October 1, 2025 8:51pm

The 1st day of the government shutdown didn't seem to affect cell and gene therapy sector equities, but I’d be looking to cut profitable positions could if it drags on for weeks.

We seem to be always waiting for … something i.ie., anything!

However, “uncle algo and his electronic trading dwarfs” will be scheming for a reason to sell some off

Never leave an investor uninformed!  

U.S. stock indexes closed in the green on Wednesday on hopes that the funding stoppage would be brief and therefore limit any serious effects on the economy

Remember, “The sector is what it is, until it isn’t, even if it doesn’t seem to be, it yet will be.” 

 

Wednesday’s RMi pre-open: October begins with a crash … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14131

 

Wednesday: The Dow closed UP +43.21 points or +0.09%, the S&P closed UP +22.74 points or +0.34% while the Nasdaq closed UP +95.148 points or +0.422%

  • Theme of the session: traders anticipated that the funding lapse will be brief

Henry’omics: We need to more than consider the economic environment to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy

  • ADP showed that private payrolls fell by 32,000 last month, well below the gain of 45,000 that economists had estimated; the biggest drop since March 2023.
  • The ISM manufacturing survey index edged up to 49.1 in September from 48.7, still consistent with a slight contraction. Production picked up, but the new order index turned negative, with a sub-50 reading. The employment index rose to 1.5 points to 45.3, but still showed less need for labor.

Wednesday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened positive with 32 incliners, 7 decliners and 1 flat ending with a positive close of 26 incliners, 14 decliners and 0 flat

Metrics:  Wednesday, the IBB was up +4.14%, the XLV +4.30% and the XBI was up +1.19% while the VIX was up +0.0.01 points or +0.06% at 16.29

 

Q4 – 1 positive close

Q3 – September - 1 holiday, 9 negative and 12 positive closes; August - 12 negative and 9 positive closes; July - 1 market holiday, 13 positive and 9 negative closes

 

Wednesday Closing UP (10 of 26) +$ after Tuesday’s

  • IQV Holdings (IQV +$13.85 after Tuesday’s +$9.18 after Monday’s +$1.17),
  • Vertex (VRTX +$12.57 after Tuesday’s -$3.67 after Monday’s +$9.58),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) closed +$4.65 after Tuesday’s +$8.51 after Monday’s +$1.09),
  • BioNTech (BNTX +$3.59 after Tuesday’s +$0.52),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ closed +$2.47 after Tuesday’s +$1.69 after Monday’s +$2.86),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$1.77 after Tuesday’s +$0.52),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.49),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$1.35 after Tuesday’s +$1.04 after Monday’s +$2.10),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.62 after Tuesday’s +$0.99),
  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR +$0.61 after Tuesday’s -$0.20),

Flat (0)

Wednesday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 14): 

  • uniQure NV (QURE -$3.38 after Tuesday’s -$1.03 after Monday’s +$5.09),
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.56 after Tuesday’s -$0.32 after Monday’s +$1.56),
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.30),
  • Wave Life Sciences (WVE -$0.29),
  • MiMedx (MDXG -$0.15),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$0.14),
  • Compass Therapeutics (CMPX -$0.14 after Tuesday’s -$0.32),
  • Rocket Therapeutics (RCKT -$0.10),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.09 after Tuesday’s -$0.28 after Monday’s +$1.28),
  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN -$0.07 after Tuesday’s $0.00 and Monday's $0.00),

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  More of the … WHYs …

The stock market rally rose slightly on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high despite the shutdown.

What To Do Now: The stock market rally continues to do well, but … with the major indexes all near record highs … “uncle algo and his electronic trading dwarfs” are smelling some profits!

October: understand the “flow” …

  • 10/1 – Wednesday closed positive with 26 positive, 14 negative and 0 flat
  • 9/29 – Monday closed positive with 33 positive, 5 negative and 2 flats

Last week:

  • 9/26 – Friday closed positive with 29 positive, 9 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/25 - Thursday closed negative with 8 positive, 30 negative and 2 flat
  • 9/24 – Wednesday closed positive with 28 positive, 11 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/23 – Tuesday closed negative with 7 positive, 32 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/22 – Monday closed positive with 31 positive, 9 negative and 0 flat

 

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

  • “I hate to be so negative or contrarian but, this is a NO spin zone and truth is its product; I can always be WRONG but, I am mostly EARLY!”
  • If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst in a venture and public fund, operating executive, x-FBI, x-military officer and an adjunct (MBA) business school professor now a journalist; my life and your portfolio are largely tied to knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets and more.
  • I was once told by a “very” prominent figure early in my career, “write it right, keep it tight without hype and never lose the stride to guide the reader” – they were pretty simple instructions to follow!

 

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

The top three (3) performing in the session:   

  • Tuesday: IQV Holdings (IQV), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Monday: Vertex (VRTX), uniQure NV (QURE) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Friday: Vertex (VRTX), IQV Holdings (IQV) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)

The worst three (3) in the session:

  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), uniQure NV (QURE) and Precigen (PGEN)
  • Monday: Cellectis SA (CLLS), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) and Solid Biosciences (SLDB)
  • Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Mesoblast (MESO) and Intellia therapeutics (NTLA)

 

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.