February 27, 2026 4:57pm

The producer price index (PPI), a gauge of wholesale inflation, rose 0.5% in January.

As mostly unusual, the C&GT sector dives after many econ releases

Pre-open Indication Results: 5 Hits and 1 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!

Last session of February, TGIF

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 – facts in evidence!  I’m NOT at all writing a doom-and-gloom predictions as I am more frequently right than consequentially wrong; I am mostly EARLY in my prognostications!

Friday’s Update: RMi Pre-opening: more econs … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14331

 

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

 

Friday: The Dow closed DOWN -521.28 points or -1.05%, the S&P closed DOWN -29.98 points or -0.43% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -210.1711 points or -0.92%

  • Theme of the session: hotter than expected inflation and Ai concerns

Friday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 13 incliners, 23 decliners and 4 flats, ending with a negative close of 12 incliners, 26 decliners and 2 flats

  • For the month of February, the Dow rose 0.17% for the month, the Nasdaq dived -3.3% and S&P 500 declined 0.86%.

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

  • January’s PPI (producer price index) showed a 0.5% increase for the month. Economists expected 0.3%. Perhaps more concerning is that the core PPI reading, which excludes food and energy prices, recorded a 0.8% gain, much more than the 0.3% rise economists anticipated.

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Friday closed at 19.90, after Thursday’s 18.62, Wednesday’s 17.89, Tuesday’s 19.61, Monday’s 21.01 and last Friday’s 19.11

Metrics: Friday …

  • The RUT was down -44.93 points or -1.68%,
  • The XLV was up +2.78 points or +1.77%,
  • The NBI was up +53.57 points or +0.89%;
  • The XBI was down -0.30 points or -0.23%
  • The IWM was down -4.58 or -1.72%;
  • The IBB was up +1.49 points or +0.86%,
  • The VIX was up +1.27 points or +0.86% at to 19.90

 

Q1/26 February – 1 market holiday, 8 negative and 11 positive sessions

  • January – 2 holidays, 2 neutral, 9 negative and 9 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

 

Friday Closing UP (12 of 12) 

  • Vertex (VRTX +$16.70 after Thursday’s -$2.70 after Wednesday’s -$4.60 after Tuesday’s +$6.42 after Monday’s +$4.11),
  • IQIA Holdings (IQV +$8.28 after Thursday’s +$8.66 after Wednesday’s -$3.80 after Tuesday’s +$2.56 after Monday’s -$3.51),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$1.86 after Thursday’s +$0.34 after Wednesday’s +$0.85),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$1.72),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$1.68 after Thursday’s +$4.10 after Wednesday’s -$5.71 after Tuesday’s +$3.50 after Monday’s -$6.84 after Friday’s -$3.18),
  • BioNTech (BNTX +$1.43 after Thursday’s -$1.04 after Wednesday’s +$1.05 after Tuesday’s +$0.96 after Monday’s -$0.21),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$0.55 after Thursday’s -$0.33 after Wednesday’s -$4.52 after Tuesday’s +$0.85 after Monday’s +$1.45),
  • Rocket Pharmaceuticals (RCKT +$0.48),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE +$0.35)
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$0.29),
  • Prime Medicine (PRME +$0.24),
  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR +$0.04 after Thursday’s -$0.46 after Wednesday’s +$0.44)

Flat (2)

  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN)
  • Generation Bio (GBIO) – acquired

Friday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 26): 

  • Vericel VCEL -$2.00 after Thursday’s +$0.59 after Wednesday’s -$1.16 after Tuesday’s $0.00),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$1.60 after Thursday’s +$6.54 after Wednesday’s -$1.57 after Tuesday’s +$2.79 after Monday’s +$0.52 after Friday’s -$1.18),
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$1.48 after Thursday’s -$7.70 after Wednesday’s +$0.79 after Tuesday’s -$0.43 after Monday’s +$1.03),
  • Wave Life Sciences (WVE -$1.43 after Thursday’s +$0.82 after Wednesday’s +$0.52),
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$1.07),
  • Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN -$1.02 after Thursday’s -$0.57 after Wednesday’s +$3.02 after Tuesday’s +$2.61 after Monday’s -$0.17),
  • Entrada Therapeutics (TRDA -$0.86 after Thursday’s +$0.81 after Wednesday’s +$0.50),
  • Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT -$0.69),
  • Dyne Therapeutics (DYN -$0.57 after Thursday’s $0.00),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$0.50 after Thursday’s +$0.86),

 

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY

End of February, a volatile month with mixed results as the (C&GT) cell and gene therapy sector Q4 and FY25 earnings deluge continues.

  • Today’s hit after a measure of wholesale inflation (PPI) came in hotter than expected and Block's (XYZ) surprise shakeup turned the spotlight on AI disruption risks.

The Dow barely eked out a gain in February, keeping its 9-month winning streak intact, with the Dow rising +0.17% for the month, while the Nasdaq dived -3.3% and S&P 500 declined 0.86%.

  • February ended with another tech sell-off led by software, as the iShares software ETF (IGV) dropped roughly 10% for the month after probing last summer's lows earlier this week.

The Fed is challenging 2 subpoenas for US Attorney Pirro’s criminal investigation into Fed Chair Powell, <Wall Street Journal>.

  • The arguments are sealed, so the fight is taking place outside of the public eye due to secrecy rules that apply to grand jury investigations.

More earnings this week and coming… Earnings release dates: soon to be catching up

  • Tuesday - 2/24 – AxoGen (AXGN), Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) and Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN)
  • Wednesday – 2/25 – MiMedx (MDXG), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT)
  • Thursday – 2/26 – Rocket pharmaceuticals (RCKT), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), Wave Life Sciences (WVE), Vericel (VCEL) and BioLife Solutions (BLFS)

 

RISK is always a factor remaining below the surface …  boiled-up as slight shocks of profiteering on upsides shook but not rocked 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,

 

February – 4th week

  • 2/27 – Friday closed negative with 12 incliners, 26 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/26 – Thursday closed positive with 24 incliners, 14 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/25 -Wednesday closed positive with 20 incliners, 19 decliners and 1 flat
  • 2/24 - Tuesday closed positive with 32 incliners, 5 decliners and 3 flats
  • 2/23 - Monday closed positive with 24 incliners, 13 decliners and 3 flats

February – 3rd week

  • 2/20 - Friday closed negative with 13 incliners, 26 decliners and 1 flat
  • 2/19 – Thursday closed positive with 25 incliners, 12 decliners and 3 flats
  • 2/18 - Wednesday closed positive with 30 incliners, 8 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/17 – Tuesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/16 – Monday was market holiday

February – 2nd week

  • 2/13 - Friday closed positive with 24 incliners, 14 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/12 – Thursday closed negative with 7 incliners, 33 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/11 - Wednesday closed negative with 12 incliners, 25 decliners and 3 flats
  • 2/10 - Tuesday closed negative with 19 incliners, 20 decliners and 1 flat
  • 2/9 -Monday closed positive with 23 incliners, 14 decliners and 3 flats

February – 1st week

  • 2/6 – Friday closed positive with 35 incliners, 5 decliners and 0 flat
  • 2/5 -Thursday closed negative with 2 incliners, 36 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/4 -Wednesday closed negative with 10 incliners, 29 decliners and 1 flat               
  • 2/3 -Tuesday closed negative with 18 incliners, 21 decliners and 1 flat      
  • 2/2 -Monday closed positive with 29 incliners, 10 decliners and 1 flat

 

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

  • Friday: Vertex (VRTX), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Thursday: IQIA Holdings (IQV), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)
  • Wednesday: Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN), Moderna (MRNA) and uniQure NV (QURE)
  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)  
  • Monday: Vertex (VRTX), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and uniQure NV (QURE)

The worst three (3) in the session: Losers

  • Friday: Vericel (VCEL), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) and UniQure NV (QURE)
  • Thursday: uniQure NV (QURE), Vertex (VRTX) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT)
  • Wednesday: Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), Vertex (VRTX) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)
  • Tuesday: AxoGen (AXGN), uniQure NV (QURE), and BioLife Solutions (BLFS)
  • Monday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT)

 

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.