Technically, Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT ) has been around for decades. But the new Abbott Laboratories stock -- the one that no longer contains the drug division spun off as AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV ) -- has existed for only six months.
Seems like a good time for a checkup.
What's left?
After sending the drugs, including the world's best-selling drug, Humira, to AbbVie, Abbott is left with four divisions:
Uninteresting
The reason Abbott split off AbbVie was clear: Independently, Abbott Laboratories stock and AbbVie stock were supposed to grow faster than the combined company.
Top 10 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2015: Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc (PLX)
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its ProCellEx protein expression system, ProCellEx. Using its ProCellEx system, the Company is developing a pipeline of biosimilar or generic versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its plant cell-based expression technology, which focuses pharmaceutical markets and that rely upon known biological mechanisms of action. ProCellEx protein expression system consists of a set of technologies and capabilities for the development of recombinant proteins, including advanced genetic engineering technology and plant cell-based protein expression methods. Its ProCellEx protein expression system is built on flexible custom-designed bioreactors made of polyethylene and optimized for the development of complex proteins in plant cell cultures. In June 2010, it had completed the preliminary phase I clinical trial of PRX-105.
Taliglucerase Alfa
Taliglucerase alfa is a plant cell expressed recombinant glucocerebrosidase enzyme (GCD) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The Company has commenced pre-clinical studies of an oral form of taliglucerase alfa. Its oral taliglucerase alfa is a plant cell expressed form of GCD that is naturally encapsulated within carrot cells genetically engineered to express the GCD enzyme. Pre-clinical studies of oral taliglucerase alfa demonstrate the stability of the enzyme in the cell and the capacity of the cell�� cellulose wall to protect the enzyme against degradation in the digestive tract in an in-vitro model of the stomach and intestines. Additionally, rats fed with lyophilized carrot cells expressing GCD have accumulated the active enzyme in the target organs; the spleen and liver. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had completed Phase III Clinical Trial.
PRX-102
The Company is developing PRX-102, its plant cell expressed modified version of the recombinant ! alpha-GAL-A protein, a therapeutic enzyme for the treatment of Fabry disease. Fabry disease is a rare, hereditary, genetic lysosomal storage disorder in humans caused by an X-lined deficiency of the alpha-GAL-A enzyme. The Company is in the animal evaluation testing phase of the development of PRX-102, which tests are based on a mouse model for Fabry disease.
Acetylcholinesterase
Protalix Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company is licensed the rights to certain technology under a research and license agreement with Yissum Research and Development Company (Yissum) and the Boyce Thompson Institute, Inc. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is developing PRX-105, a plant cell-based acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its molecular variants for the use in several therapeutic and prophylactic indications, as well as in a biodefense program and an organophosphate-based pesticide treatment program.
As of December 31, 2010, its in-vitro experiments of PRX-105 have shown that the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in its ProCellEx protein expression system demonstrates biological activity on biochemical and cellular levels. In addition, early animal studies demonstrated that the acetylcholinesterase expressed in its ProCellEx protein expression system was able to treat animals exposed to the nerve gas agent analogues, both when injected with its acetylcholinesterase product candidate immediately before exposure or when injected after exposure. In March 2010, it initiated a preliminary phase I clinical trial of PRX-105, which the Company completed in June 2010.
pr-antiTNF
pr-antiTNF is a candidate for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing, spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis. The Company has designed the antiTNF as pr-antiTNF. pr-antiTNF is a plant cell-expressed recombinant fusion protein made from the soluble form of the human TNF receptor (TNFR), f! used to t! he Fc component of a human antibody domain. pr-antiTNF has an identical amino acid sequence to Enbrel and its in-vitro and preclinical animal studies have demonstrated that pr-antiTNF exhibits similar activity to Enbrel. Specifically, pr-antiTNF binds TNF thereby inhibiting it from binding to cellular surface TNF receptors and protects L929 cells from TNF-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.
The Company competes with Genzyme, Actelion, Crucell N.V., Biolex, Inc., Chlorogen, Inc., Greenovation Biotech GmbH, Symbiosys, Novartis AG/Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, BioGeneriX AG, Stada Arzneimittel AG, BioPartners GmbH and Teva.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
Other investors might wish that Pfizer would use some of its cash to acquire a few smaller companies. Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSEMKT: PLX ) has been mentioned as one possible candidate. The two companies already partner together on Gaucher disease drug Elelyso. In February, Protalix spurred rumors that Pfizer could be interested in buying the company after it announced that it had engaged Citigroup to pursue a "broad array of strategic alternatives."
Hot Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Acceleron Pharma Inc (XLRN)
Acceleron Pharma Inc., incorporated on June 13, 2003, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of protein therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases. The Company�� research focuses on the biology of the Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-b) protein superfamily, a large and diverse group of molecules that are key regulators in the growth and repair of tissues throughout the human body. By coupling its discovery and development expertise, including its knowledge of the TGF-b superfamily, with its internal protein engineering and manufacturing capabilities, it has built a productive research and development platform that has generated clinical and preclinical protein therapeutic candidates with mechanisms of action.
The Company focuses on discovering and developing protein therapeutics that target a group of approximately 30 secreted proteins, or ligands, that are collectively referred to as the TGF-b superfamily. These ligands bind to subsets of 12 different receptors on the surface of cells, triggering intra-cellular changes in gene expression that guide cell growth and differentiation. The TGF-b superfamily ligands and their receptors represent an under-explored and diverse set of drug targets with the potential to yield therapeutics that modulate the growth and repair of diseased cells and tissues.
The Company has three internally discovered protein therapeutic candidates that are being studied in 12 ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials, focused on cancer and rare diseases. The Company�� two advanced protein therapeutic candidates, sotatercept and ACE-536, promote red blood cell production through a novel mechanism. Together with its collaboration partner, Celgene Corporation, the Company is developing sotatercept and ACE-536 to treat anemia and associated complications in patients with b-thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). These red blood cell disorders are generally unresponsive to approved dru! gs. The Company�� third clinical stage protein therapeutic candidate, dalantercept, is designed to inhibit blood vessel formation through a mechanism that is distinct from, and potentially synergistic with, the dominant class of cancer drugs that inhibit blood vessel formation, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors. The Company is developing dalantercept primarily for use in combination with these products to produce better outcomes for cancer patients.
The Company and Celgene have conducted six human clinical trials with sotatercept in over 160 healthy volunteers and cancer patients. The Company has conducted one clinical trial with ACE-536 in healthy volunteers. In these studies, both sotatercept and ACE-536 caused a dose-dependent increase in the number of red blood cells. Based on these results, the Company and Celgene have initiated Phase II clinical trials with each of these protein therapeutic candidates in b-thalassemia and MDS. In the ongoing trial of sotatercept in patients with b-thalassemia, the Company has observed encouraging, dose-dependent increases in hemoglobin in a subset of patients at the two lowest dose levels.
Sotatercept is a soluble receptor fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the activin receptor type IIA (ActRIIA) linked to the Fc domain of human IgG1. Sotatercept acts as a protein trap for TGF-b superfamily ligands that signal through the ActRIIA receptor. Sotatercept has increased red blood cells in multiple clinical trials. ACE-536 is a soluble receptor fusion protein consisting of a modified extracellular domain of the activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) linked to the Fc domain of human IgG1.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
The biotech sector has been pretty exciting this year�with small cap biotech stocks Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) having recently produced noteworthy news for investors�while Acceleron Pharma, Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN), Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) and BIND Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BIND) have just�set term sheets for their upcoming IPOs. Just consider all of the following recent news:
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Acceleron Pharma (NASDAQ: XLRN) got a boost, shooting up 16.74 percent to $39.54 after Form 8-K for Acceleron Pharma showed that Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG) will buy 1.1 million shares for $47.15 million.
Hot Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc (ANIP)
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on April 11, 2001, is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing, and marketing branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals. In two facilities with combined manufacturing, packaging and laboratory capacity totaling 173, 00 square feet, the Company manufactures oral solid dose products, as well as liquids and topicals, including narcotics. Its other products include The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved testosterone gel, which is licensed to Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. In December 2013, the Company acquired 31 generic drug products from Teva Pharmaceuticals, which includes 20 solid-oral immediate release products, four extended release products and seven liquid products.
The Company performs contract manufacturing for other pharmaceutical companies. It has launched three products and has 11 products in development. The Company�� targeted areas of product development include narcotics, anti-cancers and hormones (potent compounds), and extended release niche generic product opportunities.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) has climbed 8.9% to $18.80 after it said it would buy 31 generic drugs from Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA). Teva’s shares are little changed in pre-open trading.
- [By Monica Gerson]
ANI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANIP) reported that it has bought 31 generic drug products from Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: TEVA) for $12.5 million in cash and a percentage of future gross profits. ANI Pharmaceuticals shares surged 5.14% to $18.00 in the after-hours trading session.
- [By Lisa Levin]
ANI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANIP) shares climbed 9.42% to $20.79. The volume of ANI Pharmaceuticals shares traded was 651% higher than normal. ANI Pharmaceuticals shares have jumped 121.45% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has surged 25.37% in the same period.
Hot Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Medizone International Inc (MZEI)
Medizone International, Inc. (Medizone), incorporated in January 31, 1986, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in research into the medical uses of ozone. Medizone focuses in the field of hospital sterilization. It is a research and development company engaged in developing its AsepticSure. The Company is developing an ozone-based technology (AsepticSure) for decontaminating and sterilizing hospital surgical suites, emergency rooms, and intensive care units.
The Company started hospital beta-testing of a prototype system utilizing the original technology. The first round of in-hospital beta-testing for this AsepticSure hospital disinfection system was completed at a Hotel Dieu hospital in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. In addition to the hospital disinfection system, it employs an ozone-destruct unit which is used following disinfection of the treated infrastructure to reverse the O3 gas in the space, and turn it back into O2 in a short period of time. The Company�� subsidiaries include Medizone Canada, Ltd. (MedCan). As of December 31, 2011, the Company had not generated any revenues.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Today, MZEI surged (+5.64%) up +0.0048 at $.0899 with 21,900 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 1:32PM EDT October 16, 2013).
Medizone International, Inc. previously reported that its WHO award-winning green infection control technology, AsepticSure has been Granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark office. (US 61/223,219) titled “Healthcare Facility Disinfecting System”. The AsepticSure infection control system has repeatedly demonstrated 100% microbial kill rates when used to decontaminate hospital rooms of the causative agents of HAI (hospital acquired infections).
“With patent protection now established in the United States, Canada and Singapore and pending applications in process for the 37 member countries of the EU as well as Korea, Japan, China, India, Brazil and Mexico, our patent momentum is clearly gaining strength,” stated Edwin Marshall, Medizone’s CEO.
Hot Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Echo Therapeutics Inc (ECTE)
Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (Echo), incorporated on September 10, 2007, is a transdermal medical device company. The Company is developing Prelude SkinPrep System (Prelude) as a technology to allow for painless and skin permeation that enable both analyte extraction and needle-free drug delivery. The Company is developing its Symphony CGM System (Symphony) as a non-invasive, wireless continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system for use in hospital critical care units and for people with diabetes. The Prelude SkinPrep System (Prelude), a component of its Symphony CGM System, allows for skin permeation that enables extraction of analytes such as glucose. Prelude�� platform skin preparation technology also allows for needle-free, transdermal drug delivery.
Symphony CGM System
The Symphony CGM System incorporates a Prelude skin preparation device, transdermal sensor, wireless transmitter and data display monitor. When the electro-chemical glucose sensor is placed on the prepared site, it uses glucose oxidase to generate a continuous current that is proportional to the concentration of blood glucose in the vessels beneath the epidermis. The signals are then wirelessly transmitted to a remote monitor. The monitor, calibrated periodically with a reference blood glucose measurement, converts the data to a glucose measurement based on the reference value. The monitor displays glucose readings and also contains customizable early-warning alarms for hypo- or hyperglycemia.
Prelude SkinPrep System
The Company is developing Prelude as a transdermal skin preparation device for Symphony to improve the access to the interstitial fluids and the flow of molecules across the protective membrane of the stratum corneum, the outmost protective layer of the skin. Prelude incorporates the Company's skin abrasion control technology into a hand-held device used to prepare a small area of the skin. The non-invasive sensor is applied to this prepared area in order to measure the in! terstitial glucose levels.
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
The Company�� specialty pharmaceuticals pipeline is based on itsAzone transdermal drug reformulation technology. AzoneTS is a nontoxic, nonirritating skin penetration that is intended to enable topical application of food and drug administration (FDA) -approved drugs, including pharmaceutical products that previously could only be administered systemically. Its advanced drug candidate is Durhalieve, an AzoneTS formulation of triamcinolone acetonide, medium potency corticosteroid approved by the FDA for treatment of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. AzoneTS increases lipid membrane fluidity in the stratum corneum layer of the skin, thereby decreasing resistance to topically applied therapeutics.
The Company competes with Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Abbott Laboratories , DexCom, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Optiscan Biomedical Corp., Medtronic, Glysure, Glumetrics Inc., Maquet and A. Menarini Diagnostics S.r.l.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
Truth be told, Echo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTE) doesn't look like a particularly impressive stock right now. At $2.92 per share, ECTE is just trading right around where it was a few days ago, not to mention a few weeks ago. And, without any real "news" from the company in months, it's tough to think the market's going to be getting excited about the stock anytime soon. When you take a closer look at Echo Therapeutics though, a few subtle-but-compelling clues start to appear.
Hot Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Galena Biopharma Inc (GALE)
Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Galena), formerly RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, incorporated on April 3, 2006, is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies addressing unmet medical needs using targeted biotherapeutics. The Company is pursuing the development of cancer therapeutics using peptide-based immunotherapy products, including its main product candidate, NeuVaxTM (E75), for the treatment of breast cancer and other tumors. NeuVax is a peptide-based immunotherapy intended to reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in low-to-intermediate HER2-positive breast cancer patients not eligible for trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech/Roche). On January 19, 2012, the Company initiated enrollment in its Phase 3 PRESENT clinical trial for NeuVax (E75 peptide plus GM-CSF) vaccine in low-to-intermediate HER2 1+ and 2+ breast cancer patients in the adjuvant setting to prevent recurrence (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01479244). The Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low to Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment study is a randomized, multicenter, multinational clinical trial that will enroll approximately 700 breast cancer patients. The Company�� Phase 2 trial of NeuVax achieved its primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS). On April 13, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition of Apthera, Inc.,(Apthera).
The Company focuses to start a Phase 2 trial comparing NeuVax in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) versus trastuzumab, alone, in a 300-patient, randomized study in the adjuvant breast cancer setting. The Company's second product candidate, Folate Binding Protein-E39 (FBP), is a vaccine, consisting of the peptides E39 and J65, aimed at preventing the recurrence of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers. On February 14, 2012, the Company announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in two gynecological cancers: ovarian and endometrial adenocarcinomas. Folate binding protein has ! very limited tissue distribution and expression in non-malignant tissue and is over-expressed in more than 90% of ovarian and endometrial cancers, as well as in 20% to 50% of breast, lung, colorectal and renal cell carcinomas.
In April 2011, the Company acquired Apthera Inc and its NeuVax product candidate. The Company focuses on developing a pipeline of immunotherapy product candidates for the treatment of various cancers based on the E75 peptide, the advanced of which is NeuVax, which is targeted at preventing the recurrence of breast cancer. NeuVax has had positive Phase 1/2 clinical trial results for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence in patients who have had breast cancer and received the standard of care treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy as indicated). The Company had also initiated its Phase 3 PRESENT clinical trial of NeuVax for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence in early-stage low-to-intermediate HER2 breast cancer patients. NeuVax directs killer T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells that express HER2/neu, a protein associated with epithelial tumors in breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colon, bladder and prostate cancers. NeuVax is comprised of a HER2/neu-derived peptide called E75. E75 is a nine-amino acid sequence that is immunogenic (produces an immune response) and GM-CSF is a commercially available protein that acts to stimulate and activate components of the immune system such as macrophages and dendritic cells.
The Company also develops novel applications for NeuVax based on preclinical studies and phases 2 clinical trials which suggest that combining NeuVax and trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech/Roche) can increase antigen presentation by tumor cells by promoting receptor internalization and subsequent proteosomal degradation of the HER2 protein. The Company also is pursuing additional therapeutic indications for NeuVax that are in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. RXI-109, is a dermal anti-scarring therapy that targets! connecti! ve tissue growth factor (CTGF) and that may inhibit connective tissue formation in human fibrotic disease.
The Company competes with Roche Laboratories, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Bayer HealthCare AG, Sanofi-Aventis, US, LLC, Amgen, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Renovo Group plc, CoDa Therapeutics, Inc., Sirnaomics, Inc., FirstString Research, Inc., Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Capstone Therapeutics, Halscion, Inc., Garnet Bio Therapeutics, Inc., AkPharma Inc., Promedior, Inc., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eyegene, Derma Sciences, Inc., Healthpoint Biotherapeutics, Pharmaxon, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Marina Biotech, Inc., Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., Benitec Limited, OPKO Health, Inc., Silence Therapeutics plc, Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rosetta Genomics Ltd., Lorus Therapeutics, Inc., Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Arrowhead Research Corporation, Regulus Therapeutics Inc. and Santaris.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
The waiting game
The tables are clearly stacked against small biotech companies developing cancer drugs. History has shown that few (if any) have successfully had the Food and Drug Administration approve a late-stage cancer drug. While mid-stage trials of Galena Biopharma's (NASDAQ: GALE ) HER2-targeting breast cancer vaccine have been promising thus far, the chances of an approval seem a long way off. - [By Michael Douglass and David Williamson]
Galena Biopharma� (NASDAQ: GALE ) announced this morning that it has licensed the rights to sell Zuplenz for $5 million in stock and cash, in addition to royalties, milestones, and an upfront payment.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the move: Galena Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: GALE) is down 15.4% at $1.93 after pricing a secondary offering of 17.5 million units at $2.00. Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) is up 6.1% at $28.21, after an analyst�� upgrade which sent shares to a new 52-week high of $28.88 earlier. Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR) is down 18.2% at $4.08.
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