April 20, 2023 4:44pm

If it was up on Wednesday, it got snuffed on Thursday with percentage sliders ranging -8.55% (25) from -0.31% versus ascensions (8) +0.20% to +8.70% with 2 flats

Pre-open Indications: 7 Hits and 1 Miss

De-Listing Update: Avrobio (AVRO) Thursday closed down -$0.06 to $0.86 after Wednesday closed up +$0.026, Tuesday -$0.0245, Monday’s -$0.013 to $0.93, Friday’s -$0.012, last Thursday +$0.07, and the previous Wednesday -$0.06 and Tuesday’s +$0.04 – still under Nasdaq rule of $1.00; after thirteen (13) sessions under the Nasdaq minimum? Doesn’t seem that CEO Geoff MacKay can garner support to forestall de-listing for the second time in months?

I write this blog/newsletter to inform investors with facts and supporting numbers focused on what they need to hear that others will not say or write about - truth!  

Subscription is coming, it is not conscription but, an offer to join our collective of like-minded investors!  Join me … in the NO spin zone.

If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst in a venture and public fund, operating executive, adjunct (MBA) business school professor now a journalist; it is that your life and your portfolio are largely tied to your knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets.

 

The Dow closed DOWN -110.39 points (-0.33%), the S&P closed DOWN -24.73 points (-0.60%) while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -97.67 points (-0.80%)

 

Henry’omics:

We need to more than consider the economic environment - rising rates and inflation to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy companies.

Indexes fell on Thursday reacting to a mixed bag of corporate earnings.

Economic Data Docket: The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index fell more than expected, to its lowest level since May 2020, while jobless claims rose over the previous week.

 

Wednesday (4/20) … RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “how long will trimming losses last?  Sector share pricing is being kept in a paddock while some equites are being exercised.” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12924

 

Pre-open Indications: 7 Hits < Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +$0.03), Verve Therapeutics (VERV -$0.28), Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$1.135), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$3.59), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$1.90), Ultragenyx (RARE -$0.63), Vericel (VCEL -$0.84)> and 1 Miss < Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.60)  

 

RegMed/Stem/Cell and Gene Therapy’s 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: what happened – differences …

  • Thursday’s advance/decline line opened negative at 6 up/ 24 down and 5 flats, stayed negative with 9 up/ 25 down and 1 flat at the mid-day, ending with a negative close of 8/25 and 2 flats

 

Key Metrics:

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

  • Thursday, the IBB was down -0.96% and the XBI was down -2.10%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Thursday was up +0.60 points or +3.65% at 17.60

 

Closing Down (10 of 25):

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$3.59 after Wednesday’s +$1.56, Tuesday’s -$2.37 and Monday’s +$3.98),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$1.90 after Wednesday’s -$0.13, Tuesday’s -$1.46 and Monday’s +$1.09)
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$1.35 after Wednesday’s +$0.34 after Tuesday’s -$0.75),
  • Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY -$1.04 after Wednesday’s +$0.45, Tuesday’s +$0.36 and Monday’s +$1.24),
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.84 after Wednesday’s +$0.63, Tuesday’s +$0.08 and Monday’s +$0.87),
  • Ultragenyx (RARE -$0.63 after Wednesday’s +$0.91, Tuesday’s +$0.23 and Monday’s +$2.55),
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE -$0.62 after Wednesday’s -$0.44, Tuesday’s +$2.10 after Monday’s +$1.80),
  • Ionis Therapeutics (IONS -$0.60 after Wednesday’s +$0.35, Tuesday’s -$1.40 and Monday’s +$0.78),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.57),

Editas Medicine (EDIT -$0.44)

Flat (2):

  • Precigen (PGEN)
  • Mesoblast (MESO)

Closing Up (8 of 8):

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$0.56 after Wednesday’s +$0.63, Tuesday’s -$4.24 and Monday’s +$1.99),
  • uniQure NV (+$0.11),
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB +$0.11 after Wednesday’s -$0.12),
  • MiMedx (MDXG +$0.11),
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI+$0.08 after Wednesday’s -$0.06, Tuesday’s +$0.06 after Monday’s +$0.20),
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.08),
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +$0.03),
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.02 after Wednesday’s +$0.25 and Tuesday’s -$0.50),

 

Q2/23 – April

  • Thursday closed negative with 8 incliner, 25 decliners and 2 flats

 

The BOTTOM LINE: I try to keep it simple … and short!

I follow the dictum, quoting Churchill that “short words are best, and the old words when short are best of all.”

More frequently right than consequentially wrong as equity volatility continues to grind the cell and gene therapy sector lower, there is mounting concern re downside pressures.

Investor focus is about to shift to Q1 earnings season. Investors are hesitant to add to positions re concerns of persisted inflation while electronic trading i.e., algorithms are the only ones to lead the upside.

WHY (?) do I keep posting, so investors can get a daily update of the sector's share pricing and some individual companies TRUTHS while electronic trading chews on our portfolio edges.

Remember, there are four (4) phases of the stock cycle: accumulation; markup; distribution; and markdown.

I am definitely considered a contrarian depending on the session – one has to be a watcher of the ups and downs as well as measurer of sentiment. I am also a NO trust investor but, a validate and verify journalist/analyst.

The NO spin zone!

Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) – still pumping the volume and to promote the share price!!

Thursday closed down -$0.08 with 150 shares traded after Wednesday closed down -$0.05 with 100 shares traded, Tuesday closed flat with zero shares traded, Monday’s down of -$0.20 with 3,500 shares traded, Friday +$0.25 with 929 shares traded and last Thursday +$0.10 with 150 shares traded, <3-month average =1,804 shares>

·         Did FINANCING happen with US investors – NO mention, possibly ALL … Beijing, China money? What analysts are following the company? - NONE

·         Question: Review the number of shares traded … is OTCQB: BSTG a Ponzi scheme (with their pump/promote buy and sell agenda) as shares are bought to replace those sold??

·         Notice the new director, Ron Packard, MATCH his background to the new Chairman and CEO – education buddies (different companies each in ed field – independent director?

·         Biggest issue – RELIANCE on Chinese off-shore investment as US investors AVOID this equity – wonder WHY?

 

My question that resounds, that should be asked is how many companies are at the end of sentiments …  leash?

 

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.

Regulation Analyst Certification (Reg AC): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.