Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now

Why try to beat 'em if you can just buy 'em? That's the approach that Questcor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: QCOR  ) is taking. The biotech announced today that it has acquired rights to develop Syncathen and�Synacthen Depot in the U.S. from�Novartis (NYSE: NVS  ) . Questcor is paying $60 million up front and at least $75 million over the next few years, plus potential milestone payments. Shares were up nearly 25% in early trading.

What it means
Questcor appears to be playing both defense and offense with this move. On the defensive front, buying rights to Synacthen makes a lot of sense. Synacthen is a synthetic version of adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, which is the active ingredient in Acthar.

There's at least one big difference between Acthar and Synacthen, though. Questcor charges $28,000 per vial for Acthar. Synacthen Depot sells for around 3% of the cost of Acthar. You read that right -- Acthar costs 30 times more than the its synthetic rival.

Top 5 Machinery Companies To Invest In Right Now: Juno Therapeutics Inc (JUNO)

Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (Juno) is a United States-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in developing cell-based cancer immunotherapies based on its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and high-affinity T cell receptor (TCR), technologies to genetically engineer T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. Through genetic engineering, the Company inserts a gene for a particular CAR or TCR construct into the T cell that enables it to better recognize cancer cells. Its CAR technology directs T cells to recognize cancer cells based on the expression of specific proteins located on the cell surface, whereas its TCR technology provides the T cells with a specific T cell receptor to recognize protein fragments derived from either the surface or inside the cell.

To provide treatment, the Company harvests blood cells from a cancer patient, separate the appropriate T cells, activate the cells, insert the gene sequence for the CAR or TCR construct into the cells��Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), and grow these modified T cells to the desired dose level. The modified T cells can then be infused into the patient or frozen and stored for later infusion. Once infused, the T cells are designed to multiply, through a process known as cell expansion, when they encounter the targeted proteins and to kill the targeted cancer cells.

CD19-Directed Product Candidates

The Company�� product candidates, such as JCAR015, JCAR017, and JCAR014, which use CAR technology to target CD19, a protein expressed on the surface of almost all B cell leukemias and lymphomas. The Company has rights to commercialize each of these product candidates across the world. The Company�� JCAR015 is an advanced development product candidate, and it has demonstrated clinically meaningful complete remission rates in adult patients with r/r ALL. JCAR015 uses the CD28 costimulatory domain and CD3 enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which requires fewer process steps for! manufacture than its defined cell composition product candidates. JCAR015 is being tested in a Phase I open label clinical trial of patients with r/r ALL for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

JCAR017 also targets CD19, but differs from JCAR015 in several important respects. JCAR017 uses the 4-1BB costimulatory domain and a defined cell composition of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. JCAR017 is in development for pediatric patients with r/r ALL. JCAR017 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial in pediatric r/r ALL.

JCAR014 also targets CD19. JCAR014 uses the 4-1BB costimulatory domain and is composed of CD8+ central memory T cells and CD4+ T cells in a defined ratio. JCAR014 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II trial as a treatment for a number of B cell malignancies in patients relapsed or refractory to standard therapies.

Additional Product Candidates

The Company is exploring the potential of its CAR and TCR technologies against targets that have the potential to treat cancers not targeted by CD19-directed products, in particular, difficult-to-treat solid organ tumors, such as certain breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers, as well as B cell malignancies that do not express CD19. The Company�� CD22 is a cell surface protein widely expressed on B lymphocytes. It is expressed by B cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin�� lymphoma (NHL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Company�� L1CAM, also known as CD171, is a cell-surface adhesion molecule that plays an important role in the development of a normal nervous system. It is overexpressed in neuroblastoma, and there is increasing evidence of aberrant expression in a variety of solid organ tumors, including glioblastoma and lung, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers.

The Company�� MUC-16 is a protein overexpressed in the ovarian cancers, but not on the surface of normal ovary cells. CA-125 is a protein found in the ! blood of ! ovarian cancer patients that results from the cleavage of MUC-16. CA-125 levels in the blood are a common test for ovarian cancer progression because they correlate with cancer progression. Its MUC-16/IL-12 product candidate uses its armored CAR technology. IL-12 is a cytokine that can help overcome the inhibitory effects that the tumor micro-environment can have on T cell activity.

The Company�� ROR-1 is a protein expressed in the formation of embryos, but in normal adult cells its surface expression is predominantly found at low levels on adipocytes, or fat cells, and briefly on precursors to B cells, or pre-B cells, during normal B cell maturation. ROR-1 is overexpressed on a variety of cancers including a subset of non-small cell lung cancer, triple negative breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. It is expressed on B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma. The Company�� high-affinity TCR T cell product candidate targets WT-1, an intracellular protein that is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including adult myeloid leukemia, or AML, and non-small cell lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap cancer drug stock Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE) has surged after announcing a�strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN)�involving Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) ��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock, which had an IPO last June,�along with potential peers�Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: BLCM) and Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) which are players in the CAR therapies space and had more recent IPOs.

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Cadus Corp (KDUS)

Cadus Corporation (Cadus), incorporated in January 23, 1992, has a wholly owned subsidiary, Cadus Technologies, Inc. (the Subsidiary), which holds all patents, patent applications, know how, licenses and drug discovery technologies of the Company. The Company maintains all its strains, as well as a biological database that catalogues its collection of cells, cell lines, yeast strains and genetic engineering tools. This database has approximately 30,000 entries, which include the phenotype and the genotype of the cell or yeast strain and its storage site. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no internal or external drug discovery operations.

Yeast

The Company has developed technologies based on yeast that are useful in identifying drug discovery candidates targeted at G Protein-coupled receptors. Yeast is a single-celled microorganism that is used to make bread, beer and wine. Both yeast and human cells consist of a membrane, an intracellular region and a nucleus containing genes. The genes in yeast express proteins, including cell-surface receptors, such as G Protein-coupled receptors and signaling molecules, such as protein kinases, that are similar to human proteins.

Hybrid Yeast Cells

The Company developed a technology to insert human genes into yeast cells to create hybrid yeast cells. Its scientists created hybrid yeast cells by replacing yeast G Protein-coupled receptor genes and certain signaling molecules with their human equivalents. As a result, these hybrid yeast cells express a human G Protein-coupled receptor and a portion of its signaling pathway. These hybrid yeast cells can be used to identify those compounds that act as agonists or antagonists to that receptor or a molecule that is in its signaling pathway. The Company designed and developed more than 25 thousand genetically different yeast strains that can be used to build hybrid yeast cells (the Yeast System).

The Company competes with Glaxo Smith Kline, Plc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon] cash producing business like ADDvantage (AEY) that happens to be overcapitalized. I'd much rather own a business with real earnings rather than wait for something to happen with a pile of cash.

  My question is this: How cheap is cheap enough? Clearly (to me), George Risk (RSKIA) is cheap at or even just above book value. It's a darn good business so I'm getting high quality assets and earnings power. That gets less clear when looking at lower quality businesses.

  For example:

  Solitron (SODI) sells at 74% of NCAV, has decent z- and f-scores, a FCF margin of 5.3% and an ROA of 12%.

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA)

Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, incorporated on March 14, 1969, is an anti-infective drug development company, with key expertise in respiratory diseases, particularly influenza. Biota developed the neuraminidase inhibitor, zanamivir, subsequently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Relenza. The Company�� researches include a series of candidate drugs aimed at treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections. In addition, Biota and Daiichi Sankyo co-own a range of second generation influenza anti-virals, of which the lead product lnavir, is approved for marketing in Japan.

The Company�� products include Zanamivir, Inavi, Phoslyra, BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B. Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza marketed as Relenza by GlaxoSmithKline. Inavi (laninamivir) is a neuraminidase inhibitor marketed by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan. Phoslyra is a phosphate binder indicated to reduce serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B are influenza diagnostic tests, which are marketed by Inverness Medical as part of their BioStar product range.

Relenza is delivered directly to the primary site of infection on the lungs, using a Disk Inhaler device. Relenza is approved in over 50 countries for the treatment of influenza, including in the United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia. Relenza is also approved for use as a preventative (prophylactic) treatment against influenza. Inavir is approved for sale in Japan for the treatment of influenza in adults and children. Daiichi Sankyo has applied to sell Inavir in Japan for the prevention of influenza.

PhosLo and Phoslyra are different dose forms of calcium acetate; a phosphate binder approved in multiple countries for the control of hyperphosphatemia (high serum phosphate) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). PhosLo and Pho! slyra were sold to Fresnius Medical Care. Biota, together with its Japanese based partner, Daiichi Sankyo, have developed an inhaled antiviral compounds for influenza, called long acting inhaled neuraminidase inhibitors (LANI). Biota's human rhinovirus (HRV) drug for the prevention and treatment of the causes of the common cold, BTA798, has completed Phase I, Phase IIa and Phase IIb clinical trials.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) Reached the 3-year Low of $2.42

  The prices of Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $2.42, which is 93.3% off the 3-year high of $34.92.

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Oncolytics Biotech Inc (ONCY)

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Oncolytics), incorporated on April 2, 1998, is a development-stage company. The Company is focused on its research and development of REOLYSIN, which is its cancer therapeutic. REOLYSIN is developed from the reovirus. This virus has been demonstrated in tumour cells bearing an activated Ras pathway. Oncolytics is directing a clinical trial program with the focus of developing REOLYSIN as a human cancer therapeutic. The clinical program includes clinical trials, which it sponsors directly along with Third Party Clinical Trials. Third Party Clinical Trials are clinical trials that are being sponsored by other institutions. As of December 31, 2011, the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI), the University of Leeds and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio (CTRC) were sponsoring part of its clinical trial program.

The Company�� clinical trial program has included human trials using REOLYSIN alone, and in combination with radiation and chemotherapy, and delivered via local administration and/or intravenous administration. Oncolytics uses contract toll manufacturers to produce REOLYSIN. On December 31, 2011, the Company had two wholly owned subsidiaries, Oncolytics Biotech (Barbados) Inc. (OBB) and Valens Pharma Ltd. Oncolytics Biotech (US) Inc. and Oncolytics Biotech (U.K.) are wholly owned subsidiaries of OBB.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  With this in mind, I feel it'd be prudent of biotech-savvy investors to give Oncolytics Biotech (NASDAQ: ONCY  ) a closer look.

  The big risks
  I'm quite aware that there are a lot factors that'd raise a red flag with Oncolytics. Similar to Affymax, you could say that Oncolytics has put all of its eggs in one basket with its lead experimental drug, reolysin. According to Oncolytics' website, including its U.K., Canadian, and U.S. studies, reolysin as either a monotherapy or combination therapy is the basis for all 31 clinical trials! Obviously, if reolysin proves ineffective or unsafe, Oncolytics is going to be a world of hurt.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  T-VEC is not your traditional biologic drug. It is actually a bioengineered form of the herpes virus that, once injected into cancerous tumors, replicates, and produces an immune-stimulating protein that puts a bulls eye on cancer cells throughout the body. Despite its promise and intriguing mechanism of action, T-VEC is not in further development at Amgen. However, Oncolytics (NASDAQ: ONCY  ) has shown promising results for its bioengineered form of reovirus called Reolysin. Initial phase 3 results showed that 86% of patients taking the drug had reduced tumor mass or growth after six weeks of treatment. �

• [By John Udovich]

  The biotech sector along with small cap biotech stocks Cardiome Pharma Corp (NASDAQ: CRME), Oncolytics Biotech, Inc (NASDAQ: ONCY), Vital Therapies Inc (NASDAQ: VTL) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) have all been producing their share of news this week for investors and traders alike to trade on. Moreover and while some 42 ��ife sciences��companies have gone public raising about $3 billion from investors so far this year, there are a growing number of biotechs pulling the plug on upcoming IPOs who are citing market conditions. With that in mind, here is a look at important news from the biotech sector and small cap biotech stocks this week:

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (ICPT)

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on September 4, 2002, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat chronic liver diseases utilizing its bile acid chemistry.The Company�� product candidates treat orphan and more prevalent liver diseases for which there are limited therapeutic solutions. The Company�� product candidate, obeticholic acid, or OCA, is a bile acid analog, a chemical substance that has a structure based on a naturally occurring human bile acid. It is developing OCA initially for primary biliary cirrhosis, or PBC, as a second line treatment for patients who have an inadequate response to or who are unable to tolerate standard of care therapy and therefore need additional treatment. The Company is conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial of OCA in PBC, which it calls the POISE trial, that serves as the basis for seeking regulatory approval in the United States and Europe. As of December 19, 2012, the Company completed enrollment of the POISE trial with 217 patients.

The Company�� clinical focus is on the development of OCA, orally administered, first-in-class FXR agonist that has broad liver-protective properties and may a variety of chronic insults to the liver that cause fibrosis, which can eventually lead to cirrhosis, liver transplant and death. The Company owns worldwide rights to OCA outside of Japan and China, where it has licensed the compound to Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, or DSP, and granted it an option to license OCA in certain other Asian countries.The Company is sponsoring an independent study involving more than ten leading PBC centers in North America and Europe, or collectively the Global PBC Study Group, that are pooling their long-term patient data to evaluate the relationship between biochemical and clinical endpoints.

The Company competes with Eli Lilly, Exelixis, Inc., Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, , Johnson & Johnson, NovImmune SA, Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, Galmed Medical Researc! h Ltd., Immuron Ltd., Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., NasVax Ltd. , Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. Astellas Pharma US, Inc., AstraZeneca, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Tioga Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Shares of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ICPT) got a boost, shooting up 62.40 percent to $452.02. Citigroup lifted the price target on the stock from $60.00 to $400.00, while Bank of America raised the price target from $81.00 to $872.00.