January 8, 2026 4:39pm

As econs rile the session, driving the C&GT sector and tech firms sell-off

Pre-open Signal Results: 3 Hit and 0 Miss

RMi collects, curates, interprets and disseminates cell and gene therapy sector (C&GT) fact-based news, trustable and verified intel of share pricing data bridging the gap to an investment decision

Never leave a retail investor uninformed!  It’s not always time to buy or sell; but it is time to KNOW why!

I chose to speak-up when many analysts, brokers and commentators have shut-up!

The Supreme Court on Friday could rule on the legality of President Trump’s tariffs, a decision poised to have far-reaching impacts on not only trade policy, but also the U.S. fiscal situation.

RMi Pre-opening: Retreat or strategic withdrawal? … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14259   

RegMedInvestors (RMi) Financing Note: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR) priced its offerings of notes, stock and warrants … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14260

RMi Research Note: Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR) DUMP before the next big SLUMP! …https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14249

 

I make a commitment to provide need-to-know “facts in evidence” as an equity’s volatility is one tactical signal for stocks. My thesis is important in trying to distinguish the temporary from real pricing digression or progress

Thursday: The Dow closed UP +270.03 points or +0.55%, the S&P closed UP +0.53 points or +0.01% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -104.259 points or -0.44%

  • Theme of the session: impact of Nasdaq’s tech and Ai stocks dived

Henry’omics: We need to more than consider the macro-economic environment to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy (C&GT) sector

  • Challenger, Gray & Christmas December layoff report hit their lowest level since July 2024. U.S. employers listed 35,553 cuts for the month, the lowest total since July 2024 and a 50% slide from November. Even with the low number, it was the worst fourth quarter for layoffs since 2008
  • The U.S. trade deficit 6 months into President Trump’s tariffs tumbled to its lowest level since mid-2009. With exports rising and imports falling, the trade shortfall was just $29.4 B for October, down 39% from the prior month. Exports increased 2.6% while imports slipped 3.2%. The total was the lowest since Q2/2009. The year-to-date deficit was 7.7% higher than the same period in 2024.
  • Productivity soared in Q3, pushing down labor costs dramatically while the level of layoffs held low. Nonfarm productivity, a measure of real output divided by numbers worked, jumped 4.9% during the July-through-September period, in line with expectations. However, unit labor costs, which measure productivity against compensation, tumbled 1.9%, far more than the consensus estimate for a 0.4% decline.
  • Initial unemployment claims for the week ended 1/3/26 totaled a seasonally adjusted 208,000, an increase of 8,000 from the prior period but just below the estimate for 210,000. Continuing claims, which run a week behind, rose by 56,000 to 1.91 million.

Thursday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 11 incliners, 27 decliners and 2 flats ending with a negative close of 7 incliners, 30 decliners and 3 flats

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Thursday closed at 15.47 after Wednesday’s 15.34, Tuesday’s 14.77, Monday closed at 14.91, Friday’s 14.46 and last Thursday being closed New Years Day

Metrics: Thursday …

  • The RUT was up +27.96 points or +1.09%,
  • The XLV was down -1.50 points or -0.94%,
  • The NBI was down -136.33 points or -2.29%;
  • The XBI was down -2.72 points or -2.15%
  • The IWM was up +2.80 or +1.10%;
  • The IBB was down -4.48 points or -2.53%,
  • The VIX was up +0.09 points or +0.59% at to 15.47`

 

Q1/26 – 1 holiday, 2 negative and 3 positive closes

Q4/25 …

  • December – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 14 negative closes
  • November – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 11 negative closes
  • October -1 neutral, 11 positive and 12 negative closes

 

Thursday Closing UP (7 of 7) 

  • Mesoblast (MESO +$0.61),
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.42 after Wednesday’s +$1.90 after Tuesday’s -$0.71 after Monday’s +$0.76),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$0.39),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.38),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.07),
  • Agenus (AGEN +$0.05),
  • Generation Bio (+$0.02)

Flat (3)

  • Adverum Biotechnologies ADVM) – acquired
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI),
  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN)

Thursday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 30): 

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$23.10 after Wednesday’s +$16.10 after Tuesday’s +$8.57 after Monday’s -$2.34),
  • Vertex (VRTX -$14.47 after Wednesday’s +$15.77 after Tuesday’s +$19.58 after Monday’s -$3.33),
  • Moderna (MRNA -$2.03),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$1.63 after Wednesday’s +$1.68 after Tuesday’s +$2.96 after Monday’s -$1.14),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$1.59 after Wednesday’s -$0.20 after Tuesday’s +$3.03 after Monday’s +$1.38),
  • BioNTech (BNTX -$1.23),
  • IQIA Holdings (IQV -$1.14 after Wednesday’s +$3.70 after Tuesday’s +$5.91 after Monday’s +$9.27),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ -$1.05 after Wednesday’s -$0.56),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.99 after Wednesday’s +$1.66 after Tuesday’s -$0.57 after Monday’s -$0.49),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$0.93),

 

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY

Indexes flop-flapped on Thursday as investors rotated out of tech as they took in fresh labor market data and contended with President Trump's diatribes on defense and Venezuela.

 

For all my … <some say> … RANTINGS, I say TRUTH … Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR) closed DOWN -$0.76 or -2.89% to $25.55 after Wednesday’s +$0.20 …

CAPR’s I-Banks are executing the “PUMP” to protect the offering share pricing – LOT of volume … 1.668 M share traded, institution driven … DON’T be distracted – Make a buck, CONTINUE the SELL of the overbought.

Right yet again, let's NOT set-up a PONZI schematic?

 

The recent profit-taking could also foreshadow some of the volatility ahead and …

  • RISK is always a factor remaining and … will boil-up under the surface until or as slight shocks rock the C&GT sector and markets!

As I had also written, cash is king for investors who want to keep some liquidity and avoid having to sell in a down market,

  • I would be following share pricing’s ascension on current biotech, cell and gene therapy sector upsides; so, some profiteering can be “situated” while maintaining a position, less elevated!

 

January – 2nd week’s session

  • 1/8 – Thursday closed negative with 7 incliners, 30 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/7 – Wednesday closed positive with 33 incliners, 4 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/6 – Tuesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1 /5 - Monday closed negative with 18 incliners, 21 decliners and 1 flat

January's first week:

  • 1 /2 - Friday closed positive with 18 incliners, 17 decliners and 5 flats
  • 1/1 -Thursday was a holiday, New Years Day

Last week of December, Q4 and FY25

  • 12/31 -Wednesday closed negative with 18 positive, 22 negative and 5 flats
  • Tuesday closed negative with 7 positive, 31 negative and 2 flats
  • Monday closed negative with 12 positive, 24 negative and 4 flats

 

As the leading voice of cell and gene therapy investors; I am NOT always a doom and gloom analyst/journalist but a man who has been “there” (BUY, SELL, VC and multiple operating roles) with the gray hair and a readership following with real numbers to prove it!

 

Why do I keep repeating, framed in a different para, so investors can make the connection

The top three (3) performing in the session:    Winners

  • Thursday: Mesoblast (MESO), AxoGen (AXGN) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA)
  • Wednesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Vertex (VRTX) and IQVIA Holdings (IQV),
  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR)
  • Monday: IQVIA Holdings (IQV), BioLife Solutions (BLFS), and Vericel (VCEL)

The worst three (3) in the session: Losers

  • Thursday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Vertex (VRTX) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Wednesday: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) and LENZ Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Tuesday: AxoGen (AXGN), Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE) and Entrada Therapeutics (TRDA)
  • Monday: Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR), Vertex (VRTX) and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR)

 

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.