Biotechs Coming Off One Of The Busiest Weeks In Recent Memory
In a report published Monday, JMP Securities analyst Michael King, Jr. recapped key events last week within the biotechnology sector, noting it was one of the busiest weeks in recent memory.
King noted that investors got "lots of ideas for alpha generation" heading into the end of the year, and "we really like what we saw last week."
Related Link: UBS: Biotech Will Continue To Outperform In 2015
Shining Sector Performers
Specifically, the analyst singled out Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) $11 billion raise and Biogen Inc (NASDAQ: BIIB)'s $6 billion raise, suggesting that the two firms, along with other mega-caps, "appear to be generating a shopping list."
Meanwhile, Akebia Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: AKBA) posted positive Phase II data for vadadustat for the maintenance of hemoglobin in patients undergoing renal dialysis previously on erythropoietin, while Vitae Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: VTAE) reported positive data from a Phase I SAD trial of VTP-43742, which "vaulted" the shares higher by nearly 90 percent on the week.
Losses And Disappointments Don't Pale The Sector Strength
The analyst also highlighted the strength in small- to mid-cap biotech was "even more impressive" considering the near-80 percent loss in shares of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: TTPH) and the "disappointment" coming from Flexion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FLXN)'s FX006 for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain.
'Continued Good News'
King went on, explaining that investors heard "continued good news" from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY)'s data from the CheckMate-012 study, which suggested activity in the combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) in first-line NSCLC, with a much improved side-effect profile compared to the same combination in melanoma.
Investors who are bullish on Clovis Oncology Inc (NASDAQ: CLVS) "took heart" from the AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE: AZN) AURA study of AZD9291 (which competes directly with Clovis' rociletinib) in the thought that the 8.6 months PFS seen in AURA was not so much different versus the eight-months data produced by rociletinib that the AZD compound has much of an advantage.
Not Calm On The M&A Front
As if this weren't enough, biotech companies were busy on the M&A front with reports suggesting Actelion Ltd (OTC: ALIOF) is interested in acquiring ZS Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: ZSPH) for $2.5 billion. Also, Carl Icahn placed a bid to acquire VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS)'s outstanding debt at a cost of $680 per $1,000 face value, prompting the analyst to suggest that Icahn "will likely wind up with not only control of the debt, but of the entire company."
Positive Bottom Line
Finally, King stated that the biotech sector remains "as, or more attractive" today than it was in April. As such, the recent selloff is merely a "head fake" and "should be taken advantage of" by long-term focused investors.
Image Credit: Public Domain
Latest Ratings for GILD
Sep 2015 | Jefferies | Initiates Coverage on | Hold | |
Jul 2015 | Deutsche Bank | Maintains | Buy | |
Jul 2015 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight |
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