iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund  (IBB) Trade Now »     Rate IBB  -  Discuss IBB  -  Add to Watch List        

Obama-Care Focused on Preventive Medicine

In addition to bullish outlooks for generic drugs and Health IT , President-Elect Obama's healthcare plan plans to focus on public health initiatives and mandated coverage of preventive services such as cancer screenings. The accompanying table presents statistics and the top five rated companies in the ETFI Preventive Medicine Index, including vaccine makers such as Emergent BioSolutions (EBS), diabetes care companies such as Novo Nordisk (NVO), diagnostic companies such as Sequenom (SQNM) and Myriad Geneti

Healthcare ETFs Outpace the Market

The accompanying table presents an analysis and statistics for the 28 healthcare ETFs listed at the Yahoo! Finance ETF Center. As a group, the healthcare ETFs outpaced the overall market in the past year by more than 10%, posting an average loss of 26.5% compared to a loss of 37.4% for the S&P 500 SPDR ETF (SPY). The best performing healthcare ETF was the Biotech HOLDRs (BBH), thanks to a buyout bid for top holding Genetech (DNA) and solid earnings results this year for the number two position, Amgen (AMGN).

The top three

Biogen Reports Another PML Case in Tysabri Patient

After the market close, Biogen (BIIB) filed an 8-K with the SEC reporting a new case of the potentially fatal brain disease known as PML or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient receiving their multiple sclerosis [MS] drug Tysabri, adding to the two new cases which were reported previously in July. Biogen is currently trading down by about 15% after hours while marketing partner Elan (ELN) is down by about 25% as of 5:15 PM. The news adds more uncertainty to Tysabri, which was removed from th

Biotech Blues: Four Stocks on Sale with Hope

An Earnings Encore for Amgen?

I think Amgen (AMGN) will beat consensus estimates for sales and profits again today when it reports after the market close, continuing the same trends as last quarter, including better than expected sales of embattled anemia drugs Aranesp and Epogen. Amgen reported 2Q08 results (see conference call transcript ) that beat consensus analyst estimates and raised its full-year [FY] guidance for earnings and revenue, thanks to much stronger-than-expected sales of its anemia drugs Aranesp and Epogen:

- 2Q08 Revenue +1% at $3.8 bi

Discovery Labs: The Next Biotech Winner?

Bristol-Myers Ups Bid to $62 for ImClone

Last night, Bristol-Myers (BMY) announced plans to increase its bid for the remaining 83% of ImClone Systems (IMCL) it does not already own to $62 per share and plans to take the offer directly to shareholders in the form of a tender offer. ImClone and Chairman Carl Icahn rejected a $60 per share cash bid from Bristol-Myers at the end of July and stated that a mystery big pharma bidder had emerged at $70 per share, as I last wrote about here . Besides Bristol-Myers 17% stake in ImClone, the two companies are marketing pa

FDA Decision Date Calendar Through January 2009

The accompanying table includes a calendar of expected FDA decision dates through the end of January 2009, including nine decisions due by the end of September. Some likely near-term movers on the calendar include Cypress Bioscience (CYPB) + partner Forest Labs (FRX) with a pending decision on milnacipran in the treatment of fibromyalgia slated for the end of October in addition to results from a Phase 3 trial for the drug some time before year end. Also, Discovery Labs (DSCO) is not listed on the calendar, b

Discovery Labs: Poised for Eventful End of Year

Discovery Labs (DSCO) is set for an active end to the year with a planned complete response to the May 1, 2008, FDA approvable letter for Surfaxin, which management has guided for submission by the end of September. The Company will provide impurity data and biological activity tests to the agency and expects the NDA re-submission to be classified as a Class I review with a 60-day decision deadline compared to the more lengthy Class II resubmission process of six months. At mid-year, Discovery Labs had cash and equiv

A Mystery Bidder Emerges for ImClone Systems

ImClone Systems (IMCL) has rejected an unsolicited $60 per share bid from U.S. Erbitux marketing partner Bristol-Myers (BMY) made at the end of July and announced today that it has received an offer from an unidentified big pharma company for $70 per share in cash. ImClone has received the formal offer and will allow two weeks for the bidding company to conduct due diligence. ImClone Chairman and prominent activist investor Carl Icahn has been in talks with the CEO of the pharmaceutical company which made the new of

A recent run-up in biotechnology shares has led to new highs for the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

The best performing sector in the past month has been biotech. With investors flocking to safety due to recent financial turmoil and the sharp correction in energy, funds and investors have been warming up to biotech.

The biotech sector is not without its large risks though and investing here requires more homework and experience than most sectors. The biotech landscape is full of landmines especially with unproven companies with their yet to be proven drugs. The recent backlash the FDA has received due to major flaws in its Vioxx approval and other well publicized failed post approval drugs

Sector analyst Jim Farrish sees potential in the healthcare area, noting, "The best plays are in pharmaceuticals and biotech area."

In his SectorExchange.com service, the advisor assesses the impact of the upcoming election on the industry, as well as the top sector funds for investors seeking exposure to various healthcare sectors.

"The outlook for the healthcare sector has been mixed over the last 6-9 months. Part of this is the election and the concerns relative to which part is going to win the election in October.

"While the impact will not be immediate the market is trading in anticipa