There are literally hundreds of new drugs hitting the market each year. Why write about this particular drug? The drug bears discussion because it is the first one in 50 years to treat a disease called Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns against part of the body it is designated to protect. It causes debilitating joint pain, organ damage and skin rashes. Up to now the key medication used to treat Lupus are steroids.

A team of researchers from Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) headed by William Haseltine started looking at genes and their special functions. The problem was that there was no gene known to cause Lupus. So they started thinking outside the box. Instead of finding the gene first and then its function, they looked for the function then found the gene called BLyS that is elevated in Lupus. The new drug is called Benlysta.

Continue reading Pioneer Gene Research Yields New Treatment for Lupus

Pioneer Gene Research Yields New Treatment for Lupus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Fluor (FLR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Macy's (M) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Canadian Solar (CSIQ), JA Solar (JASO) and HeartWare (HTWR) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Ashford Hospitality (AHT) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• RenaissanceRe (RNR) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• DCT Industrial (DCT) to market perform from underperform at Wells Fargo.
• Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE) and Silver Standard (SSRI) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Weatherford (WFT), Hercules (HERO), GulfMark Offshore (GLF), Tidewater (TDW) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to buy from hold, and Diamond Offshore (DO) to hold from underperform, at Jefferies.
• Ritchie Bros. (RBA) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AstraZeneca (AZN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ...

Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup assumed coverage of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and upgraded shares to buy from hold with a $52 price target. Citi cites valuation and the company's successful execution for the rating change.
• UBS upgraded Rowan Companies (RDC) to buy from neutral based on better-than-expected dayrates in the high specification jack-up market. The firm raised its price target to $42 from $28.
• UBS also upgraded NetLogic (NETL) to buy from neutral and keeps a $33.50 target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and solid long-term outlook.
• AvalonBay (AVB) and BRE Properties (BRE) were upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Covance (CVD) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Reynolds American (RAI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BKS, GE, GSK, ITW, MMM, MXIM, NETL, NOK, RAI, RDC, TYC ...

Analyst Calls: BKS, GE, GSK, ITW, MMM, MXIM, NETL, NOK, RAI, RDC, TYC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline Gets Good News from FDA Regarding Epilepsy Drug

GlaxoSmithKline Gets Good News from FDA Regarding Epilepsy Drug originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline Rises on FDA's Avandia Decision

GlaxoSmithKline Rises on FDA's Avandia Decision originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A Rally Fizzles (BP, CSCO, GSK, INTC, KBH, NOC, TM)

Closing Bell: A Rally Fizzles (BP, CSCO, GSK, INTC, KBH, NOC, TM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Short Sellers Piling on Forest Laboratories

Short Sellers Piling on Forest Laboratories originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline Hurt by Generic Valtrex Approval

GlaxoSmithKline Hurt by Generic Valtrex Approval originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 May 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Should GlaxoSmithKline Pull Avandia from the Shelves?

Should GlaxoSmithKline Pull Avandia from the Shelves? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Aflac Inc. (AFL) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings, though revenue fell short, and offered rosy guidance.
• Avon Products Inc. (AVP) posted Q4 earnings growth that met analysts' expectations but shares sold off.
• Cisco Systems inc. (CSCO) higher Q2 earnings topped the consensus estimate but cash flow fell.
• CME Group Inc. (CME) fell short of analysts' Q4 profit expectations, resulting in price-target cuts.
• ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue that boosted shares.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Aflac, Cisco, Exxon, MasterCard, Shell, Time Warner ...

Earnings Highlights: Aflac, Cisco, Exxon, MasterCard, Shell, Time Warner ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline Benefits from the Flu During the Fourth Quarter

GlaxoSmithKline Benefits from the Flu During the Fourth Quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Seattle Genetics (SGEN) was on the upswing Monday morning after the company inked a collaboration agreement with heavyweight pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Under the terms of the deal, Seattle Genetics will receive an upfront fee of $12 million and potential milestone payments of up to $390 million for allowing Glaxo to use its antibody-drug conjugate technology.

The treatment is intended to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Currently, Seattle Genetics has nine licensees for the technology, and has raked in more than $35 million this year from collaborations like the one with Glaxo.

Continue reading Seattle Genetics Surges on GlaxoSmithKline Pact

Seattle Genetics Surges on GlaxoSmithKline Pact originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

James Altucher is a financial journalist for The Wall Street Journal and founder of Stockpickr.com. His articles cover every angle of the market; he also stars in feature videos with other financial luminaries. He is the author of Trade Like a Hedge Fund, Trade Like Warren Buffett, SuperCa$h, and The Forever Portfolio.

He has taken a controversial path lately with numerous articles in the New York Post and Huffington Post. Some articles include: "Global Warming Is a Myth," "Should Insider Trading Be Made Legal?" "School of Hard Cash," "The Internet Is Dead (as an Investment)," and "5 Myths the Recession Taught Us."

Rumors of a new addition to the James Altucher library have entered the blogosphere, so I met with James to discuss a possible new book and the response from his recent aggressive views on finance and the stock market.

Continue reading You can profit from James Altucher's insanity

You can profit from James Altucher's insanity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Early this morning, Societe Generale cut GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to "sell" from "hold." The brokerage blamed the downgrade on the "looming threat" of generics to GSK's respiratory drug Advair. SocGen believes the market is "underestimating" the chances for a generic competitor to Advair in the U.S. by 2011.

Technically, the stock is facing resistance at the $40 level -- a level that has provided a hurdle in the past. Along with this potential resistance is the possibility that the equity may slip back below its 20-month moving average. This trendline has acted as resistance in the past, and now that the shares are positioned north of this trendline, it could act as support. The problem is that this trendline is in a sharp descending pattern.

It isn't all bad news for GSK, the good news is that the equity should find some support from its 10-week moving average. With this trendline providing support, any potential drop from this morning's news could be limited.

Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline downgraded by SocGen

GlaxoSmithKline downgraded by SocGen originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Amgen's second-quarter earnings increase 40%

Amgen's second-quarter earnings increase 40% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Human Genome (NASDAQ: HGSI) is recently trading at $11.07 in pre-open trading, above its close of $3.32. Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced that BENLYSTA met the primary endpoint in BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with serologically active systemic lupus erythematosus. HGSI August 2.5 straddle is priced at $2.45, October 2.5 straddle is priced at $2.75, January 2.5 straddle is priced at $3.25 according to Track Data, suggesting large price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Human Genome options expensive; shares up 215% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Stocks are likely in a new downtrend," says Michael Ashbaugh. In Marketwatch's The Technical Indicator, he looks at the S&P's prospects and some drug stocks set to buck the trend.

"The S&P 500 has violated its major moving averages in the closely tracked 900 area. The recent downturn was convincingly bearish, placing the burden on market bulls to reassert the uptrend.

"After finding resistance in the 923 area, the S&P sold off sharply, edging back under its 200-day moving average, which currently holds at 900 and now marks resistance. This is bearish price action.

Continue reading Tech talk from MarketWatch

Tech talk from MarketWatch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As Jon Ogg reported, Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN - option chain) rallied sharply on Tuesday amid rumors that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) was mulling a takeover bid. Speculative investors jumped all over the news, as option volume on AGN skyrocketed well beyond normal levels yesterday. Interestingly enough, it seems that some traders took advantage of the stock's surge to initiate new bearish positions.

Specifically, AGN on Tuesday saw 15,850 puts cross the tape, which represents about 14.5 times its average daily put trading volume. Meanwhile, 59,943 call contracts changed hands, marking 11.5 times the norm.

Continue reading Allergan, Inc. option volume surges on buyout speculation

Allergan, Inc. option volume surges on buyout speculation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a December bull-put credit spread below the $32.50 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 19.0% return in just three and a half months as long as SNY is above $32.50 at December expiration. Sanofi would have to fall by more than 8% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

Continue reading Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) flies high on new CEO

Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) flies high on new CEO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"You can invest for all the right reasons and still get the wrong result," notes long-standing turnaround stock expert George Putnam, referring to the poor performance of the pharmaceutical sector in recent years.

Here, in his industry-leading The Turnaround Letter, he offers a fascinating review of 10 leading drug stocks which he now believes offer a combination of growth potential at "pretty cheap" valuations. Here is his overview.

"In 2000 and 2001, when the Internet boom was becoming a bust, many smart investors turned away from technology stocks and put their money into drug stocks. How could you go wrong with the big pharmaceutical companies?

"Demand for their products was growing as the population aged. These companies had huge research
and development programs that seemed to keep cranking out new blockbuster drugs. And most of them had great balance sheets, with many paying handsome dividends.

"Much of this reasoning has been borne out in the intervening years. Many large drug manufacturers have rung up substantial revenue gains over the last decade. So what's happened to the big drug stocks? With few exceptions they have gone sideways or down - in some cases down a lot.

Continue reading Turnaround time for drug stocks? 10 top picks

Turnaround time for drug stocks? 10 top picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.