Thursday, January 29, 2015

Top Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014

Last week I told you about four biotech stocks that analysts thought would triple.  Today, I want to tell you about five technology stocks that can double from here, for the same reasons.

If you want to find yourself on the right side of big winners, if you want to own the stocks that show up on the news at night after doubling or tripling on the day, you need to focus on this risk/reward relationship in your stock selection.

These are stocks that have consensus analyst price targets well above their current share price that have strong sentiment and Wall Street sponsorship. That formula can prove to uncover deep value investment opportunities. In using this screen, we also have the potential to ��ack into��finding the presence of an influential investor involved in the stock.  That�� a huge bonus.

Now, given the backdrop I��e described, the following five stocks have recently hit our radar as high potential, deep value candidates. These stocks have an average analyst price target that is at least 100% higher than their current share price.

Top Undervalued Stocks For 2015: Epizyme Inc (EPZM)

Epizyme, Inc., incorporated on November 1, 2007, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and plans to commercialize personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers. The Company systematically identify the genetic alterations that create cancer causing genes, called oncogenes, select patients in whom the identified genetic alteration is found and then design small molecule therapeutics to inhibit the oncogene. The clinical development plan for each of its product candidates is directed towards patients with a particular genetically defined cancer.The Company is conducting a Phase I clinical trial of its advanced product candidate, EPZ-5676, an inhibitor targeting the DOT1L HMT, for the treatment of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL-r). The Company has identified its two lead product candidates using its product platform.

EPZ-5676-DOT1L Inhibitor

EPZ-5676 is an intravenously administered small molecule inhibitor of DOT1L. The Company is developing EPZ-5676 for the treatment of MLL-r, an aggressive subtype of the two most common forms of acute leukemia, ALL and AML. Patients with MLL-r are routinely diagnosed with existing technologies that are commonly used in clinical setting. The Company�� Phase 1 clinical trial of EPZ-5676 is an open label, multicenter trial that has two phases.

EPZ-6438-EZH2 Inhibitor

The Company is developing EPZ-6438 as an orally available small molecule inhibitor of EZH2 for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who have an oncogenic point mutation in EZH2. EZH2 is an HMT that can become oncogenic and cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a range of other solid tumors. Two types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal-center origin, or DLBCL, and follicular lymphoma, or FL, are particularly associated with an EZH2 point mutation. There are no therapies approved specifically for the treatment of cancer associated with an EZH2 point mutation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM) shot up 54.63 percent to $31.70 after the company reported two major milestone achievements. It announced the achievement of a proof of concept milestone in the EPZ-5676 DOT1L inhibitor clinical program.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Outside the Dow, there were a few winners. Guess? (NYSE: GES  ) climbed 8% after a better-than-expected earnings performance, despite the fact that profits fell from year-ago levels. The retailer repeated what we've heard from its peers about bad weather conditions having a negative impact on the company, and its European operations also struggled. Meanwhile, biotech IPO Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM  ) soared more than 50% after coming public at $15 this morning. The company has a promising technology in treating cancer caused by carcinogenic genes, and it has collaborations with several major drug companies that should help it push some of its potential treatments through the pipeline.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    3. We see 23+ partnered pipeline assets and are most positive on Phase I/II MOR202 anti-CD38 for myeloma with data in 2015, and others such as Acceleron Pharma (XLRN), Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), Epizyme (EPZM), Concert Pharmaceuticals (CNCE) (just started Phase I for next-gen Revlimid).

Top Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NAVB)

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Navidea), formerly Neoprobe Corporation, incorporated in 1983, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of precision diagnostic agents. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� radiopharmaceutical development programs included Lymphoseek (Lymphoseek, Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m for Injection), a radiopharmaceutical agent for lymph node mapping; AZD4694, an imaging agent, and RIGScan, a tumor antigen-specific targeting agent. In January 2012, the Company executed an option agreement with Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alseres) to license [123I]-E-IACFT Injection, also called Altropane, an Iodine-123 radiolabeled imaging agent, being developed as an aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson�� disease, movement disorders and dementia. In August 2011, the Company sold its gamma detection device line of business (the GDS Business) to Devicor Medical Products, Inc.

Lymphoseek

Navidea�� pipeline includes clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical agents used to identify the presence and status of disease. Lymphoseek (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m for Injection) is a lymph node targeting agent intended for use in intraoperative lymphatic mapping (ILM) procedures and lymphoscintigraphy employed in the overall diagnostic assessment of certain solid tumor cancers. The lymph system is a component of the body�� immune system. The key components of the lymph system are lymph nodes-small anatomic structures that contain disease-fighting lymphocytes, filter lymph of bacteria and cancer cells, and signal infection in response to heightened levels of pathogens. In Navidea�� Phase III clinical studies of Lymphoseek, it detected over 99% of positive nodes identified by vital blue dye (VBD). As of December 31, 2011, Navidea, in co-operation with UC, San Diego affiliate (UCSD), completed or initiated five Phase I clinical trials, one multi-center Phase II trial and three multi-center Phase II trials inv! olving Lymphoseek. Two Phase III studies were completed in subjects with breast cancer and melanoma. During the year ended December 31, 2011, data from NEO3-09 were released, which indicated that all primary and secondary endpoints for the study were met. As of December 31, 2011, third Phase III clinical trial for Lymphoseek in subjects with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (NEO3-06) was in progress.

AZD4694

AZD4694 is a Fluorine-18 labeled precision radiopharmaceutical candidate for use in the imaging and evaluation of patients with signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). It binds to beta-amyloid deposits in the brain that can then be imaged in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Amyloid plaque pathology is a required feature of AD and the presence of amyloid pathology is a supportive feature for diagnosis of probable AD. Patients who are negative for amyloid pathology do not have AD. AZD4694 has been studied in several clinical trials. Clinical studies through Phase IIa have included more than 80 patients to date, both suspected AD patients and healthy volunteers. No significant adverse events have been observed. Results suggest that AZD4694 has the ability to image patients quickly and safely with high sensitivity.

RadioImmunoGuided Surgery

As of December 31, 2011, RIGScan had been studied in a number of clinical trials, including Phase III studies. Navidea has conducted two Phase III studies, NEO2-13 and NEO2-14, of RIGScan in patients with primary and metastatic colorectal cancer, respectively. Both studies were multi-institutional involving cancer treatment institutions in the United States, Israel, and the European Union.

The Company competes with Pharmalucence, Eli Lilly, Bayer Schering, General Electric and GE Healthcare.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(NAVB) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a priority review for an expanded use of its Lymphoseek drug for some patients with head and neck cancer. Shares dropped 5.4% to $1.97 premarket.

  • [By Sean Williams]

    Diagnostics can also play an important role in early and late-stage breast cancer diagnoses. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: NAVB  ) had Lymphoseek, its external lymph-node imaging and intra-operative lymphatic mapping diagnostic device, approved by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year to help doctors stage cancer. Discovering whether breast cancer has invaded adjacent lymph nodes has never been easier or safer thanks to Lymphoseek, and it can dramatically aid physicians in determining the best course of action for breast cancer patients.

Top Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: NanoViricides Inc (NNVC)

NanoViricides, Inc., incorporated on April 1, 2005, is a development-stage company. The Company is a nano-biopharmaceutical (nanomedicine) company whose business goals are to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutics to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening viral infections. The Company has several drugs in various stages of early development. The Company�� drugs are based on several patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications, and other property held by TheraCour Pharma, Inc. (TheraCou), to which the Company has exclusive licenses in perpetuity for the treatment of human viral diseases: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Influenza including Asian Bird Flu Virus (INF), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Rabies. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had six drug development programs: Oral FluCideTM, against all Influenzas; a Piggy-back version of Flucide for hospitalized patients; nanoviricide eye drops against adenoviral EKC and herpes keratitis; HIVCide - I against HIV/AIDS; HerpeCide - I skin cream formulation for herpes cold sores and genital warts, and DengueCide, a broad spectrum nanoviricide designed to attack all types of dengue viruses and expected to be effective in the Severe Dengue Disease syndromes including Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHS) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). As of June 30, 2012, it had engaged in organizational activities, sourcing compounds and materials, developing novel compounds and nanomaterials, and experimentation with studies on cell cultures and animals. In September 2011, NanoViricides Inc's Inno-Haven LLC acquired a light industrial building.

The Company's product development programs are divided into three sectors: commercially important diseases, neglected tropical diseases (NTD��) and biosecurity/biodefense, and advanced technologies. The Company has collaborations with KARD Scientific, Inc., MA. and Southern Research Institute, AL for influenza viruse! s; National (Central) Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) (Vietnam), for H5N1 avian flu; The Long Island Jewish Medical System, Feinstein Institute of Medical Research (LIJMS), NY and TheVac, LLC. for viral diseases of the eye (adenoviruses, herpesviruses - epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis (EKC), Herpes Keratitis); TheVac, LLC and Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) for herpes virus infections; University of California at Berkeley for dengue hemorrhagic fever viruses; Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National (Central) Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for rabies virus. The Company has developed lead drug candidates against a number of viral diseases.

The Company had consolidated all of its influenza drug programs into a single pan-influenza FluCide program. It is developing a single drug for all influenzas, whether pandemic, epidemic, seasonal, novel, emerging, human, swine, or avian. It is developing a nanoviricide against adenoviral EKC. The nanoviricide eye drug candidate is formulated as simple eye drops. It is developing an anti-HSV nanoviricide skin cream formulation for direct application to the lesions. It has designed the anti-HIV nanoviricides using rational drug design principles. The ligands it has designed in the case of HIV-1 are thought to be broadly neutralizing. In-silico modeling indicates that its ligands dock to the conserved CD4 binding site of gp120 of HIV-1. The Company is working on developing anti-Dengue therapeutics. Dengue is an important NTD. Its RabiCide program has resulted in candidates that have enabled survival of 20% to 30% of infected animals after disease has set in, using a particular animal model.

The Company competes with Roche, Glaxo SmithKline, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilead, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck), Valeant, Schering, Pharmassett, Vertex, Intermune, Achillion and Novartis.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]


    One under-$10 nano-biopharmaceutical player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Nanoviricides (NNVC), which engages in the discovery, development and commercialization of anti-viral therapeutics primarily in the U.S. This stock has been ripping to the upside so far in 2013, with share up big by 198%.

    If you take a look at the chart for Nanoviricides, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $4.55 to $4.52 a share. Following that bottom, shares of NNVC have now started to uptrend and move within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if NNVC manages to take out the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern, which has seen NNVC trend between $4.55 and $5.74 a share.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NNVC if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at Friday's high of $4.94 a share to its 50-day moving average of $5.28 a share, and then once it takes out some more key overhead resistance levels at $5.72 to $5.74 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 234,994 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then NNVC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.50 to its 52-week high at $7.59 a share.

    Traders can look to buy NNVC off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.55 to $4.52 a share. One can also buy NNVC off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: International Stem Cell Corp (ISCO)

International Stem Cell Corporation, incorporated on June 7, 2005 is a developmental-stage biotechnology company. The Company focused on therapeutic and biomedical product development. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology, LLC (LCT) develops, manufactures and commercializes over 130 human cell culture products, including frozen human primary cells and the reagents (media) needed to grow, maintain and differentiate the cells, in order to address this market opportunity. The Company�� scientists have used a technology called basal medium optimization to systematically produce optimized products designed to culture specific human cell types and to elicit specific cellular behaviors. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care, Inc. (LSC) develops, manufactures and markets cosmetic skin care products using an extract derived from its pluripotent stem cells.

Therapeutic Product Candidates

Using the Company's technologies and know-how, the Company is exploring and creating a range of cell types that is useful in therapeutic treatments, which include Liver cells (hepatocytes) that may be used to treat a range of congenital and acquired liver diseases. Neuronal cells for potential treatment of Parkinson's disease and other central nervous system disorders, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and Alzheimer�� disease. Three-dimensional eye structures to treat degenerative retinal diseases, corneal blindness, and to accelerate corneal healing.

Skin Care Products

The Company�� research scientists developed two skin care products, Defensive Day Serum and Recovery Night Serum, using an extract derived from human parthenogenic stem cells. Defensive Serum contains sunscreen, along with stem cell-derived ingredients. The day serum not only protects the skin from the aging effects of harsh light, but it continues to nurture the skin�� collagen and fibroblasts to give noticeably firmer, smoother, younger-looking ! skin. The Recovery Night Serum is a nighttime therapy that complements the Defensive Day Serum. The night serum nurtures the skin�� collagen and elastin and contains ingredients to defend against damaging free radicals, to help build firmer, smoother, younger and healthier-looking skin.

Research Products

The Company�� Lifeline subsidiary produces and sells over 250 human cell culture products. These products include frozen human cells and stem cells and the reagents needed to grow, maintain and differentiate the cells. These human cell-based products are used domestically and internationally by research scientists in pharmaceutical, academic and government research organizations to study human disease and basic cell biology.

The Company competes with Genzyme Corporation, StemCell, Advanced Cell Technology Inc., Aastrom Biosciences, ViaCyte, Obagi, SkinCeuticals, SkinMedica, Murad, Lonza, Chemicon, Life Technologies, StemCell Technologies, Merck, BioTime and Specialty Media.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    From stem cell burgers to earnings reports, the stem cell industry and small cap players in it like NeoStem Inc (NASDAQ: NBS), International Stem Cell Corp (OTCMKTS: ISCO) and BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX) have been producing some news lately that has probably been overlooked by investors and traders alike given its August. Nevertheless, you might want to pay attention to the following stem cell news:

  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap stocks Greenfield Farms Food Inc (OTCMKTS: GRAS), International Stem Cell Corp (OTCMKTS: ISCO) and Redpoint Bio Corporation (OTCMKTS: RPBC) have all been getting some extra attention lately in various investment newsletters. However, none of these small cap stocks appear to have been the subject or paid promotions or investor relations activities. So does that make any of them good bets for traders and investors alike? Here is a quick look and a reality check:

No comments:

Post a Comment