Stem Cell Index Surges in Past Week

The stem cell trade was back in a big way over the past week, with several stocks in the ETF Innovators Stem Cell Index registering impressive gains, compared to market and biotech ETF benchmarks such as the S&P 500 SPDR (NYSE:SPY) +6%, iShares Nasdaq Biotech (NASDAQ:IBB) +2%, SPDR S&P Biotech (NYSE:XBI +4%). Hot stocks over the past week among the 40 component companies in the stem cell index include NeoStem (AMEX:NBS) +52.2%, Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CYTX) +37%, and Geron (NASDAQ:GERN) +22%. Two other widely followed stocks from the index registered smaller gains, including Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:OSIR) +6% and StemCells (NASDAQ:STEM) +1%.

Last week, NeoStem filed a patent application covering cosmetic stem cell face lift technology while simultaneously announcing an expansion to its stem cell collection network, which is located at the Giampapa Institute for Anti-Aging Medical Therapy in Montclair, New Jersey. NeoStem also signed a deal for the exclusive worldwide rights to an innovative technology and pending patents that involve using a patient's own stem cells derived from their bone marrow to promote healing of chronic wounds.

As highlighted in this article at Schaeffer's Research, Geron experienced major call option buying and a large stock price gain in the past week in the absence of any major news. In January, the FDA cleared the way for Geron to conduct a human clinical trial for GRNOPC1 in patients with acute spinal cord injury.

On Friday, CYTX announced an 18-month deal with GE Healthcare (NYSE:GE) to commercialize Cytori's StemSource cell banking technology in North America (expected U.S. launch during 1H09) to serve the markets for stem cell banking and research. The deal expands upon an agreement announced between the two companies in January that calls for GE Healthcare to commercialize Cytori's Celution 800/CRS System in 10 European countries to serve the cosmetic, reconstructive medicine, stem cell banking, and research markets.

My 17-page PDF stock profile of Cytori from mid-March is available to view or download at the stock research section of BioMedReports.com and click here for my Seeking Alpha article on NeoStem from one month ago while the stock was trading around one dollar.

Disclosure: Long CYTX.

Comments

[MiamiRich:]

Dear Seeking Alpha Readers,

Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC), will be the biggest stem cell gainer of 2009. They have essentially rendered the stem cell debate moot by being the first and only company who has a method to generate human embryonic stem cells without destruction or harm to the embryo. Advanced Cell Technology will be filing an IND with FDA for the second embryonic stem cell clinical trial on humans in history (the first being Geron). Geron's CEO, Michael West has recently said that Advanced Cell Technology's human embryonic stem cell clinical trial will recieve more attention than Geron's. Advanced Cell Technology has formed an international joint venture with the largest stem cell research institute in Korea to develop cures for retinal diseases and also to generate an endless supply of blood from embryonic stem cells. Watch for the 10K, the IND to the FDA, the relisting, and for NIH funding. ACTC.OB. Good Luck.

Rich

May 11 07:20 AM

[overseaer1:]

Agree with post but, for clarity purposes, Michael West left GERON years ago...he's now CEO at ticker: BTIM


On May 11 07:20 AM MiamiRich wrote:

> Dear Seeking Alpha Readers,
>
> Advanced Cell Technology (seekingalpha.com/symbo...), will
> be the biggest stem cell gainer of 2009. They have essentially rendered
> the stem cell debate moot by being the first and only company who
> has a method to generate human embryonic stem cells without destruction
> or harm to the embryo. Advanced Cell Technology will be filing an
> IND with FDA for the second embryonic stem cell clinical trial on
> humans in history (the first being Geron). Geron's CEO, Michael West
> has recently said that Advanced Cell Technology's human embryonic
> stem cell clinical trial will recieve more attention than Geron's.
> Advanced Cell Technology has formed an international joint venture
> with the largest stem cell research institute in Korea to develop
> cures for retinal diseases and also to generate an endless supply
> of blood from embryonic stem cells. Watch for the 10K, the IND to
> the FDA, the relisting, and for NIH funding. ACTC.OB. Good Luck.
>
>
> Rich

May 11 08:00 AM

[culliganpro:]

ACTC it's true does have a great depth of talent and patents. The books could be better. I'm going to watch this little star.

Jun 04 09:31 PM