Comments on: Spicing Up The Biotech Portfolio - Curagen and Curis

By: Ohad Hammer

Ohad Hammer — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:17:23 +0000

Haven’t been following CAPS but they look interesting at first glance. thanks
Obviously, there are companies I like and ocmpanies I don’t like but I am not a big fan of shorting.

ohad

By: Ohad Hammer

Ohad Hammer — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:00:24 +0000

Melanoma is a horrible indication and SNTA’s failure is perhaps the ultimate proof for that, since they were the only ones with stat. significant phase II data. This also doesn’t bode well for other compounds with phase III data this year, esecially ONXX’s Nexavar and MEDX’s ipilimumab.
There is some reason for optimism though, as perhaps novel targeted therapies will break the spell, just like in Renal cancer. Renal cancer was once considered to be as challenging as melanoma, and today there is so much going on in the field.

ohad

By: sam

sam — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:25:47 +0000

what do you think about capstone theurapetics (caps) who some have claimed that this 40 cent stock is worth 1.14 in cath as of earlier this week?

Also, do you have short biotech plays?

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:38:15 +0000

buy stock symbol ARIO

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:09:24 +0000

Ohad,

SNTA failed their trials. You are right on to avoid companies trying to develop drugs against melenoma.

By: Ohad Hammer

Ohad Hammer — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:28:42 +0000

Thanks, Inky.

Sorry, I don’t follow ANIK.
ohad

By: Ohad Hammer

Ohad Hammer — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:27:13 +0000

It’s all a matter of risk tolerance.
If CR011 ends up as an effective drug for breast cancer, SGEN will surely enjoy a nice stream of royalties but it won’t be as meaningful as CRGN explosive move (if CR011 is a success). CRGN has a market cap of 38 mil and owns ~85-87% of the drug as opposed to ~5% SGEN (with a market cap of ~$700 mil) owns. Do the math yourself for a $1B drug…

As far as I know, Morphosys is not traded in the U.S.
I think that eventually they will have to get the stock to Nasdaq. I am supposed to speak with the company’s CEO next week, and will definitely bring that up. This great company is still flying under the radar of American investors.

ohad

By: Inky

Inky — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:45:14 +0000

Hello Ohad
great blog
what do you think about ANIK?

By: avatiah

avatiah — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:33:22 +0000

Wouldn’t you say that instead of risking your money on a one trick pony like CRGN, it is far better to bet on CR011 with SGEN? If this drug is successful, they’ll get tons of royalties and if it fails, no one will notice.

I liked the Morphosys story, are they traded somewhere in the US?