Three Recent Biotechnology Activist Wins by Carl Icahn

Although a controversial topic, activist hedge funds and private equity firms typically use a small equity stake in an underperforming company to put public pressure on its management and board of directors with the goal of increasing stakeholder value through cost cutting, changes in corporate strategy or management, capital restructuring, asset divestiture and other tactics.  [...]

Genzyme’s Manufacturing Disruption Highlights Investment Opportunities in Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Proteins are essential components of the human body.  They perform specific biological functions within a cell and each type of protein has a unique function. For example, enzymes are proteins that help biochemical reactions to occur within the body.  But before they can carry out these important functions, proteins must assemble into precise three-dimensional shapes [...]

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals to Benefit from FDA Action on Zevalin?

According to the American Cancer Society [ACS], non-Hodgkin lymphoma [also known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma] is a cancer that starts in cells of the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system.  NHL is the fifth most common cancer in both men and women in the United States [not [...]

Much Ado About Medarex

According to their website, Discovery’s Edge is the Mayo Clinic’s online research magazine that is designed to communicate the story of scientists and researchers who are bringing treatments and improved care to patients and also reports on “works–in–progress.”  Through this publication, Mayo investigators studying immunotherapy for aggressive prostate cancer reported over the past weekend that [...]

Novel Diabetes Therapies Presented at 2009 ADA Meeting

Approximately 250 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and that number is growing with the increasing obesity population.  Broadly, patients with diabetes are characterized by elevated blood glucose levels that result from either insufficient insulin secretion (type-1 diabetes) or ineffective insulin action (type-2 diabetes).  The market for treating patients with diabetes is [...]

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals: In the Prostate Cancer Spotlight

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be nearly 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States and that about 27,000 men will die from the disease. It is estimated that there are [...]

Five key principles for life science companies to not only survive – but thrive – in the current environment

On May 7, 2009, MD Becker Partners LLC hosted its inaugural life sciences roundtable titled “Successful Strategies for Raising Visibility and Capital.” The meeting brought together experts from leading investment banks, life sciences companies, venture investment groups, and the media to discuss the issues surrounding effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, the [...]

Keryx: Another beneficiary of the ASCO-effect

In my prior article, I highlighted the “ASCO-effect,” which relates to the fact that biotechnology companies working in the field of cancer can experience double or triple-digit stock price increases from the end of April through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. Beyond the names previously mentioned, investors also appear to be [...]

Biotech Stocks and the ASCO-effect

Investors are hoping that the spark that could reignite investor enthusiasm for biotech stocks is taking place right now. Approximately 30,000 participants are gathering from May 29-June 2, 2009, in Orlando, Florida, for the year’s largest cancer conference. Attendees of the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) will exchange ideas [...]

Bridging the Gap – Translating NIH Funding in a Post-Stimulus Economy

On February 17, 2009, President Obama announced as part of the 2009 stimulus bill, an increase of approximately $10B dollars to the budget for the National Institute of Health (NIH). This is a much needed increase in funding as government sponsored biomedical research has remained relatively flat over the past several years (Figure 1). Whether [...]

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