September 21, 2015 5:40pm

 

Truth is stranger than fiction. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ composite both struggled to hold earlier gains of more than 1% as biotech stocks plunged on renewed attention on controversy over large price increases on certain drugs.

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Stocks mention in the closing bell report: Capricor (CAPR), Mesoblast ADR (USOTC: MBLTY), uniQure (QURE), StemCells (STEM), Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS), ImmunoCellular (NYSEMKT: IMUC), bluebird bio (BLUE), Intrexon (XON), Juno (JUNO), Kite Pharma (KITE), Athersys (ATHX), BioLife Solutions (BLFS), Cellectis ADR (CLLS), Organovo (ONVO), Vericel (VCEL), Regenxbio (RGNX), BioTime (NYSEMKT: BTX),  Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) and Stemline (STML)

 

 

Most of the major indexes picked up steam in the last hour of trading to close with decent gains Monday, though well off their intraday highs. The Dow rose 0.8% and the S&P 500 rose 0.5%. The NASDAQ managed to eke out a fractional gain after spending some time in the red, as biotechs got hammered.  Volume was lower across the board, as expected, after Friday's quadruple witching.

The NASDAQ closed barely UP +1.73 or +0.04% to 4,828.96 and the DOW was also UP +125.61 or +0.77% to 16,510.19.

 

 

Pre-open:

 

 

Research notes:

 

 

 

 

BOD and C-suite:

 

 

 

A day in the life of the stem, cell and gene therapy RegMed SCGT & RM sector and market:

A very nervous market, when any … news can influence the stem, cell, gene therapy regenerative sector (SCGT&RM)!

  • Reiterating, sentiment is not the only driving force behind “our” universe. There are many other factors to consider, such as seasonality, supply and demand, historical patterns but, specifically the lack of actionable news and supporting clinical data!
  • The stem, cell, gene therapy and regenerative medicine (SCGT & RM) equities opened with a positive A/DL of 22/17 and 3 flats followed by a negative mid-day A/DL of 7/34 and 1 flat.
  • The 3 pm hour solidified a negative A/DL of 5/36 and 1 flat culminating in Monday’s tumultuous close of a negative A/DL of 6/35 and 1 flat. 

The iShares NASDAQ biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell more than 5% by 2 pm and closed down 4.48% for its worst day since last 12/23/14.

  • The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded below 22.

 

 

Dosing the sector – 43 Patients:

  • Open: POSITIVE with 18 decliners, 22 advancers and 3 flats;
  • 1st hour (10:30 am): NEGATIVE 23 decliners, 19 advancers and 1 flat;
  • 2nd hour (11:30 am): NEGATIVE with 29 decliners, 12 advancers and 2 flats;
  • Mid-day (12:30 0m) NEGATIVE with 35 decliners, 7 advancers and 1 flats;
  • 3 pm: NEGATIVE with 37 decliners, 5 advancers and 1 flat;
  • Closing bell: NEGATIVE with 36 decliners, 6 advancers and 1 flat

 

 

Monday’s pre-open <daily prognostications> Indications:  4 hits / 6 miss – review the findings and pricing!  Take the credit when due, but also admit ones miscues:

  • Athersys (ATHX) closed DOWN – miss;
  • bluebird bio (BLUE) closed DOWN – miss;
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS) closed DOWN – hit;
  • Capricor (CAPR) closed UP +$0.16 after being +$0.31 – still a miss;
  • Cellectis ADR (CLLS) closed DOWN – hit;
  • Intrexon (XON) closed DOWN – hit;
  • Organovo (ONVO) closed DOWN – miss;
  • Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) closed DOWN – miss;
  • uniQure (QURE) closed DOWN – miss;
  • Vericel (VCEL) closed FLAT – hit;

 

 

The week’s indexes in review:

  • The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) closed DOWN on Monday -16.29 or – 4.57% after Friday’s decline of -5.74 or -1.58%;
  • The Russell 2000 (IWM) closed DOWN -0.21 or -0.18% on Monday after Friday’s decline of -1.62 or -1.38% %;
  • The SPDR SD&P Biotech ETF (XBI) closed DOWN -4.28 or -5.39% on Monday after Friday’s decline of -0.26 or -0.33%;
  • The CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX) closed Monday below 22 after Friday’s above 22

 

 

A comparison of the closing bell patterns of advance/decline lines:

  • Last, Monday: 20/18;
  • Tuesday: 32/10;
  • Wednesday: 23/19;
  • Thursday: 30/9;
  • Friday: 27/15;
  • Today, Monday: 6/35

 

 

Who is down – lowest 5?

  • bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$13.70 to $127.44;
  • Juno Therapeutics (JUNO) -$4.76 to $38.74;
  • Kite Pharma (KITE) -$4.68 to $61.26;
  • uniQure (QURE) -$4.32 to $29.09;
  • Intrexon (XON) closed down -$2.53 to $47.38;

 

 

Who was UP – the only “6’:

  • Caladrius (CLBS) closed up+$0.09 to $1.88;
  • Capricor (CAPR) +$0.16 <at one point was +$0.31> to $4.50;
  • BioTime (NYSEMKT: BTX) +$0.03 to $3.61;
  • StemCells (STEM) +$0.02 to $0.53;
  • ImmunoCellular (NYSEMKT: IMUC) +$0.0148 to $0.48;
  • Stemline (STML) closed up+$0.01 to $11.12

 

 

Who is flat?

  • Vericel (VCEL) at $3.15

 

 

I bring fresh perspectives that yield a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts as I convey a spectrum of factors that explain outcomes, analytical principles and analysis without the encumbrance of I-Banking.

 

The facts stated and the opinions given in this publication are based on data and information considered to be reliable and have been carefully worked into my analyses and prognoses. However, no guarantee can be given as to their fairness, accuracy or completeness.

Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities as referred to in this publication.