SubscribeDendreon - Is Provenge Snake Oil or Cure?
May 12, 2007
Dendreon Corporation (DNDN) took a huge fall the past few days after the FDA released an update to their “Approvable Letter”, asking for additional information regarding the efficacy of Provenge. This drug is, as most would say; “potentially revolutionary because it aims to teach the body’s own immune system to attack tumor cells.”
Shares have traded between $3.57 and $25.25 over the last 52 weeks, and had more than tripled since the FDA panel decision on March 29. By the end of the day on Thursday, share were resting at just over $5.00. A fall from a high place if ever there was one.
By their own account, Dendreon is at the forefront of introducing the first in a new class of therapy known as Active Cellular Immunotherapies (ACIs). The goal of Active Cellular Immunotherapy is to turn the immune system “back on” to elicit a specific and long-lasting response against cancer. Dendreon’s lead ACI candidate, sipuleucel-T, is for the treatment of aysmptomatic, metastatic, androgen-independent prostate cancer.
Quite different from other chemotherapies, this is not an outright “broad based attacker” that aims to rid cancer from the body by essentially destroying everything in its path. It is can be seen as the use of
one’s own “healthy” cells to working to clear the “bad” cells. Think of it as taking some of your own cells out for a walk, providing them with ingredients to help fight your cancer and then putting them back in your body. Then they spread the news on how to combat the bad cells allowing for the body to heal itself.
The Disciplined Investor Podcast - Episode 8
May 9, 2007
ARE WE CRAZY? What is going on in these markets… Time to protect portfolio…Markets are out of whack and we need to look at why that is.
The fact is that the extreme volatility we are seeing individual positions is reason to take a step back and look at what is going on. Are we due for a pullback? Why are we seeing stocks jump like this?
In this podcast, we explore these questions as well as how to PROTECT your portfolio. Preferred stocks, Sell Stops and other techniques are discussed.
Also, the CBOE VIX is a good measure of volatility an has been a good predictor of the market’s direction. What is that telling us about the future for the US stock markets? Read more
MOTaIcahn and Très bien for Taser
May 7, 2007
Monday Merger Mania
Alcoa buying Alcan. Smart, accretive and a surprise. Amazingly, behind the scenes negotiations between these behemoths are looking like a smart move that will cut costs and help propel profits. The price being paid is rich, but it is one that will hopefully get the deal done with expedience. The more that is paid, the more likelihood that the shareholdes approving the deal.
On the other side of the coin, hysteria reached a crèche last week when the rumor mill pumping out a Microsoft for Yahoo merger. The reaction was amazing as Friday saw a $6 move on the shares of YHOO. Unfortunately, it was unsubstantiated and those that jumped in – found themselves on the losing side of a trade by days end. With the market providing such benefit for those companies in merger/takeover mode, it is no wonder that there are so many speculating on the next hot buyout.
US Auto Industry:Adapt or Die!
May 3, 2007
CNBC Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge Update
The last week or so has proved to be rather difficult to pick a winner even in a thick field of news related announcements. Possibly due to the fact that there is no shortage of earnings announcements or just the simple fact that we are a bit off on the last few picks, the portfolio has been stagnant for the past 8 trading days!
No particularly bad trades have hurts us, but even as we have a return average approaching 9% per week, the fact is that there have been a few amazing runs that we plainly missed. Amazon and Baidu come to mind of major winners over the past two weeks. Both of these beat earnings and rocketed higher. It is a hellish reminder of how stocks were reacting back in 1998-2000.
Is it any consolation that these are two within the sectors that saw a reversal of fortune from 2002 through 2007? Not quite. In fact it is rather disconcerting that the same sectors that saw such an amazing move during the height of the last market top are seeing a similar boost from investors who are hungry for earnings acceleration.
TDI Podcast - CNBC Challenge Daily Picks May 2, 2007
May 2, 2007
TWO Stocks that could ROCK on news - well situated for a breakout. Review of current portfolio.
SPECIAL EDITION - CNBC MILLION DOLLAR PORTFOLIO CHALLENGE PICKS
Through 5/2/2007, the TDI CNBC Million Dollar Portfolio is up 10% ($500,000 profit). The past week did not provide any substantial gains, so we are going to re-evaluate the strategy and look to make some $$$$$…. VCLK and LVS are the buys for today. There is something interesting in VCLK, listen to the podcast and find out.
Take a look at these two charts as you listen to the podcast to learn about chart and technical analysis.
Show Note Links: MSN Money, Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, Briefing.com, Dismal.com
TDI Podcast RSS
-
