For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Our favorite speculative play for 2008 is Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ISIS)," says biotech expert John McCamant, editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter.

"The main reason to own ISIS is the strong potential for an extremely attractive partnership for their exciting anti-cholesterol drug candidate, mipomersen, or an outright acquisition of the company itself at a substantial premium.

"We have seen recent evidence of acceleration in deal activity as the Sanofi-Aventis/Regeneron deal was the richest we have ever seen for drug candidates only in Phase 1 testing. In turn, this has most likely upped the ante for doing a deal with ISIS for mipomersen, which is now in Phase 3.

"We believe that ISIS has the most attractive late-stage anti-cholesterol drug candidate in development and expect the stock to be much higher on a partnership or an acquisition.

"The strong data for mipomersen that was presented at the recent American Heart Association meeting -- which showed it had the stunning ability to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels an additional 48% on top of statin therapy -- has cemented mipomersen as the one of the most valuable drug candidates in development.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Our favorite more conservative stock for 2008 is Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG)," says biotech expert John McCamant, editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter.

"The company is focused on the development of new and improved treatments for various cancers and other severe, immune, inflammatory conditions, and is well on its way to becoming a major global biopharmaceutical entity.

"Over the years, we have watched management consistently deliver on its promises to shareholders and create additional value. The most notable cancer drugs at CELG are Thalidomide and Revlimid (a second-generation version of Thalidomide).

"These are oral therapies that have become the cornerstone in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), and which are in clinical development for many other blood-borne cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and CLL.

"Genentech (NYSE: DNA), the world leader in cancer treatment, has been weak following its third quarter earnings report," notes biotech sector expert John McCamant.

In his The Medical Technology Stock Letter, he explains, "What we are seeing with DNA's stock represents an irrational overreaction by Wall Street, and one that should be taken advantage of by investors."

The advisor notes, "Starting with their earnings, DNA reported non-GAAP operating revenues of $2.91 billion, and U.S. product sales of $2.2 billion, for the third quarter. These figures represent an increase of 22% and 18%, respectively, over the same figures reported during last year's third quarter.

"As such, we are pleased with the growth that DNA has continued to produce. However, because revenue came in a little shy of analysts' consensus expectation, the stock has sold off. We would note one glaring positive which DNA just isn't getting much credit for anymore. That is, even at its already huge size, the company still expects to produce impressive growth for the full year (and in the years to come)."

"After its run to a new all-time high last month, Amylin (NASDAQ: AMLN) appears to be undergoing some upper level consolidation," notes biotech specialist John McCamant.

Following a presentation by the firm's CEO at a biotech conference, the editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter concludes, "Management has made a compelling case why the stock's current trading range should be just a weigh station on the way to an even loftier valuation."

The advisor explains, "At the Newsmakers in the Biotech Industry Conference -- which took place September 6 – CEO Dan Bradbury discussed the still unrealized growth potential of both Byetta and Symlin."

Regarding Byetta, he notes that Mr. Bradbury indicated that over 85% of diabetes specialists have prescribed the drug at this point, we are now starting to see prescription growth among primary care physicians."

Although he typically focuses on longer-term buy-and-hold positions, John McCamant has issued a trading buy for Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN). He explains, "The stock has sold off so heavily, we now believe it is an attractive, shorter-term buy.

The editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter explains, "When we see fire sales in the shares of individual biotech stocks, our interest always perks up. When it involves a company which just happens to have been a biotech bellweather for over two decades, we become significantly more intrigued."

He continues, "Amgen recently traded down to over four-year lows in response to a barrage of negative news flow. The investment community has punished the stock price, primarily because their Epogen franchise is under pressure from both competitors and government payers."

"The long-term outlook for biotech is excellent and many of today's undervalued companies will ended up looking like screaming bargains at today's prices," notes biotech expert John McCamant.

In his Medical Technology Stock Letter, the advisor has long been a fan of Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB). Now, he is joined by Carl Ichan, who has purchased shares in the biotech firm.

Says McCamant, "There may be no such thing as a pure safe haven within the equity markets. However, we believe the market for new drugs will continue to grow rapidly even if we enter into a difficult period for the economy."

He argues, "Quite simply, if an individual has to decide whether to buy a new TV or a new cancer drug, it is a safe assumption that they will chose the best drug possible. Additionally, with the continued aging of America, the demand for healthcare is poised for unprecedented growth."

As to Biogen, he explains, "We have long recommended the stock primarily for the significant growth opportunity Rituxan brings to the plate in treating autoimmune disease, most importantly rheumatoid arthritis (RA)."

"Without question, now is an excellent time to be acquiring shares of Genentech (NYSE: DNA)," says biotech industry expert John McCamant.

In his The Medical Technology Stock Letter, the advisor explains, "The company is unquestionably the premier player in cancer drug development."

The advisor states, "Despite the fact that the company has consistently produced outstanding earnings and revenue growth, and is on track to continue to do so, the Street had become more and more negative on the company." He notes that this skepticism is largely because the expected growth rate in future years is not going to be as robust as it has been to this point.

For example, he points out that earnings grew by over 75% in 2006 over 2005. However, he adds, in 2007, they are expected to grow by only 30% (over last year).

McCamant states, "Yes, that's right. We said only 30%. Further, merely 20% growth (roughly) is expected next year over the current year. Common sense should tell everyone that as companies get bigger and bigger, the growth rate is going to slow down."

Biotechnology industry expert John McCamant last recommended ImClone Systems (NASDAQ: IMCL) in the mid-1990s at $5 a share, and later sold at $42. Now, he has issued a trading alert, once again recommending the shares.

Two events, he says, are the basis of his new buy. The editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter says, "The first event was Amgen's failed clinical trial of their competing product, Vectibix, when used in combination with Avastin and FOLFOX for the treatment of front-line metastatic colorectal cancer."

This, he notes, has "significantly strengthened" the competitive position of Imclone's Erbitux versus Vectibix. The second event, he adds, was the recent failure of Erbitux in the pancreatic cancer setting, which caused the stock to sell off.

McCamant explains, "This is a low impact event for Erbitux, and, in fact, they have other trials running in pancreatic that may still pan out."

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Cardium Therapeutics (OTCBB: CDTP) is the top conservative idea for 2007 from John McCamant, editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter. He explains, "Cardium is an innovative medical technology company with two gene therapy-based drug candidates in development and an approved medical device.

"Its drug candidates and medical device are designed to harness the capacity of the human body to heal, protect, and repair. While CDTP intends to develop some products internally, they have initially focused on acquiring 'fallen angel' opportunities that have unrealized value and potential for significant growth.

"The management team has been together for over 10 years and their skill set uniquely positions them to acquire undervalued companies or assets. The key to their 'fallen angel' strategy is the ability of management to efficiently evaluate the most interesting drug candidates or devices.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNUS) is the top speculative pick for 2007 from John McCamant. The editor of The Medical Technology Stock Letter says, "Sonus is one of the more exciting companies in the biotech investment arena.

"The firm is intently focused on the development of superior versions of existing cancer drug treatments that not only offer potentially improved efficacy, but also significantly more attractive safety profiles. Their lead product candidate, TOCOSOL Paclitaxel, is a reformulated version of paclitaxel, which belongs to the taxane class of chemotherapeutics -- which are among the most successful and frequently used.

"However, existing treatments have unattractive safety profiles; Sonus's treatment may be a significant improvement, and we will not have to wait much longer to find out. SNUS just recently completed enrollment in their over 800-patient Phase III trial for metastatic breast cancer treatment. We can expect results in the second half of next year, and if positive, the company will file for approval by the end of 2007.