatment of melanoma.

Medarex (MEDX) will post Phase II data on melanoma studies.

Introgen (INGN) will post Advexin data for the marking of head and neck cancers.

deCODE Genetics (DCGN) will present on the ethical and financial needs in cancer genetics.

A sample of other stocks to watch in the sector are Cytogen (CYTO),Monogram Bio (MGRM), Telik (TELK), Threshold Pharmaceuticals (THLD),NeoPharm (NEOL), and Invitrogen (IVGN). There are many many morecompanies that will be presenting. Last year when we were in theprocess of rolling up our companies into one, I did a very full list of companies and the subsequent presentations.Here you can see that to see a much wider list of companies becausethese companies become "ASCO-ADDICTS" and most go back year after year.

Jon C. Ogg
May 30, 2007