Integrated BioSci Investing: A 2017 Thanksgiving Note

Summary

• Our marketplace is growing to deliver increasing value to subscribers.
• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is the top performer. Second comes Nektar Therapeutics. Our portfolio is also powered by many other key winners.
• Kite Pharma was bought out in the recent months.
• We wish to send our Happy Thanksgiving to all readers, subscribers, and SA.
• Subscribe to our marketplace service to receive higher level intelligence, to galvanize your portfolio.

For the past 52-weeks, the Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ:IBB) gained 9.75% while key performers in our Integrated BioSci Investing portfolio posted profits far more robust. Kite Pharma (NASDAQ:KITE), now a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) delivered over 247% returns. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SPPI) appreciated over 361%. Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) headed north over 250%. And, Amicus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FOLD) procured over 51% profits.

Source: Google Finance (Notable Small-Caps BioSci Winners)

In 2013, we joined the ride with Seeking Alpha (and in May 2017, we decided to exclusively focus on our bioscience expertise). Since the commencement of our marketplace service (Integrated BioSci Investing) in the past five months, our overall recommendations to subscribers have been highly profitable (especially with key performers, as mentioned above).

For Thanksgiving 2017, we wish to send our appreciation to all readers (and especially subscribers as well as Seeking Alpha) for your readership, friendship, advice, and business. There are many highly intelligent subscribers, who enjoy the mutual learning. Going forward, we hope to continue to deliver our stellar service to you. Thank you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: Everyday Good Thinking

Omeros Corporation: Strong Earnings And Further Upsides

Summary

• Omeros reported strong Q3 sales growth for Omidria.
• The FDA granted orphan drug designation for OMX-721, a highly promising molecule that can be a key growth driver.
• With improving prospects, the company can continue to deliver substantial further upsides.

We recently interviewed the stellar trader scientist, Biotech Beast (“BB”) in our Integrated BioSci Investing interview series. In the discussion, BB recommended Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ:OMER) to investors. Based in Seattle, WA, the company is focusing on the development and commercialization of small-molecule and protein therapeutics for larger as well as orphan markets (targeting inflammation, complement-mediated diseases, and disorders of the central nervous system).

Source: StockCharts

Today, the stock popped over 32% due to strong Q3 earnings. Shares traded up $4.44 at $18.53 as of 3:30 pm ET. Accordingly, sales of lead eyes product, Omidria (indicated for use during cataract and lens replacement surgeries) came in at $21.7M. The aforesaid figure represents 26% and 125% improvement versus last quarter and the same quarter a year prior, respectively. Moreover, cash position improved to $86.8M plus the ability to borrow an additional $45M from existing lenders. Furthermore, the company also settled the patent infringement lawsuit against Par Pharmaceutical Companies (NYSE:PRX) on the favorable term in Oct. 2017.

Of note, we asked BB in the interview, 

Back in August, you published a balanced and insightful research on Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ:OMER). Notably, their lead ophthalmologic drug, Omidria, doesn’t generate robust sales. Would sales significantly increase in the future? And, are there other catalysts (or molecules in the pipeline) that can substantially improve the company’s prospects?

The expert, BB, stated that sales of Omidria might increase. Better yet, we are most interested in his response regarding a stellar molecule-in-development, OMS-721.

OMS-721 is the pipeline member which has attracted attention from investors and traders. We should be seeing more data from additional patients in the phase 2 IgA nephropathy trial of OMS-721 in early 2018 (and soon after results from a phase 3 trial in the same indication). Positive results from these additional patients in the phase 2 study will surely be well received (and bode well for the outcomes of the phase 3 study). Of note, data from the first cohort of patients in phase 2 were positive.

Notably, OMS-721, a molecule used to treat the kidney disease IgA nephropathy. Based on the company’s recent meeting with the FDA, approval can be achieved with only a single phase 3 trial: this will reduce significant expenses and expedite the approval. More importantly, the agency designated OMX-721 as an orphan drug (which will enable the company to charge a premium pricing, thus increasing its prospects substantially). Despite the risks of negative trial data, the increasing sales of Omidria and the orphan designation for OMS-721 are certainly promising developments. And, it is not far from the truth that much value remains in this company. Time will unfold more truth. 

Stay tuned for our analysis of this exciting bioscience winner. And, be sure to check out our Marketplace, Integrated BioSci Investing for the latest bioscience trading catalysts.

Global Blood Therapeutics - Trick Or Treat!

Summary

• Global Blood Therapeutics can be a “trick or treat” investment to shareholders.
• The stellar response of the single patient with SCD can either foretell positive phase 3 trial or upcoming failure.
• Voxelotor can potentially capture peak sales ranging from $2B to $3B.
• This idea was discussed in more depth with members of my private investing community, Integrated BioSci Investing. Become a member today >>

Global Blood Therapeutics (NASDAQ:GBT), a firm focusing on the innovation of medicine to treat blood disorders, made our featured presentation as the Halloween 2017 stock. Yesterday, the stock won our Bioscience Catalyst trade of the day, as it earned more than 10% profits for traders. The winning momentum extended into today’s trading: shares traded up $1.15 at $39.80 (for another 2.98% profits). As we previously mentioned, the new fortunes are due to the stellar pipeline development.

Accordingly, the firm reported robust response in the single patient (having moderate to severe symptoms associated with sickle cell disease) who was treated with lead molecule GBT-440 (voxelotor). While the data on a single patient can indicate favorable results for the phase 3 Hope trial, the limited info can be an overly optimistic presentation. That being said, we’ll dissect the arguments for Global Blood Therapeutics for readers to gauge whether the firm is a trick or treat this Halloween.

“Affecting millions of people worldwide, SCD is a major health concern.According to Statistics from the CDC showed that there are 100,000 Americans living with the said condition (which occurs in 1 out of every 365 African-Americans, and 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-Americans). Prominently, SCD genes will always remain in the population, because “carriers” (those having the diseased plus normal genes) have other survival benefits. Most surprisingly, there is one carrier out of 13 blacks.”

HbS (sickle hemoglobin or abnormal hemoglobin) in its deoxygenated state tends to bind together to form rods, thus leading to the deformation of red blood cell (“RBC”). Gradually, the deformed RBCs become stiff (and result in a reduction in the blood flow). In addition, those sickled cells are easily degraded (leading to inadequate blood level or anemia).

The combinations of anemia and flow reduction cause oxygen deprivation throughout the body, thereby leading to a hypoxic state. Ultimately, hypoxia induces the “sickle cell crisis” - a painful condition, requiring multiple hospital admissions and blood transfusion that, in and of itself, causes other complicating effects.

To serve the robust demand for better SCD treatment, voxelotor can come in handy by limiting the polymerizing (or clumping) of Hbs. With the ability to galvanize normal hemoglobin function (and to improve oxygen flow), the aforesaid drug can potentially ameliorate the dreaded adverse effects of SCD.

With the market cap of $1.74B and the potential blockbuster voxelotor to service the large SCD market - one that is in dire need for better treatment - Global Blood Therapeutics can give investors the gargantuan treat going beyond 2017. Alternatively, the investment can be tricky due to the uncertain outcomes of its key developing therapeutic, voxelotor.

You can join Integrated BioSci Investing community, where we provide consultation regarding the outcomes of the Hope trial for subscribers. Our service can help you achieve the investor’s edge in clinical trial forecasting.

Bioscience Developments - An Integrated BioSci Investing Report

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