November 16, 2020 6:08pm

Otherwise, we would be seeing more weighting to “our’ universe

Pre-open indication results: 4 HITs and 1 MISS

News: Precigen (PGEN) and its clinical partners have now successfully dosed the first patients with UltraCAR-T cells manufactured using the UltraPorator system.

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The Dow closed UP +471.29 points (+1.60%), the S&P closed UP +41.76 points (+1.16%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +98.48 points (+0.80%)

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes jumped on Monday …

As the Dow hit a record high after Moderna (MRNA +$8.56 or +9.58% to $97.95) became the second U.S. company in a week to report positive results (vaccine was shown to be 94.5% effective in a preliminary analysis) from its a large late-stage COVID-19 clinical trial, creating optimism for an economic recovery.

While Pfizer (PFE -$1.29), BioNTech SE (BTNX -$14.48 or -13.66%) and Eli Lilly (LLY -$1.79 or -1.26%) fell.

Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 index rose as much as 2.2% to a daily intraday peak.

 

News: Precigen (+$0.49)and its clinical partners have now successfully  … dosed patients with PRGN-3005 UltraCAR-T cells in the intraperitoneal (IP) arm of the ongoing P1 study for advanced ovarian cancer patients conducted in collaboration with the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and with PRGN-3006 UltraCAR-T cells in the ongoing P1/1b study for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) conducted in collaboration with the Moffitt Cancer Center. UltraCAR-T eliminates ex vivo expansion, which reduces manufacturing time to allow for rapid next day administration of UltraCAR-T cells following non-viral gene transfer.

 

Pre-open indication: 4 HITs < Biostage (BSTG -$0.12 with 202 shares traded), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.50); Sell into Strength:  Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.12), and 1 MISS < Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.03)

 

This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: what’s sustainable and when? The number of coronavirus transmission are still rising, threatening the prospects of economic recovery.” https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11636

 

RegMed/Cell and Gene therapy 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: progressions and regressions …

  • Monday opened positive at 19/16 and 2 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 22/12 and 1 flat, closing positive at 19/15 and 1 flat;
  • Friday opened positive at 22/11 and 2 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 21/13 and 1 flat, closing positive at 22/11 and 1 flat;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was the usual LOW with 8 of the 19-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 5 of 15-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 19-upside were +0.60% (FIXX) to +8.38% (PGEN) while the 15- downside of -0.35% (KDNY) to -8.16% (BSTG);

 

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), BioLife Solutions (BLFS), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM) to name 5 of the 15 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum:  

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Intellia therapeutics (NTLA), ReNeuron (RENE.L) to name 5 of the 19 inclining of the 35 covered

 

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) and the SPDR S&P ETF (XBI) indicators:

  • Monday, the IBB closed up +0.01% and XBI closed up +0.48%
  • Friday, the IBB closed up +1.10% and XBI closed up +1.06%

 

Monday’s (10 of 19) incliners:

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$2.80 after Friday’s +$2.190;
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$2.29 after Friday’s -$1.47);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$1.45 after Friday’s +$1.74);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$1.25);
  • Intellia therapeutics (NTLA +$1.12 after Friday’s +$3.52);
  • ReNeuron (RENE.L +$1.00);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.94 after Friday’s +$1.13);
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.74);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$0.58 after Friday’s +$2.32);
  • Precigen (PGEN +$0.49 after Friday’s -$0.02);

Monday’s (10 of 15) decliner:

  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE -$6.05 after Friday’s +$1.52);
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$4.46 after Friday’s +$3.07);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$1.02);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.65 after Friday’s -$0.76);
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.50 after Friday’s +$2.88);
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT -$0.17 after Friday’s +$1.43);
  • Pluristem (PSTI -$0.16 after Friday’s -$0.04);
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.12 after Friday’s +$1.18);
  • Biostage (BSTG -$0.12);
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO -$0.11);

Closing 1 –Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: a 360 degrees comparison of % and pricing

  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 19-upside were +0.60% (FIXX) to +8.38% (PGEN) while the 15- downside of -0.35% (KDNY) to -8.16% (BSTG);
  • Friday’s percentage (%) of the 22-upside were +0.40% (FIXX) to +11.85% (NTLA) while the 11-downside ranges from -0.31% (SLDB) to -6.91% (ATHX);

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

Internal strength of markets was enhanced by Moderna (MRNA) coronavirus vaccine being announced as more than 94% effective during a late-stage trial along with Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech (BNTX) whose treatment candidates were more than 90% effective hopefully will assist in reopening the economy when each treatment is available.

Infection cases <Million>:

  • Monday 11.03 M cases
  • Friday 10.56 M cases

Monday’s death rate totaled 246,224 after Friday’s 242,536, Thursday’s 241,907, Wednesday’s 239,732, Tuesday’s 238,251 and last Monday’s 237,742 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Stats:

Upside volume:  

  • Monday: 8 out of the 19-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 4 out of the 11-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Monday was down -0.65 points or -2.81% at 22.45
  • Friday was down -2.25 points or -8.88% at 23.10

Downside volume:

  • Monday: 5 out of the 15-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 6 out of the 22-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

November, the 2nd month of Q4 …

Monday (11/16) closed positive with 19 advancers, 15 decliners and 1 flat   

Friday closed positive with 22 advancers, 11 decliners and 1 flat 

Thursday closed negative with 15 advancers, 19 decliners and 1 flat 

Wednesday closed positive with 17 advancers, 15 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 22 advancers, 11 decliners and 2 flats 

Monday (11/9) closed positive with 21 advancers, 12 decliners and 2 flats 

Friday closed negative with 6 advancers, 28 decliners and 1 flat 

Thursday closed positive with 20 advancers, 11 decliners and 4 flats 

Wednesday closed positive with 28 advancers, 4 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 30 advancers, 4 decliners and 1 flat 

Monday (11/2) closed positive with 17 advancers, 15 decliners and 3 flats  

 

The Bottom Line: Today’s news of Moderna’s (MRNA) vaccine potential to be 94.5% effective in treatment (without any further answers re timing and variabilities) might be a sign - the coming or soon-to- be end of this China derived virus issue.

We won't get a true impact from this until the vaccine is distributed and inoculated, which probably won't happen until Q1 next year.

Shouldn’t OUR universe of RegMed, stem, cell and gene therapy get the same treatment to advance their disease state indications?

Although, the vaccine news does add another driver to current stock rotations that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and out of technology.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change, and not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice.

Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors.  All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.

Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication.