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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.

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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

Top Active Trader Alert Stocks (ARMH, AVII, BP, BRCD, CIEN, JASO, TUNE, ZRAN, TLB, QXM, ZGEN)

Administrator — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:49:27 +0000

This Wednesday seems like there is a floodgate open of stocks on the move for active traders and day traders. We are tracking key moves in shares of ARM Holdings plc (NASDAQ: ARMH), AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII), BP plc (NYSE: BP), Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (BASDAQ: BRCD), CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), JA Solar Holdings, Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO), Microtune, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUNE), Zoran Corp. (NASDAQ: ZRAN), The Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB), Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (NYSE: QXM), and ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN).

ARM Holdings, plc (NASDAQ: ARMH) is trading up 4.55% at $17.62 on over 45,000 shares on overseas strength.

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII) is up after being issued U.S. patent providing key coverage of RNA-based therapeutics as antibacterial a; shares up 5.7% at $2.23 on 70,000 shares.

BP plc (NYSE: BP) is up by +3.4% at $38.50 after Fitch raised it and after its internal report over the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster noted that all parties involved shared much of the blame.

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (BASDAQ: BRCD) is up yet again after many are considering it the next 3PAR-like acquisition target by either DELL, HPQ, ORCL, IBM, or others in the CISCO-DATACENTER WAR. Shares are up 2.75% at $6.08 on over 50,000 shares.

CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) shares are trading down 1.4% at $13.25 as its loss widened on items.

JA Solar Holdings, Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) is up after signing 500MW in solar supply pacts; shares are up 3.4% at $6.70 on more than 70,000 shares.

Microtune, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUNE) will be acquired for $2.92 per share in cash ($166M) by Zoran Corp. (NASDAQ: ZRAN); Microtune is up 17.4% at $2.90 and Zoran has not traded.

The Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB) beat earnings on the surface but sales missed expectations; shares are trading down 9% at $10.05 but shares had been down 111% earlier; 165,000 shares traded so far.

Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (NYSE: QXM), one most don’t know, is proposing to take itself private; shares are up 27% at $3.28 on about 30,000 shares.

ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) is soaring after Bristol-Myers agreed to acquire ZymoGenetics for $885 million or $9.75 per share in cash; shares are trading up over 83% at $9.73 on about 7M shares.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Pre-Market Activity, Trading Alert Tagged: ARMH, AVII, BP, BRCD, CIEN, JASO, QXM, TLB, TUNE, ZGEN, ZRAN

Full 2009 ASCO Cancer & Oncology Primer (ABII, AEZS, ALTH, AMGN, APPA, ARQL, BMY, CLDX, CELG, CTIC, CGRB, LLY, EXEL, GHDX, GSK, IMGN, MEDX, MDVN, MITI, OGXI, OSIP, PPHM, PFE, ROSG, SNTA, TRBN, ZIOP, ZGEN)

247wallst — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:34:32 +0000

We have compiled an updated lengthy 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, document showing many company cancer data presentations slated to start this weekend. This is broken down in drug and biotech companies with share values, ranges, and recent developments for the following drug and biotech companies: Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABII), AEterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS), Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTH), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), A.P. Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: APPA), Arqule Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQL), Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), Celldex Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CLDX), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CTIC), Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGRB), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), Exelixis (NASDAQ: EXEL), Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) , Immunogen (NASDAQ: IMGN), Medarex (NASDAQ: MEDX), Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN), Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI), OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI), OSI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OSIP), Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), Rosetta Genomics (NASDAQ:ROSG), Synta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNTA), Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRBN), ZIOPHARM Oncology (NASDAQ: ZIOP), and ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN).

The full presentation can be seen at BioHealthInvestor.com.

JON C. OGG
May 27, 2009

Posted in Biotech, Drug companies, FDA, Medical, Pharmaceuticals Tagged: ABII, AEZS, ALTH, AMGN, APPA, ARQL, BMY, CELG, CGRB, CLDX, CTIC, EXEL, GHDX, GSK, IMGN, LLY, MDVN, MEDX, MITI, OGXI, OSIP, PFE, PPHM, ROSG, SNTA, TRBN, ZGEN, ZIOP

ZymoGentics Backers File To Sell Stock (ZGEN, NVO)

247wallst — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:53:01 +0000

ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) has filed an SEC registration which would allow the company to sell up to $100 million of its common stock from time to time. What is important to note is that this is intended to replace the company’s previously filed shelf registration statement set to expire on December 1, 2008. What is also important to note is that the filing is essentially of little benefit to the company.

This registration includes the registration for resale of up to21,759,861 shares of previously issued common stock owned by NovoNordisk’ (NYSE: NVO) Biotech Holdings unit and up to 9,387,559 sharesof previously issued common stock owned by Warburg, Pincus EquityPartners, L.P. The majority of these shares were issued in privateplacements prior to ZymoGenetics IPO in 2002.

ZymoGenetics will not receive any proceeds of the shares being sold bythese holders. ZymoGenetics also noted that neither it nor any of theshareholders covered by the registration statement have intentions tosell shares at this time, and it said that the number of ZymoGeneticsshares outstanding would not change from any sales of Novo and Warburgshares.

It seems like Wall Street is a little more concerned over this thanZymogentics is about this. The stock closed down 7.7% at $2.75 on low volumetoday, but shares are down an additional 6.9% after the news releasecame out. Its 52-week trading range is $2.50 to $15.23.

Jon C. Ogg
November 25, 2008

Posted in Biotech, Insider Activity, Secondary Offering Tagged: NVO, ZGEN

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (CEG, DENN, ODSY, ARO, D, EXEL, JNJ, VOCS, ZGEN)

247wallst — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:08:30 +0000

These are some of the other non-tech analyst upgrades and downgrades from Wall Street firms this Wednesday morning:

Constellation Energy (CEG) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Denny’s (DENN) Raised to Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
Odyssey Healthcare (ODSY) Raised to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Aeropostale (ARO) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
Dominion Resources (D) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
Exelixis (EXEL) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Vocus (VOCS) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
Zymogenetics (ZGEN) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Here are the technology upgrades and downgrades.

Jon C. Ogg
October 29, 2008

Posted in Analyst Calls Tagged: ARO, CEG, D, DENN, EXEL, JNJ, ODSY, VOCS, ZGEN

Select Positive ASCO Data (ARRY, AZN, LLY, DNA, GSK, ONXX, PFE, ZGEN)

247wallst — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:26:26 +0000

Last night was a novel release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (or ASCO) as the society decided to publish all of the findings to the public at once. Keep in mind that many of the larger drug companies will have other presentations as well. Below is some of the key and very brief data:

Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY) and AstraZeneca have announced plans for two additional randomized Phase II trials for AZD6244 in the second half of 2008 to test AZD6244 (ARRY-886) in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent; one trial will be for melanoma patients and the other for non-small cell lung cancer patients. AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) showed positive breast cancer data in survivability.

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) showed that its Alimta showed 3 months longer survival in a lung cancer sub-set group.

Genentech (NYSE: DNA) showed that Avastin in brain cancer trials showed 9 months survival while most patients live only 6 months from the study point.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) showed that Tykerb added 1 year survival on advanced breast cancer patients.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX) and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals announced that Nexavar tablets significantly improved overall survival by 47.3% in patients in the Asia-Pacific region with primary liver cancer versus those receiving placebo; Nexavar improved time to progression in these patients by 74%.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) presented data showing Celebrex may prevent lung cancer in current and former smokers.

ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) showed additional data from Phase 1 confirm that the combination is well-tolerated and shows anti-tumor activity; also reported positive results from the cohort expansion portion of a Phase 1 study with IL-21 and Rituxan in relapsed/refractory indolent lymphoma.

In the past investors had to wait for abstracts to be published and for presentations to be made. It also was a situation where embargoes were used with media on releasing certain data. Needless to say, there were many leaks on key data on who got what information when… and many profited from it.

This is only a brief summary of data from only a handful of the companies. You can count on there being more data from many more biotech and drug companies… Floods of it.

Jon C. Ogg
May 16, 2008

Jon Ogg produces and edits the "10 Stocks Under $10" newsletter and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Pre-Market Stock News (June 19, 2007)

247wallst — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:11:13 +0000

(ALTH) Allos Therapeutics trading down 20% after its Phase III study of Efaproxyn failed to meet primary endpoint of improvement in overall survival.
(BAY) Bayer raised guidance on Schering integration.
(BMY) Bristol-Myers: FDA Grants Priority Review for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Investigational Oncology Treatment Ixabepilone.
(BTU) Peabody Energy was named Cramer’s favorite pick in the coal sector.
(CLRK) Color Kinetics trading up 11% at $33.00+ on $34 buyout from Philips Electronics.
(CPKI) California Pizza Kitchen trades ex-split today to reflect a 3-2 stock Split.
(CUB) Cubic received a $468 million contract to give mission support to Army readiness training center.
(DAL) Delta is considering a 125 Boeing order for Dreamliners.
(DJ) Dow Jones may get a bid from billionaire Ron Burkle.
(EXPE) Expedia buying back $3.5 Billion in stock.
(FDS) FactSet $0.52 EPS vs $0.51 estimate.
(GE) GE buying controlling stake in natural gas pipeline Regency for $603 million.
(INO) Inovio Biomedical’s selective electrochemical tumor ablation therapy demonstrated safety, tolerability, and complete responses in breast cancer study.
(LNET) LodgeNet noted positively by Cramer on Mad Money.
(MRO) Marathon Oil trades ex-split today to reflect a 2-1 stock split.
(PRGS) Progress Software $0.45 EPS vs $0.41e.
(STR) Questar trades ex-split to reflect a 2-1 stock split.
(SGMO) Sangamo BioScience reached milestones in agriculture collaboration with Dow AgroSciences.
(SIRI) SIRIUS signed Volkswagen as standard equipment on all Touareg, New Beetle, New Beetle Convertible, GTI, and GLI sales for the 2008 models.
(TASR) TASER announced foreign order for 1,375 devices.
(TSN) Tyson making product announcementthis morning.
(YHOO) Yahoo! trading up 8% after Semel stepped down as CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang came back as CEO; Semel remaining non-executive Chairman.
(ZGEN) ZymoGenetics entered a global collaboration pact with Bayer for development and commercialization of recombinant human thrombin.

Jon C. Ogg
June 19, 2007

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

Earlybird Analyst Calls (June 14, 2007)

247wallst — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:29:07 +0000

ACL started as Buy at Jefferies.
AMGN started as Mkt Perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
B started as Outperform at CIBC.
CBB started as Buy at UBS.
CHE started as Buy at Jefferies.
CTL raised to Neutral at UBS.
CYTX started as Mkt Perform at Piper Jaffray.
DJ cut to Reduce at UBS.
EQ raised to Buy at UBS.
ESI cut to Equal Weight at Lehman.
EYE started as Underperform at Jefferies.
GNLB started as Buy at Oppenheimer.
ILMN raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns.
ISIL raised to Buy at B of A.
MFA started as Outperform at JMP Securities.
MNKD started as Buy at B of A.
OPTT started as Outperform at Bear Stearns.
PT raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
RACK started as Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
RBC started as Sector Perform at CIBC.
SLM cut to Peer Perform at Bear Stearns.
SNY cut to Neutral at HSBC; cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
THI raised to Outperform at CIBC.
VDSI cut to Hold at Jefferies.
VTIV raised to Strong Buy at First Albany.
WIN started as Neutral at UBS.
ZGEN started as Neutral at Oppenheimer.

Jon C. Ogg
June 14, 2007

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