Hammer Stock Blog

A drug with an almost certain approval and immediate sales potential of hundreds of millions of dollars is an asset very few biotech companies possess. In that sense, Incyte (INCY), which is developing a breakthrough drug for blood disorders, represents a unique opportunity in an industry plagued by risk and uncertainty. Incyte is also unique in its problematic capital structure, which makes an otherwise simple investment decision into a tricky one.

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Seattle Genetics – Another step towards approval

Seattle Genetics (SGEN) will present results from a phase I trial of SGN-35 in two rare blood cancers. This agent is important not only because it represents Seattle Genetics’ first opportunity for commercial revenue, but also because it serves as a proof of concept for the company’s antibody- drug conjugate (ADC) technology. The drug already generated impressive data when given every three weeks, and this year it will probably show even stronger activity in a weekly regimen. The company wanted to use a more frequent dosing in order to increase the overall amount of SGN-35 it can give and see whether it leads to higher efficacy without increasing side effects.

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The ASCO annual meeting, one of the most important events in the pharmaceutical industry will take place in Orlando next weekend. With over 4,000 abstracts to be presented this year, separating the wheat from the chaff is difficult, but below is an incomplete list of intriguing trials that deserve investors’ attention.

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Two weeks ago, Micromet (MITI) hosted its annual R&D day, where it discussed plans for 2009 and beyond. The meeting provided plenty of information regarding the company’s technology and drug candidates, but more importantly, it served as an appetizer for next month’s EHA meeting. As a reminder, Micromet is expected to present data from 2 trials evaluating its lead agent, blinatumomab (MT103), in two forms of blood cancer: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

During the R&D day, the company (intentionally and unintentionally) shared some previously undisclosed results from the trials. The new information, which includes impressive efficacy signals from both studies, further solidifies blinatumomab’s position as one of the most promising investigational agents in oncology. Based on its spectacular performance, blinatumomab has a high chance of getting approved as soon as 2012.

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In a time when so many biotech companies do not know how they will survive the nuclear winter of 2009, two companies we hold in the biotech portfolio, stand out in the crowd. Immunogen (IMGN) and Exelixis (EXEL) are poised for an exciting year, with plenty of events in the coming twelve months. The two companies have a lot in common: Both are developing innovative  drugs for cancer that rely on remarkable basic science, both can generate an unlimited number of novel agents, that in turn can be licensed to large partners, and perhaps more importantly these days, both can remain independent of the capital markets for at least two years. Above all, the two companies exemplify how good products and good technologies can still generate tremendous value for investors, even during these economic turbulent times. 

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