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Biotech Industry Overview

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:38:59 GMT

The Biotech industry as a whole continues to underperform the market so far this year. As of May 26, 2009, Both the AMEX Biotech Index and the broader NASDAQ Biotech Index declined 6.8% (AMEX Biotech has 20 biotech companies while NASDAQ Biotech Index inc[More...]

Why Standard Flu Vaccines Won’t Make Investors Rich

Tue, 05 May 2009 20:09:58 GMT

A more recent addition to my transformational technologies portfolio, Medarex, has scored a huge win. The company, along with Massachusetts Biologic Laboratory, will get $60 million upfront from Merck for license rights to a monoclonal antibody that apparently cures C. difficile infection. They are eligible for another $165 million in milestones as well as royalties. Think about the service this company has done mankind. C. diff, as hospital diarrhea is called, is a growing cause of hospital deaths. Though many cases outside of hospitals are never diagnosed, we know it kills at least 30,000 Americans annually. Those who do recover, about 9 out of ten, can suffer horribly for months. Bravo to Medarex and all those who made this breakthrough possible by investing your money in this incredibly worth effort. So what does this have to do with swine flu? So far, swine flu is a minor[More...]

Biotech Industry - Industry Outlook

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:54:01 GMT

Last year, the Biotech industry as a whole achieved a much better performance than the market. Both the NASDAQ Biotech Index and AMEX Biotech Index outperformed all three major market indices (Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite and S&P 500) in a large margin. The major indices declined as much as 40% while the NASDAQ Biotech Index declined only 12.6% and the AMEX Biotech Index was down 17.7%. However, when the recession enters into its third year, the Biotech industry is not doing better than the market, which has been evident by the indices' performances. As of April 9, 2009, AMEX Biotech Index declined 3%, and the broader NASDAQ Biotech Index was down 6.8% (AMEX Biotech has 20 biotech companies while NASDAQ Biotech Index includes over 130 component companies). Although the Dow and S&P 500 also declined a similar percentage, technology-laden NASDAQ actually has a gain of 4.8%, which is more comparable to the biotech indices. See[More...]

Can deCODE Genetics Survive?

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Financial Position Deteriorating, Ability to Continue Doubted deCODE Genetics (DCGN) believes it has sufficient resources to sustain operations only into the second quarter of this year. Due to the shortage of cash, the company unfortunately has entered into survival mode. The company's ability to continue as a going concern is doubted if it cannot obtain immediate liquidity resources. Future Uncertain, Under Strategic Review Due to the deteriorating[More...]

Biotechnology Industry - Zacks Analyst Interviews

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:44:00 GMT

Historically, the biotech industry was less impacted by market conditions due to its unique characteristics. In large part, biotech stocks have been event-driven. Specifically, investors are more focused on clinical development and pipeline advancement for individual biotech companies. However, current market conditions have exerted a negative impact on the valuation of individual companies in the biotech industry. We believe the different impact current market conditions have exerted is mainly due to the credit crunch. Most biotech companies are in early or middle development stages, and continuing financing is an integral part of their operations in order to advance their drug pipelines. Under current market conditions, liquidity has dried up for some companies, and raising capital has been extremely difficult in the past few months. Some companies are forced to enter into survival mode to reserve cash by restructuring. Some even have to suspend operations[More...]

Biotechnology Industry

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:05:00 GMT

Historically, the biotech industry has been less impacted by market conditions due to its unique characteristics. In large part, biotech stocks have been event-driven. Specifically, investors are more focused on clinical development and pipeline advancement for individual biotech companies. ? However, current market conditions have exerted a negative impact on the valuation of individual companies in the biotech industry. We believe the different impact current market conditions have exerted is mainly due to the credit crunch. Most biotech companies are in early or middle development stages, and continuing financing is an integral part of their operations in order to advance their drug pipelines. Under current market conditions, liquidity has dried up for some companies, and raising capital has been extremely difficult in the past few months. Some companies are forced to enter into survival mode to reserve cash by[More...]

deCODE Risk/Reward Balanced - Analyst Blog

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:43:00 GMT

deCODE genetics, Inc. (DCGN) is a biopharmaceutical company that uses genetics to develop drugs, diagnostics, and pharmacogenetics for the healthcare industry. 3Q08 revenue of $12 million was less than our estimate of $16 million. As of September 30, 2008, the company had $17.7 million in deferred revenue that will be recognized over future reporting periods. The period-on-period increase in revenue for the third quarter was driven principally by growth in the company's genomic services business, which includes the company's diagnostics, deCODEme(TM) personal genome analysis, and contract genotyping businesses. Operating loss for the third quarter 2008 was $11.3 million, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter 2007. Net loss for the quarter ending September 30, 2008 was $17.9 million, compared to $24.2 million for the third[More...]

Earnings Preview For Nov 3 - 7 - Earnings Preview

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:58:00 GMT

Companies that could issue positive surprises include Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), SucessFactors (SFSF) and Sunoco (SUN). Penn Virginia Corporation (PVA) could potentially disappoint investors. The Week's Events November has historically been one of the best months for the major markets, according to the[More...]

Analyst Comments: Immucor, UST Inc, Avanex, American Capital, deCODE, H&R Block, Equinix

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:29:13 GMT

A number of positive trends and developments make us optimistic about blood-testing products maker Immucor, Inc.'s (BLUD) growth. Gross margins are expected to regain momentum from the eventual growth in reagent sales, manufacturing efficiencies, and price increases. The additional worldwide placements of Galileo (a walk-away instrument...[More...]

Analyst Comments: deCODE, BorgWarner, Pride International, ChoicePoint, Metabasis Therapeutics, Owens Illinois, Cummins

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:37:35 GMT

deCODE genetics, Inc. (DCGN) is a biopharmaceutical company that uses genetics to develop drugs, diagnostics, and pharmacogenetics for the healthcare industry. We were pleased to see the positive phase II data on candidate DG-031 and the phase IIa data on DG-051. However, the company announced the voluntary suspension of the phase III trial for DG-031 due to manufacturing problems in early October...[More...]

Viking Macho Meets the Credit Crunch: Icelanders Are Used to Stormy Weather

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:55:00 GMT

When the credit crunch first hit, Icelanders blamed everyone but themselves: international banks for their loss of faith, hedge- funders in London for betting on the country going bankrupt.
Action should have been taken when the Althing, Iceland's ancient parliament, gave Haarde the goahead in May to seek an international bail-out and this week's rescue plan may be too late.
The only real player is being seen as David Oddsson, Iceland's longest-serving premier, and chairman of the central bank.

[More...]

deCODE genetics Announces Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:08:00 GMT

deCODE genetics today announced its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. A conference call to discuss these results and recent developments in the company's business will be webcast live tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11, at 8:00am Eastern Daylight Time/12 noon GMT/1pm British Summer Time .[More...]

deCODE genetics Announces Webcast of Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:03:00 GMT

deCODE genetics, Inc. today announced that it will report its second quarter 2009 financial results in a press release to be issued on Monday, August 10, after the close of the market in New York. The company will host a live webcast of its conference call to discuss these results and recent operating highlights on Tuesday, August 11, at 8am Eastern Daylight Time/ 12pm GMT/1pm British Summer Time.[More...]

deCODE Discovers Second Common Genetic Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Scientists at deCODE genetics and colleagues from Europe and the United States today report the discovery of a common single-letter variant in the sequence of the human genome conferring increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. The findings will be integrated directly into the deCODE AF reference laboratory test for gauging individual risk of AF and stroke and helping to identify stroke patients who may benefit from enhanced monitoring for AF. The study is published online today in Nature Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng.[More...]

It's Not Just the Sun: deCODE Discovers Sequence Variants Affecting Susceptibility to Skin Cancer

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:03:00 GMT

Scientists at deCODE genetics and academic colleagues from Europe and the United States today present in the journal Nature Genetics the discovery of common genetic risk factors for basal cell carcinoma that affect people with fair and dark complexions alike. deCODE had previously discovered five common single-letter variants in the sequence of the human genome linked to risk of BCC, the most common cancer in people of European descent. However, most of these earlier findings were also correlated with fair skin, well known to accompany vulnerability to the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.[More...]

deCODE-led Megastudy Finds New Genetic Clues to Causes of Schizophrenia

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:00 GMT

The largest study of the genetics of schizophrenia ever undertaken has revealed several new common single-letter variants in the sequence of the human genome linked to risk of the disease. The study, by a multinational consortium of scientists led by a team from deCODE genetics , analyzed the genomes of more than 50,000 patients and control participants from fourteen countries. It is published today in the online edition of Nature.[More...]

deCODE Discovers a Gene Linked to Risk of Kidney Stones and Osteoporosis

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:00 GMT

A discovery by scientists at deCODE genetics and academic colleagues from Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark has pointed to a common biological mechanism contributing to both kidney stones and decreased bone mineral density . About 60% of the population carry two copies of a single-letter variation in the human genome on chromosome 21, putting them at roughly 65% greater likelihood of developing kidney stones than those who carry no copies. This single variant may thus account for more than a quarter of the incidence of kidney stones, and in women carriers it is also associated with decreased BMD at the hip and spine. The study, which involved the analysis of the genomes of some 50,000 patients and controls, is published in the online edition of Nature Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng and will appear in upcoming print edition of the journal.[More...]

deCODE Reinstated to Nasdaq Global Market

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:09:00 GMT

deCODE genetics today announced that it has received notice from the the Nasdaq Hearing and Listing Review Council that the listing of the company's common stock will be reinstated to the Nasdaq Global Market effective from the opening of trading on Monday, June 29. deCODE's common stock will continue to trade under the symbol DCGN.[More...]

deCODE Genotyping Laboratory Receives College of American Pathologists Accreditation

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:21:00 GMT

deCODE genetics today announced that its CLIA-registered DNA isolation and genotyping laboratory, which processes the company's deCODEme personal genome scans and risk assessment diagnostic tests for several common diseases, has been accredited by the American College of Pathologists following a recent inspection. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has granted the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program deeming authority, and its accreditations can also be used to meet many state certification requirements.[More...]

deCODE Study Shows Complex Interplay of the Human Biological Clock With Height, Weight and Disease

Sun, 17 May 2009 18:20:00 GMT

In a paper published today in the online edition of Nature Genetics, scientists from deCODE genetics and academic colleagues from Iceland, Denmark and the Netherlands present the discovery of single letter variations in the sequence of the human genome that influence the age of girls at menarche, the first menstrual period. Age at menarche is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, though the SNPs reported today are the first genetic factors to be found. AAM is of interest not only because it heralds the beginning of a woman's reproductive life, but because it is also linked with susceptibility to disease later in life. Obesity in particular is linked to earlier AAM, and earlier AAM is in turn associated with risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Later AAM increases risk of osteporosis.[More...]

deCODE genetics Announces First Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Mon, 11 May 2009 20:16:00 GMT

deCODE genetics today announced its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. A conference call to discuss these results and recent developments in the company's business will be webcast live tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, at 8:00am Eastern Daylight Time/12 noon GMT/1pm British Summer Time .[More...]