January 22, 2025 4:33pm

After a daily run of up, down round and round sector share pricing

News: Agenus (AGEN -$0.17 or -4.44% to $3.66) shared new data on botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL). Data from 5 presentations underscore the transformative potential of BOT/BAL across multiple lines of therapy in colorectal cancer, including neoadjuvant, first-line, and refractory settings. Data also highlighted BOT/BAL’s potential in treating microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC tumors, which account for 85-95%1 of patients living with CRC that historically have been unresponsive to immuno-oncology (I/O) therapies. To date, BOT/BAL has been evaluated in approximately 1,100 patients across more than 60 centers worldwide.

The coming batch of Q4/24 and FY2024’s earnings will provide LPS (loss-per-share), some EPS, consensus meets and non-greets, cash positions, runways and partner status for investors

I say today what others won't, so you can do what others can't!

Never leave an investor uninformed!  

 


On point, short on words, long on facts and being judicious!

Never above you, never below you, always beside you!

 

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: pre-emptive pardon your portfolio … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/13774

 

Wednesday: The Dow closed UP +130.92 points or +0.30%, the S&P closed UP +37.12 points or +0.61% while the Nasdaq closed UP +252.56 points or +1.28%

  • Indexes climbed on Wednesday, while cell and gene therapy sector waffled

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

  • Mortgage applications increased 0.1% from 1 week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 17, 2025.              

Wednesday’s advance/decline line at the open was positive with 18 incliners, 12 declined and 5 flats; ending with a positive close at the close of 18 incliner, 14 decliners and 3 flats

  • Sector breadth was shaky

Metrics:  Wednesday, the IBB was up +0.19%, the XBI was up +0.70% while the VIX was up +0.04 points or +0.27% at 15.10

 

As compared to … Tuesday: The Dow closed UP +538.22points or +1.24%, the S&P closed UP +52.60 points or +0.88% while the Nasdaq closed UP +126.58 points or +0.64%

  • Indexes popped higher as the dollar's gains and losses signal a new normal for markets
  • The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) fell about 4 basis points to around 4.57%

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

  • The next batch of quarterly earnings will provide last years, FY2024’s LPS (loss-per-share), some EPS, consensus meets and non-greets, cash positions, runways and partner status for investors

Tuesday’s advance/decline line at the open was positive with 28 incliners, 5 declined and 2 flats; ending with a positive close at the close of 28 incliner, 6 decliners and 1 flat

  • Sector breadth was strong

Metrics:  Tuesday, the IBB was up +3.45%, the XBI was up +2.43% while the VIX was down -0.78 points or -4.93% at 15.03

 

Q1/25 – 2 holidays, 1 market close, 5 negative and 8 positive closes

  • Q4/24 – 1 holiday, 6 positive and 15 negative closes
  • November – 1 holiday, 10 negative and 10 positive closes              
  • October: 8 positive and 15 negative sessions

 

Wednesday’s Closing Down (14 of 14):

  • Mesoblast (MESO -$0.46),
  • Blueprint Medicine (BPMC -$0.88 after Tuesday’s +$1.91 after Friday’s +$6.10),
  • Vericel (VCEL -$1.03),
  • bluebird bio (BLUE -$0.30 after Tuesday’s -$0.21),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals IONS -$0.18 after Tuesday’s +$1.25 after Friday’s -$0.85),
  • Agenus (AGEN -$0.17),
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI -$0.16),
  • MiMedx (MDXG -$0.15),
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.14 after Tuesday’s -$0.01),
  • AxoGen (AXGN -$0.08),
  • Precigen (PGEN -$0.05),
  • Generation Bio (GBIO -$0.0342),
  • Compass Therapeutics (CMPX -$0.03),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.01 after Tuesday’s +$1.34 after Friday’s -$0.31),

Flat (3)

  • Caribou Biosciences (CRBU)
  • Harvard Apparatus (OTCQB: HRGN $0.00 after Tuesday’s -$0.02 after Friday’s -$0.02),
  • Homology Medicine (FIXX)

Wednesday’s Closing Up (10 of 18):

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$2.69 after Tuesday’s +$0.98 after Friday’s +$0.23),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$2.61 after Tuesday’s +$1.83 after Friday’s +$0.30),
  • Beam therapeutics (BEAM +$1.86 after Tuesday’s +$1.09),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$1.55 after Tuesday’s +$18.72 after Friday’s -$2.89
  • Verve Therapeutics (VERV +$1.23),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.07,
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ +$0.64 after Tuesday’s+$1.32 after Friday’s +$0.10).
  • UniQure NV (QURE +$0.38),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$0.28),
  • Prime Medicine (PRME +$0.17),

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  Another new week closer to January’s end after many “events”

  • “Our” universe’s share pricing is still “dangling” beneath upcoming Q4/2024 earnings releases with no umbrella although some sector companies released preliminary unaudited snapshots of Q4 and FY2024!

January ‘25 recap: understand the “flow” …

  • 1/22 - Wednesday ended with a positive close at the close of 18 incliner, 14 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/21 - Tuesday ended with a positive close at the close of 28 incliner, 6 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/20 – Markets were closed
  • 1/17 - Friday’s advance/decline line ended with a positive close at the close of 21 incliner, 12 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/16 - Thursday’s advance/decline line ended with a negative close at the close of 10 incliner, 22 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/15 - Wednesday’s advance/decline line ended with a positive close at the close of 29 incliner, 3 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/14 - Tuesday’s advance/decline line ended with a negative close at the close of 6 incliner, 26 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/13 - Monday’s advance/decline line ended with a negative close at the close of 11 incliner, 20 decliners and 4 flats
  • 1/10 - Friday’s advance/decline line mid-day ended with a negative close at the close of 29 incliner, 2 decliners and 4 flats
  • 1/9 - Thursday, markets were closed
  • 1/8 - Wednesday’s advance/decline line ended with a negative close at the close of 27 incliner, 27 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/7 - Tuesday’s advance/decline line ended with a barely positive close at the close of 17 incliner, 16 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/6 - Monday’s advance/decline line ended with a positive close at the close of 22 incliner, 12 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/3 - Friday’s advance/decline line ended with a positive close at the close of 30 incliner, 8 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1 /2 - Thursday’s advance/decline line ended with a positive close at the close of 21 incliner, 12 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/1/25 - Monday markets closed

 

As I have written “Many sector companies are engaged in cost realignment programs, which won’t be realized consequences over the next few Qs where the operating expense levels; spending on SG&A (selling, informational, and administrative) and R&D (research and development) facilitate the need to extend runways and enable expectation of clinical innovations.”

  • "I think the market's going to come back to earnings, the first couple of months of 2025, and 1st H/25 will be a shifting cell and gene therapy sector due to earnings releases... I still believe stocks will swing upward pre and them more post releases

Big Point to remember “Think about it; the biggest problem the cell and gene therapy sector it’s all to the future …  99% of them have no earnings!

  • If rates are higher for longer, that means that sector companies will continue to struggle or be unable to raise capital and therefore be subject to debt servicing firms!”
  •  2024 saw very little life IPOs (initial public offering) market and secondaries – I have seen private investments, mortgages, sell-offs, as companies deferred and struggle to gain further market access i.e., public. <Me>

What could 2025 have in store for the capital access space?

  • "You'll see a number of cell and gene therapy comandantes drive for secondaries – they’re desperate for cash, but I do think a lot of cell and gene therapy sector companies NEED to be focused on what is driving their own growth —they're focused on a lot of change BUT … that's happening in pipelines … capital expansion is second.

 

Why do I keep repeating, so investors can make the connection …

The top three (3) performing in the session:    

  • Wednesday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Moderna (MRNA) and Beam Therapeutics (BEAM)
  • Tuesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Blueprint Medicine (BPMC) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Monday, markets were closed
  • Friday: Blueprint Medicine (BPMC), Vericel (VCEL) and Mesoblast (MESO)

The worst three (3) in the session: 

  • Wednesday: Vericel (VCEL), Blueprint Medicine (BPMC) and Mesoblast (MESO)
  • Tuesday: bluebird Bio (BLUE), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), and Harvard Apparatus (OTCQB: HRGN)
  • Monday, markets were closed
  • Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS)

 

Welcome to my world of defining the “grey’ in our universe!

  • Right up front, “I also hate to be so negative or contrarian but, this is a NO spin zone and facts are its product; I can always be WRONG but … I am mostly EARLY!”

 

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 it’s 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.