Out of the Red and into the Black: John McCamant on Investment in Blood Cancer Companies
Source: George S. Mack of The Life Sciences Report  (10/25/12)
Hematological cancers present special opportunities for investors. In this exclusive interview with The Life Sciences Report, John McCamant, editor of the Medical Technology Stock Letter, comments on several companies in the hematology/oncology space, describing the challenges and successes that influence investment in the sector. In the case of two companies with very different valuations, McCamant makes his preference clear. More >

Qsymia Uptake Slow, Steady, but Will It Win Obesity Race?
Source: Catherine Shaffer, BioWorld  (10/23/12)
"Dark horse Contrave has gained some ground through faster patient accrual and negotiations by its maker, Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., with the FDA for faster resubmission of its new drug application." More >

AstraZeneca, Ironwood Partner on IBS Drug in China
Source: Associated Press  (10/23/12)
"The agreement calls for AstraZeneca to give an upfront payment of $25M to Ironwood. The companies will split net profits and losses in China on the drug." More >

Exercise Makes You Smarter
Source: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News  (10/23/12)
"It seems the increase in blood flow to the brain that accompanies exercise can directly boost brain function." More >

Aspirin May Slow Decline in Mental Capacity Among Elderly Patients, Swedish Study Suggests
Source: ScienceDaily  (10/22/12)
"In addition to preventing heart disease, acetylsalicylic acid has been shown to be effective against cancer according to several scientific studies. It is common practice in many countries to treat women at risk for heart disease with a small dose of acetylsalicylic acid." More >

Adult Stem Cells: Cashing in on the New Fountain of Youth
Source: Michael Robinson, Money Morning  (10/22/12)
"I believe we are not far from the day when we could all live to 100. . .and, more to the point, enjoy it." More >

Q3 Biotech Venture Investing Makes a Boisterous Leap
Source: FierceBiotech, John Carroll  (10/19/12)
"Using the figures provided by Thomson Reuters, the quarterly report concluded that total life sciences venture deals topped $1.7B in 181 deals in the third quarter—a bit more than a quarter of all investments tracked during the period." More >

Fat Cells Help Tumors Grow
Source: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News  (10/17/12)
"Understanding the major mechanisms through which obesity drives cancer risk is important to coming up with therapeutic strategies on how to break these links, says Dr. Mikhail Kolonin." More >

Cancer Stem Cells: Just Hype or Hope for New Therapies?
Source: Peter Winter, BioWorld  (10/15/12)
"The panelists said that cancer stem cells have moved well beyond hype, with meaningful and positive early-stage clinical results being reported. The early data point to the prospect of exciting new future cancer therapies." More >

Personalized Genomic Medicine: How Much Can It Really Empower Patients?
Source: ScienceDaily  (10/15/12)
"Genomic medicine's stakeholders—including direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies, private research centers, and the National Institutes of Health—are deeply invested in promoting how this information will benefit patients." More >

Casey Analyst Forecasts Explosive Biotech Growth
Source: Streetwise Staff  (10/11/12)
The myth of technology, whether for smartphones or cancer treatments, is that the next big thing appears suddenly and magically. Casey Research Analyst Alex Daley sets the record straight in this exclusive interview with The Life Sciences Report. While the science of genetic medicine has accelerated the process of turning magical thinking into practical medicine, Daley cautions investors in biotech and medical device companies to be patient, and names companies with innovative technologies poised for explosive growth. More >

Special Report: Highlights from BioX
Source: Rahul Jasuja, Noble Financial Capital Markets  (10/10/12)
The first BioX Life Sciences Exposition, hosted in late September by Noble Financial Capital Markets, included a slate of seminars that explored innovation in the biotech industry, including the fields of regenerative medicine, targeted oncology and immunotherapy. Rahul Jasuja, managing director of biotechnology research with Noble Financial, moderated the targeted oncology and immunotherapy panels, and provided these exclusive summaries to The Life Sciences Report. More >

BIO Investor Forum: The New Kids on the Biotech Block
Source: BiotechNOW, Marissa Maybee  (10/10/12)
"The panel highlighted companies that have secured financing from creative sources, like patient advocacy groups and venture philanthropists, as well as companies that have negotiated nondilutive financing from traditional pharmas and VCs using innovative deal strategies." More >

How a Mosquito’s Sting Could Spread Health
Source: Josh Grasmick, Penny Sleuth  (10/9/12)
"How in the world could this little pest affect your life, other than whiz in your ear, suck your blood, inflict an itchy bite, transfer a deadly disease. . .or meet a justified smack? And how could it play a role in the marketplace?" More >

Pick Biotech Winners Like a Pro: John McCamant
Source: George S. Mack of The Life Sciences Report  (10/4/12)
John McCamant, editor of the Medical Technology Stock Letter, doesn't care if a scientist or a businessperson is at the helm of a biotech company, as long as management has skill and broad experience. Investors need to look for companies that offer "specifics, catalysts and deliverables." He names exactly that kind of company in this exclusive Life Sciences Report interview. More >

The Top Phase 3 Disasters of 2012
Source: Fierce Biotech, John Carroll  (10/3/12)
"Drug development is a tough business. Sometimes, just when you think you're getting to the pot at the end of the rainbow, you find the trap door one step away." More >

Better Lucky than Good
Source: Severine Kirchner, Penny Sleuth  (10/1/12)
"It took serendipity, a groundbreaking discovery and 25 years of hard work, but RNAi-based therapies are finally moving from concept to reality." More >

Illumina Aims at Roche for Tests Seen Worth $25B
Source: Bloomberg, Michelle Fay Cortez  (9/28/12)
"Illumina Inc. bought BlueGnome Ltd. for an undisclosed sum, its first foray into the diagnostics market. Life Technologies Corp. is also after small diagnostic businesses, most recently Navigenics Inc., which it acquired in July." More >

Can Stem Cells Regenerate Your Portfolio? Stephen Dunn Says Yes
Source: George S. Mack of The Life Sciences Report  (9/27/12)
Once the subject of intense political debate, stem cell therapies may soon be a therapeutic mainstay of healthcare. In this exclusive interview with The Life Sciences Report, LifeTech Capital's President and Senior Managing Director of Research Stephen Dunn explores the history of stem cell therapy and discusses companies that are reviving this "old" technique for profit. More >

For Most Biotechs, the Tough Times Continue
Source: Pharmalot, Ed Silverman  (9/25/12)
"The overall assumption continues to be that many biotech companies are finding it difficult to raise money, generate revenue and simply keep the lights on. But what is the reality? In some respects, the hard times continue, but the picture is a bit mixed." More >

Curing Diabetes with 'Self Cell Therapy'
Source: Patrick Cox, The Penny Sleuth   (9/24/12)
"One tiny company, incorporated in America but with roots in Israel, has what I believe will be an actual cure for many diabetics and a vastly improved therapy for those it does not cure completely." More >

Four Biotech Ideas with Legs to Run
Source: George S. Mack, The Life Sciences Report  (9/24/12)
I had an opportunity to ask George Zavoico a few questions for The Life Sciences Report. Zavoico is senior biotechnology analyst at the boutique investment bank, MLV & Co. He originally got his career underway as a research scientist and worked in big pharma at Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as small biotech firms Alexion Pharmaceuticals and T Cell Sciences (now Celldex Therapeutics). Zavoico is a guy loaded with knowledge about molecular biology, drug development and the needs of patients, and this was a great opportunity for me to get a few haunting esoteric questions off my mind. More >

A Cyber War on Cancer
Source: Alex Philippidis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News  (9/23/12)
"New strategies are hoping to put an end to the war that Richard Nixon declared four decades ago." More >

Three New Findings Change Our View of the Brain
Source: Michael Robinson, Era of Radical Change   (9/21/12)
"By solving the brain puzzle, we will rid mankind of many cruel diseases while making our physical world smarter and more in tune with the way our minds work." More >

ThinkEquity Analyst Bets on Extraordinary Science and Clinical Data
Source: George S. Mack of The Life Sciences Report  (9/20/12)
Investing in companies devoted to orphan diseases sounds counterintuitive, but Senior Research Analyst Kimberly Lee of ThinkEquity has singled out the space as one with the potential for huge returns. In this exclusive interview with The Life Sciences Report, Lee shares her very best ideas, identifying companies that will be propelled by vigorously growing revenues and will also appeal to investors who understand the unmet needs of patients and the numerous incentives available for developing life-saving drugs. More >