Biotech Busine$$ Daily (ALKS, CADX, CVTX, MNKD, GNBT, PPHM)

Alkermes (NASDAQ: ALKS) and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Developed today submitted paperwork seeking approval of their partnership drug, RISPERDAL CONSTA, to be allowed for treatment of bipolar disorder chronic relapse. The drug was already approved for treatment of schizophrenia in 2003. Shares of Alkermes are down to by $0.17 to $10.94 in mid-day trading on a 52-week range of $10.32 to $18.78.

Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CADX) up over 8% today on no new developments to $6.74 off a 52-week range of $4.84 to $20.67. Cadence Pharmaceuticals is a development stage biopharmaceutical company with two products in Phase III testing, Acetavance and Omigard.

CV Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CVTX) down today despite FDA approval for its coronary artery treatment, Lexiscan, granted last Friday. The drug is injected into patients during heart tests that cannot exercise to increase blood flow in their arteries. The drug will be marketed by OTC company Astellas Pharma US Inc. and will pay CV Therapeutics $12 million now that drug has been approved. CV Therapeutics is down over 5% to $7.57 on a 52-week range of $5.41 to $13.74.

Mannkind Corp. (NASDSQ: MNKD) still slipping today on Pfizer’s insulin scare earlier this month. Pfizer markets an inhaled insulin product, Exubera, that recently studies showed it be connected with lung cancer in its users. Despite the failings of Pfizer’s inhaled insulin product and other developers of similar treatments (including Alkermes above), Mannkind intends to continue developing its similar product, Technosphere. Shares are down almost 7% to $2.33 today on a 52-week range of $2.15 to $15.65. Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) up marginally today to $20.53 on a 52-week range of $20.19 to $27.73.

Generex Biotechnology Corp. (NASDAQ: GNBT) could benefit from Pfizer’s and Mannkind’s struggles with inhaled insulin treatments. Generex’s product Oral-lyn is viewed as a competing oral insulin product that is safe and effective. Shares are up over 2% to $1.18 today on a 52-week range of $0.81 to $2.14.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: PPHM) down almost 11% today after they announced that the pre-clinical study of their anti-PS Vascular Targeting Antibodies showed a broad range of potential for cancer treatment at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting. Shares are down to $0.44 on a 52-week range of $0.35 to $1.40.

Rachel Lopez
April 14, 2008