Big Movers in Healthcare - JAZZ, HEB, MNTA, MBLX and OCLS

After a four-day losing streak, the over all market rallied despite signs that Americans are still struggling to find jobs. A weekly report from the Labor Department said that the number of workers filing initial claims for unemployment benefits increased by 15,000 in the week ended June 20. The healthcare sector, which has been performing well despite intense recession pressure, was joined Friday by some action in housing stocks - this after real estate markets like California and home builders like Lennar (LEN) reported a jump in sales and orders.

Biotechnology & Drugs were led by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAZZ). Thursday night's news that Jazz's fibromyalgia drug delivered promising preliminary late-stage data helped fueled a rapid rise in stock prices. Company shares were up as much as 62% Friday - after trading up from $0.55 in late April - to a close at $4.48 +1.23 (37.85%). The company confirmed the positive results from the first Phase III placebo-controlled trial of sodium oxybate. The treatment for fibromyalgia achieved its key endpoints. Only preliminary top-line efficacy and safety data are available at this time and further analyses are planned -- including analyses of additional secondary endpoints. JAZZ expects to submit a NDA for sodium oxybate to the FDA by the end of 2009.

Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc (AMEX:HEB) -- Hemispherx Biopharma says that low turnout at its annual shareholders meeting Thursday has prompted an extension until July 28 of a vote to increase the number of common-stock shares by 75 percent. Only about 40 percent of the outstanding shares entitled to vote were represented in person or by proxy during yesterday's meeting, but a majority vote is needed to approve increasing the number of shares from 200 million to 350 million, the company said. The shareholders meeting was the focus of a great deal of attention yesterday and shares traded up to $2.40 +0.39 (19.40%) after a couple of minor news items killed rumors, soothed nerves and gave investors renewed confidence in the company. As a matter of fact, I have posted an interesting interview with a "citizen reporter" who kept his fellow investors on various social media forums up to date with information from that meeting via his laptop. He shares some of the things he observed on BioMedReports.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTA), Last Trade: 11.32 +1.48 (15.04%) -- At first glance, it looks like this biotechnology company specializing in the characterization and engineering of complex drugs is climbing on no news, but subscribers to our Upcoming FDA Decision Calendar know that Momenta Pharma's partner, the Sandoz division of Novartis (NVS), filed an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for a generic version (M356) of Teva Pharma's (TEVA) multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) ($2.3B in sales for 2008). Chatter and developments on that front are likely bringing volume to the stock.

Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLX) $8.56 +1.03, shares rose (13.68%) after a key development Thursday. The company announced that Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) will purchase their Mirel bioplastic injection molding grade under a supply agreement. On Monday, Metabolix announced that Telles, its joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) that produces Mirel bioplastics, has collaborated with Teknor Color Company to develop a range of color concentrates for use with Mirel resin. The newly developed color concentrates are formulated using Mirel base resins and meet ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 standards for compostability and biodegradability. Metabolix also announced that Telles, the joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Company that produces Mirel bioplastics, has developed its injection molding bioplastic, Mirel P1003, in a collaborative effort with Nypro, a leading global precision plastics molder.

Another company that moved Friday was Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCLS). On Thursday shares rose as much as 19% and today they climbed another 8.31% to close at $3.52 +0.27. On Wednesday, the biopharmaceutical company released test results conducted by an independent laboratory which indicated that their specific Microcyn Technology formulation reduced infectivity of the swine flu virus after 30-seconds exposure. It turns out that the company may have confirmed the effectiveness of in a virucidal time-kill suspension test as a way of responding to criticism from TheStreet.Com's Adam Feuerstein. I'm in the process of lining-up an interview with the technology's inventor - CEO Hoji Alimi so we can get his take on these events. I encourage and invite OCLS investors to submit questions that you may have for Mr. Alimi in the comments section of this article and I will keep you posted with more on this developing story.

In the meantime, here are the rest of the Healthcare Sectors Top Winners and Losers for Thursday, June 25, 1009:

Gainers (% price change)	Last Trade	Change	Mkt Cap
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc	JAZZ	4.48	+1.23 (37.85%)	129.59M
Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc	HEB	2.40	+0.39 (19.40%)	204.30M
Momenta Pharmaceuticals	MNTA	11.32	+1.48 (15.04%)	451.54M
Metabolix, Inc.	MBLX	8.56	+1.03 (13.68%)	196.74M
Symyx Technologies, Inc.	SMMX	6.31	+0.70 (12.48%)	215.03M
Losers (% price change)
OraSure Tech., Inc.	OSUR	2.53	-0.75 (-22.87%)	116.05M
ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals	CXSP	17.63	-2.37 (-11.85%)	281.74M
Labopharm Inc. (CAN)	DDSS	2.13	-0.13 (-5.75%)	121.06M
Chindex Intl., Inc.	CHDX	11.99	-0.73 (-5.74%)	175.23M
Sanofi-Aventis SA (ADR)	SNY	30.21	-1.63 (-5.12%)	82.54B
Most Actives (dollar volume)
Johnson & Johnson	JNJ	56.27	+0.81 (1.46%)	155.06B
Pfizer Inc.	PFE	15.33	+0.61 (4.14%)	103.45B
Merck & Co., Inc.	MRK	26.57	+1.12 (4.40%)	56.03B
Boston Scientific Corp.	BSX	10.00	+0.49 (5.15%)	15.06B
Eli Lilly & Co.	LLY	35.33	+1.72 (5.12%)	40.59B

Disclosure: No Positions

Comments

[bjenson12346:]

Is the Microcyn Technology offered by OCLS available in stores?
Wound care and swine flu! I would think it would be flying off the shelves.

Jun 28 10:31 AM

[vinthetoolman:]

We all knew the day would come sooner or later but it seems the caves of the irresponsible "journalists" are finally imploding. It may be just the tip of the berg as defined in this link satwaves.com/blog/2009...-... but its just a matter of time that the guilty who overlooked some details along the way will soon be their demise. Case in point, Adam's Ocukus article of 6/22 reads, "according to a source familiar with the plans". Could this be a source among many who assist in illegal activity?..Possibly, but it's a starting point that may justify beginning a thorough investigation. Intentional and continuous “bashing” of specific stocks such as HEB leaves many to believe that there are ulterior motives of profiteering by indirect means either through close family or associates. As the SEC article points out..It’s going to only take one to bring down the house of cards. The SEC's charter should be to expose and prosecute these so called corrupt "journalists", funds, manipulators and even button pushing celebrities who attempt to cover up their own activity with petitions, articles and offerings of TRUST. I invite anyone who concurs with my post to cut and paste it to as many message and comment boards as possible as I know The Street will instruct Yahoo to ban my posts on this topic. Thank you for your time I wish all honest investor well. (vincethetoolman@yahoo...

www.eyeonfda.com/eye_o...

Jun 28 01:43 PM

[Okerman:]

I own stocks of ocls and i also work in Healthcare;from the first moment i understood that they had a promising product;Infections due to resistance against antibiotics are responsible for several thousands of death patients every year.When ocls has a product that kills all this bacterias and even fungi and viruses than i would not call this product saline with bleach like Adam Feuerstein did.I live in Europe and even here i sometime hear about manipulation related to streetcom articles;they also want to make profit i think and they use every opportunity to do it even manipulation of stockprices by positive or negative articles about some stocks.I hope your SEC investigates this because there are always people who believe this junk-articles.

Jun 29 12:53 PM

[Okerman:]

Hello,

From what i know and what i can read on the website of ocls the woundgel will be available from the 1st of july.

On Jun 28 10:31 AM bjenson12346 wrote:

> Is the Microcyn Technology offered by OCLS available in stores?<br/>Wound
> care and swine flu! I would think it would be flying off the shelves.

Jun 29 12:56 PM

[DaveyD:]

What about Access Pharmaceuticals? They just announced the release of their drug MuGard in 4 of the 27 European countries they plan on launching in. Any thoughts?

Jun 29 01:37 PM

[Okerman:]

If you want a tip;Tigenix on the Euronext stock exchange.website tigenix.be.They just got positive advise and within 60 to 90 days they will get official approval;now trading around 5 euro.


On Jun 29 01:37 PM DaveyD wrote:

> What about Access Pharmaceuticals? They just announced the release
> of their drug MuGard in 4 of the 27 European countries they plan
> on launching in. Any thoughts?

Jun 29 04:42 PM

[Snowboard 2k01:]

Up 15% today

They are going to Middle East this month. Product has passed first human safety trial and for effectiveness.

CBLI is focused on development of two general classes of apoptosis-modulating pharmaceuticals:

1. Protectans are compounds that block stress-induced apoptosis. Since the targeted pathway is typically only functional in normal cells, Protectans have the potential to specifically protect normal, but not tumor, cells from death in the face of stress. CBLI’s lead Protectan compounds, CBLB502 and CBLB600 Series, are optimized derivatives of microbial factors that are natural regulators of apoptosis. Our expectations for these rationally designed compounds have been borne out in extensive preclinical studies showing that Protectans rescue mammals exposed to lethal doses of radiation by protecting the vulnerable HP and/or GI systems. Protectans may be useful in counteracting the effects of radiation exposure in military, terrorist attack and nuclear accident settings, in protecting cancer patients from the negative side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and in limiting ischemia-induced tissue damage. CBLI’s recent discovery that CBLB600 Series Protectans also regulate proliferation and mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells opens up another wide array of potential applications for these drugs.

2. Curaxins are small molecules designed to reactivate apoptotic pathways in tumor cells by simultaneously restoring p53 function and inhibiting NF-kappaB activity. Curaxins induce apoptosis in a broad range of human tumor cells, yet have no effect on normal cells. Curaxins also sensitize tumor cells to the apoptosis-inducing effects of other cancer treatments. Thus, Curaxins may be useful either as a monotherapy or as an adjuvant to other therapies for a number of human malignancies including renal cell carcinoma, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma and myeloma. CBLI’s first generation Curaxin, CBLC102, has demonstrated safety and activity in a Phase II clinical trial in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In addition, CBLI has successfully identified a lead second generation Curaxin compound, CBLC137. CBLC137 has demonstrated reliable anti-tumor effects in animal models of colon, breast, renal and prostate cancers. CBLC137 has favorable pharmacological characteristics, is suitable for oral administration and demonstrates a complete lack of genotoxicity. It shares all of the positive aspects of CBLC102, but significantly exceeds the former compound’s activity and efficacy in preclinical tumor models. CBLC137 is currently undergoing manufacturing and preclinical toxicology studies in preparation for clinic trials in early 2010.

Jun 29 08:43 PM