Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now

U.S. stocks rose, leaving the Standard & Poor�� 500 Index less than 1 percent from a record, amid signs lawmakers could reach a deal before the government loses its ability to borrow money in three days.

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) jumped 7.8 percent on reports that the company is in talks to get its service on cable operators��set-top boxes. St. Jude Medical Inc. rose 1.6 percent after the maker of heart-rhythm devices bought specialist device maker Nanostim Inc. for $123.5 million. Whirlpool Corp. lost 6.5 percent as Cleveland Research said appliance demand has softened in the past month. Expedia Inc. (EXPE) slid 6.2 percent after Deutsche Bank AG cut its rating on the online travel agency.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent to 1,710.14 at 4 p.m. in New York, reversing an earlier drop of as much as 0.7 percent for a fourth day of gains. The gauge is at its highest since Sept. 19 and within 16 points of its Sept. 18 record of 1,725.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 64.15 points, or 0.4 percent, to 15,301.26. About 5 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges, 14 percent below the three-month average.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Foundation Medicine Inc (FMI)

Foundation Medicine, Inc., incorporated on November 12, 2009, is a commercial-stage company. The Company is focused on fundamentally changing the way patients with cancer are treated. The Company�� platform includes methods and algorithms for analyzing tumor tissue samples across all types of cancer, as well as information aggregation and concise reporting capabilities. Its products provide genomic information about each patient�� individual cancer, enabling physicians to optimize treatments in clinical practice and enabling biopharmaceutical companies to develop targeted oncology therapies more effectively.

FoundationOne, its first clinical product, is, to its knowledge, the only commercially available comprehensive molecular information product designed for use in the routine care of patients with cancer. In addition, the Company is considered a non-contracting provider by commercial third-party payors because it has not entered into specific contracts to provide FoundationOne to their covered patients, and as a result it takes on primary responsibility for obtaining reimbursement on behalf of patients.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    If you have not been watching the biotech sector lately, you should start paying attention as the sector along with small cap biotech stocks like Cell Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CTIC), BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) continue to produce a steady stream of good news for investors thanks to positive industry trends. Moreover, Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT), Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI), Evoke Pharma and Fate Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FATE) are this week's biotech IPOs that will no doubt be watched closely by Wall Street and industry observers in general. With that in mind, consider the following biotech news or recent articles about the industry and the small cap players in it:

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Eat your heart out Foundation Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ:FMI). And WebMD Health Corp. (NASDAQ:WBMD)? Don't even bother trying. CollabRx Inc. (NASDAQ:CLRX) has built a better mousetrap, and if yesterday's announcement is a sign of things to come, CLRX could prove to be a very compelling investment.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Yesterday, small cap biotech Acceleron Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN) rose 9.76%�plus shares are up 183.6% for retail investors since its September IPO, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of other biotech IPOs like BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND), Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT) and Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI) which also debuted at the same time.

  • [By RedChip]

    According to Walter Isaacson�� biography, Steve Jobs paid a reported $100,000 to learn the DNA sequence of his cancer. This work, completed at MIT and Harvard, led to the launch of Foundation Medicine (NASDAQ: FMI). Foundation Medicine has grabbed headlines over the past couple of weeks as it entered the capital markets with a high-profile IPO led by Goldman Sachs.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Universal Biosensors Inc (UBI)

Universal Biosensors, Inc. (Universal Biosensors) is an early-stage specialist medical diagnostics company focused on the research, development and manufacture of in vitro diagnostic test devices for consumer and professional point-of-care use. The Company uses its electrochemical cell technology platform to develop tests for a number of different markets. The Company�� principal activities are research and development, commercial manufacture of approved medical or testing devices and the provision of services including contract research work. The Company operates primarily in Australia. The Company uses its electrochemical cell technology platform to develop tests for a number of different markets. The Company has rights to a portfolio comprising patent applications owned by its wholly owned subsidiary, Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd, and a number of patents and patent applications licensed to the Company by LifeScan, Inc., an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson Company. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

    Banco Popolare SC (BP) declined 3.5 percent to 1.29 euros and Unione di Banche Italiane SCPA (UBI) slid 2.3 percent to 4.93 euros after Societe Generale SA reduced its 12-month price forecast on the shares.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own In Right Now: Synageva BioPharma Corp (GEVA)

Synageva BioPharma Corp., incorporated in 1993, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products. It has several protein therapeutics in development, including two enzyme replacement therapies for lysosomal storage disorders and two programs for life-threatening genetic conditions. Its lead program, SBC-102, recombinant human lysosomal acid lipase (LAL), is its advanced pipeline program in clinical development for LAL Deficiency. This enzyme is responsible for the metabolism of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides that are delivered to lysosomes by a variety of routes, including low-density lipoprotein receptor mediated endocytosis. On November 2, 2012, Trimeris, Inc. merged with Synageva BioPharma Corp.

SBC-102 is produced by recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology in egg white using its protein manufacturing platform. The Company has initiated natural history studies in approximately 20 countries. In addition to SBC-102, it is progressing protein therapeutic programs for other rare diseases, which are at different stages of preclinical development. These include two enzyme replacement therapies for other lysosomal storage disorders and two programs for other rare life-threatening conditions. As of December 31, 2011, its product candidate pipeline included SBC-102, SBC-103, SBC-104, SBC-105 and SBC-106.

SBC-104 is an extracellular protein that targets a severe, rare genetic condition. SBC-105 is an enzyme replacement therapy being developed to treat a severe, rare metabolic disorder. SBC-106 is a protein therapy that targets a severe and rare genetic condition.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Somaiya and team named Gilead and�Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) their top picks, hile putting Buy ratings on Celgene, Biogen Idec, Alexion (ALXN), Incyte (INCY), Pharmacyclics (PCYC) and Synageva (GEVA). BioMarin (BMRN), Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) and Amgen (AMGN) earned Neutral ratings.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI)

Puma Biotechnology, Inc., incorporated in April 2007, is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company that acquires and develops products for the treatment of various forms of cancer. The Company focuses on in-licensing drug candidates that are undergoing or have already completed initial clinical testing for the treatment of cancer and then seeks to further develop those drug candidates for commercial use. As of December 31, 2011, the Company licensed three drug candidates: PB272 (neratinib (oral)), which the Company is developing for the treatment of advanced breasts cancer patients and gastric cancer patients; PB272 (neratinib (intravenous)), which the Company is developing for the treatment of advanced cancer patients, and PB357.

PB272 (neratinib (oral))-Breast Cancer

Neratinib is a potent irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or TKI, that blocks signal transduction through the epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), HER1, HER2 and HER4. The Company's initial focus is on the development of neratinib as an oral treatment of patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer.

PB272 (neratinib (intravenous))

The Company develops neratinib as an intravenously administered agent. In pre-clinical studies the intravenous version of neratinib resulted in higher exposure levels of neratinib in pre-clinical models.

PB357

PB357 is an orally administered agent that is an irreversible TKI that blocks signal transduction through the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2, and HER4. PB357 is structurally similar to PB272. Pfizer completed single dose Phase I trials of PB357. The Company is evaluating PB357.

The Company competes with Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Takeda, Array Biopharma and Ambit Biosciences.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lee Jackson]

    Puma Biotechnology Inc. (NYSE: PBYI) is a stock that UBS views as having multiple catalysts. The analysts are positive on the potential for their cancer drug neratinib to demonstrate positive data in neoadjuvant breast, as well as specific genetic mutations for other cancers. Success in either area may lead to strong upside for the stock. The UBS price target is $61, while consensus is at $62.50.

  • [By Anna Prior]

    Puma Biotechnology Inc.(PBYI) reported positive top-line data from the Phase II clinical trial of the biopharmaceutical company’s investigational drug PB272 for the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 squeaked out new highs today, while the Nasdaq Composite and small caps dropped, following stronger-than-forecast manufacturing data out of China and a U.S. manufacturing survey that had to be corrected twice. Caterpillar (CAT) and Broadcom�(BRCM) gained, while Express Scripts (ESRX) and Puma Biotechnology (PBYI) tumbled.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: DiaMedica Inc (DMA)

DiaMedica Inc. (DiaMedica) is a development-stage company. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and related diseases. DiaMedica's compound, DM-199, is a recombinant human protein for the treatment of both Type I and Type II diabetes and their complications. DiaMedica is starting a Phase I/II clinical trial for DM-199. DM-199 is a recombinant human protein, which improves glucose control, protects beta cells through the expansion of a population of antigen-specific immunosuppressive cells (Tregs), and proliferates insulin producing beta cells through the activation of certain growth factors. The Company�� DM-204 is a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist (GPCR) monoclonal antibody to treat Type II diabetes and some of the associated complication's. activating a receptor resulted in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and vasodilation. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Richard Rhodes]

    Given this economic backdrop, and developing pressure on corporate revenues, margins, and earnings, we feel that risk is being misplaced at current levels.

    The 14-day and 40-day models are now overbought. Now, the 14-day and 40-day are peaking, which would certainly indicate a correction stands as the highest probability.

    The % of stocks above their 10-day moving average (dma) is at the 70%-level; still a major divergence with prices.

    The % of stocks above their 200-dma stands at 77%. The 87% level marked previous highs. The 50-dma/150-dma cross breakdown now confirms a larger correction. Bottoms form between 30%-40%.

    Overall, the risk-reward remains skewed to the downside, regardless of whether prices remain above trendline resistance, as our model group suggests a correction to the 110-day moving average, currently at S&P 1711.

    A clear breakdown at that level would accelerate the decline towards the wide 200-dma and 380-dma range, between 1657-1571.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals Inc (KYTH)

KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated in June 2004, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription products for the aesthetic medicine market. The Company�� initial focus is on the facial aesthetics market. The Company�� product candidate, ATX-101, is a injectable drug in Phase III clinical development for the reduction of submental fat, which commonly presents as an undesirable double chin. Based on clinical trials conducted, ATX-101 has exhibited results in the reduction of submental fat. ATX-101 contains a synthetic form of sodium deoxycholate. In the United States and Canada, the Company is conducting two pivotal Phase III trials of ATX-101 for the reduction of submental fat. The Company initiated this pivotal Phase III clinical program, with planned enrollment of 1,000 patients, in March 2012.

In Europe, Bayer, its collaborator outside the United States and Canada, recently completed two pivotal Phase III trials of ATX-101 for the reduction of submental fat. In these multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pivotal trials involving 723 patients, ATX-101 resulted in a reduction in submental fat, as assessed by a validated clinician scale and a patient satisfaction scale.

ATX-101 contains a synthetic form of sodium deoxycholate. ATX-101 is designed to be a locally-injected drug that causes proximal, preferential destruction of adipocytes, or fat cells, with minimal effect on surrounding tissue. Upon subcutaneous injection under the skin, ATX-101 disrupts cell membranes in protein-poor tissues, such as fat, while being attenuated by interactions with protein-rich tissue, such as skin, muscle and blood vessels. This attenuation by protein-rich tissue results in the preferential destruction of adipocytes by ATX-101. The destruction of adipocytes, or adipocytolysis, elicits a natural response, in which macrophages are attracted to remove cellular debris and fat particles t! hrough the lymphatic system. The macrophages also emit low levels of chemical messengers, known as cytokines, which attract fibroblasts, another cell type, to the area. Fibroblasts produce collagen, and it is believed that new collagen production, or neocollagenesis, promotes retraction of the skin in the areas of fat reduction. The fat removal process with ATX-101 is incremental with each treatment, thereby allowing for control of the aesthetic outcome.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Equities Trading UP
    Repros Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RPRX) shot up 29.82 percent to $27.60 after the company announced topline results from both the second pivotal efficacy study as well as the 6 month safety study of Androxal庐. Shares of Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KYTH) got a boost, shooting up 26.04 percent to $42.26 after the company reported positive ATX-101 top line phase III trial results for the reduction of submental fat. Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was also up, gaining 16.75 percent to $10.05 after private equity firm Sycamore Partners reported that it had bought a 7.96 percent stake in the company.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KYTH) shares jumped 28.69% to $43.15 in pre-market trading after the company reported positive ATX-101 top line phase III trial results for the reduction of submental fat.

  • [By Roberto Pedone]


    One stock that's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (KYTH), which is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel prescription products for the aesthetic medicine market. This stock has been on a bullish run in 2013, with shares up by 48%.

    If you take a look at the chart for Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last month, with shares moving between $40.55 on the downside and $47.85 on the upside. Shares of KYTH are now starting to spike higher off some near-term support at $42.54 a share. That move is quickly pushing KYTH within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent range.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KYTH if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $47.50 to its all-time high of $47.85 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 199,029 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then KYTH will set up to enter new all-time high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $55 to $57, or even $60 a share.

    Traders can look to buy KYTH off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $42.54 a share, or at $40.55 a share. One can also buy KYTH off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Myriad Genetics Inc (MYGN)

Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Myriad) is a molecular diagnostic company. The Company is focused on developing and marketing predictive medicine, personalized medicine and prognostic medicine tests. It performs all of its molecular diagnostic testing and analysis in its own reference laboratories. These technologies include the cornerstone technologies of biomarker discovery, high-throughput deoxyribo nucleuc acid (DNA) sequencing, ribo nucleic acid (RNA) expression and multiplex protein analysis. The Company uses this information to guide the development of new molecular diagnostic tests that are designed to assess an individual's risk for developing disease later in life (predictive medicine), identify a patient's likelihood of responding to drug therapy and guide a patient's dosing to ensure optimal treatment (personalized medicine), or assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recurrence (prognostic medicine).

As of June 30, 2012, the Company had launched nine commercial molecular diagnostic tests. The Company markets these tests through its own approximate 385-person sales force in the United States. The Company also markets its BRACAnalysis, COLARIS, and COLARIS AP tests through its own European sales force and have entered into marketing collaborations with other organizations in selected Latin American, European and Asian countries. The Company also generates revenue by providing companion diagnostic services to the pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries and medical research institutions utilizing its multiplexed immunoassay technology.

Molecular Diagnostic Tests

The Company's molecular diagnostic tests are designed to analyze genes, their mutations, expression levels and proteins to assess an individual's risk for developing disease later in life, determine a patient's likelihood of responding to a particular drug, assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recurrence and measure a patient's exposure to drug therapy to ensu! re optimal dosing and reduced drug toxicity. The Company's BRACAnalysis test is a analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for assessing a woman's risk of developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRACAnalysis accounted for 81.7% of the Company's total revenue during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. Its The Company's COLARIS test is an analysis of the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes for assessing a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer or uterine cancer.

The Company's COLARIS AP test detects mutations in the APC and MYH genes, which cause a colon polyp-forming syndrome known as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a more common variation of the syndrome known as attenuated FAP, and the MYH-associated polyposis signature (MAP). The Company's MELARIS test analyzes mutations in the p16 gene to determine genetic susceptibility to malignant melanoma. The Company's OnDose test is a nanoparticle immunoassay that is designed to assist oncologists in optimizing 5-FU (fluorouracil) anti-cancer drug therapy in colon cancer patients on an individualized basis. The Company's PANEXIA test is a comprehensive analysis of the PALB2 and BRCA2 genes for assessing a person's risk of developing pancreatic cancer later in life. The Company's PREZEON test is an immunohistochemistry test that analyzes the PTEN gene and assesses loss of PTEN function in many cancer types.

The Company's Prolaris test is a 46-gene molecular diagnostic assay that assesses whether a patient is likely to have a slow growing, indolent form of prostate cancer that can be safely monitored through active surveillance, or a more aggressive form of the disease that would warrant aggressive intervention, such as a radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. The Company's TheraGuide 5-FU test analyzes mutations in the DPYD gene and variations in the TYMS gene to assess patient risk of toxicity to 5-FU (fluorouracil) anti-cancer drug therapy.

Companion Diagnostic Services and Other Revenue

! Through M! yriad RBM Inc., the Company provides biomarker discovery and companion diagnostic services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical researches industries utilizing its multiplexed immunoassay technology. The Company's technology enables the Company to screen large sets of clinical samples from both diseased and non-diseased populations against the Company's menu of biomarkers. The Company's companion diagnostic services consist of Multi-Analyte Profile (MAP), Multiplexed Immunoassay Kits and TruCulture.

The Company has compiled a library of over 550 individual human and rodent immunoassays for use in its multi-analyte profile (MAP) testing services. The Company has also developed RodentMAP, a panel for use in pre-clinical animal studies and OncologyMAP, which measures cancer-related proteins to assists researchers accelerate the pace of discovery, validation and translation of cancer biomarkers for early detection, patient stratification and therapeutic monitoring. The Company has developed multiplexed immunoassay kits that enable its customers to leverage its technology services with their in-house capabilities. The Company's internally developed multiplexed immunoassay kits include all of the components necessary for a customer to perform a test on their own Luminex instrument. TruCulture is a simple, self-contained whole blood culture that can be deployed to clinical sites around the world for acquiring cell culture data without specialized facilities or training.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Radovsky]

    Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN  ) , almost one month after a landmark ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court both undermined and supported the company's claim of patents for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, has filed suit against a company it says has infringed on those patents.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) was also up, gaining 13.04 percent to $39.74 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated pricing for the sequencing of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Shares of Myriad Genetics (MYGN) have plunged this morning after a U.S. agency said it would pay less for its breast-cancer tests.

    The Wall Street Journal has the details:

    The price of a popular genetic test that predicts women’s risk of breast cancer is likely to drop in the New Year after the agency that administers Medicare benefits said it would slash its reimbursement rate for the test by half.

    The rate cut goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2014, with consequences for genetic-testing companies, particularly�Myriad Genetics�Inc., the dominant supplier of screenings for mutations in the genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Medicare will pay a maximum of $1,440 for the BRCA test, a 48.5% decline from the rate of $2,795 it paid in 2013, according to a notice published Friday afternoon on the website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    The announcement comes just months after the Supreme Court said that Myriad couldn’t patent the BRCA genes and allowed companies like Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to offer its own tests, the Wall Street Journal says.

    JPMorgan’s Tycho Peterson and team call the decisions a “significant negative” for Myriad Genetics:

    We view this confirmation of the rate cut as a significant negative for MYGN as the company will have a difficult time explaining why CMS believes the BRCA test should cost less than half of MYGN�� list price ($4,040).

    Primary question is how quickly this will impact private payors. With increased competition coming to the market at significantly lower prices than MYGN, we expect payors will begin to influence physicians to use competitive tests, while leaving open the option for patients to use MYGN�� test if they want to pay the additional cost (+$1,500) out of pocket. In our prior physician survey (found here), all 25 physicians surveyed were willing to convert away from MYGN for a competitive product and 76% viewed price as a ��/li>

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: MedeFile International Inc (MDFI)

Medefile International, Inc.(Medefile), incorporated on July 16, 1997, through its MedeFile, Inc. subsidiary, has developed a patient-centric, Internet-enabled Personal Health Record (iPHR) system for gathering, digitizing, maintaining, accessing and sharing an individual's actual medical records. MedeFile's products and services are designed to provide healthcare providers with the ability to reference their patient's actual past medical records.

MedeFile iPHR

MedeFile is a Business-to-Business and a Business-to-Consumer subscription service. MedeFile is designed to create a cradle to grave longitudinal record for each of its members by retrieving and consolidating copies of their medical records. When the records are received, the MedeFile system consolidates them into a single medically correct format. The records are then stored in Medefile's MedeVault, a secure repository that can be accessed by MedeFile members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

MedeFile's Emergency Medical Information (EMI) Card

Upon becoming a MedeFile member, each individual will receive a Membership / Emergency Medical Information (EMI) Card. It contains instructions on how to contact MedeFile in order to retrieve the member's medical records.

The Digital Health Profile (DHP)

A part of a member's MedeFile is their Digital Health Profile (DHP). This form is completed by the patient in order to provide a summary of the patient's healthcare history which assists healthcare providers in understanding the patient's course of medical treatment.

MedeDrive

The MedeDrive is an external universal serial bus (USB) drive, which stores all of a patient's Emergency Medical Information and their MedeFile which can be viewed on a personal computer. MedeDrive self loads its own viewer, so no special program or software is required.

MedeVault

The MedeVault is designed to serve as an electronic data and document repo! sitory that incorporates state-of-the-art security features in order to prevent unauthorized access to a patient's records. Access to the MedeVault is provided through an encrypted connection to a Web service run by MedeFile. This connection is provided by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.

MedeMinder

MedeMinder is MedeFile's reminder service. The member tells the Company when and where to call, and the Company automatically contacts the member day or night with an appropriate reminder, spoken by real people.

MedePro

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company introduced MedePro. MedePro is a medical record retrieval and document management solution created specifically by MedeFile for legal and insurance professionals.

SecurMed

SecurMed is designed to serve as an authentication process. SecurMed protects against any information being viewed by unauthorized persons.

The Company competes with GE Healthcare, Bio-Imaging Technologies, and Cyber Records.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap healthcare and lifestyle stocks Axxess Pharma Inc (OTCMKTS: AXXE), Medefile International Inc (OTCMKTS: MDFI) and Intelligent Living Inc (OTCMKTS: ILIV) have all been getting some extra attention lately thanks in part to a few disclosed paid promotions or investor relations type of activities. But just how healthy are these small cap stocks for investors and traders alike? Here is a quick reality check:

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Alere Inc (ALR)

Alere Inc., incorporated on May 11, 2001, is a provider of point-of-care diagnostics and services. The Company's products and services help healthcare practitioners make treatment decisions and improve outcomes for individuals living with chronic disease. The Company's portfolio also includes a range of health information solutions that access to critical health data, provide clinical decision support, and facilitate performance reporting and analysis. The Company�� segment includes professional diagnostics, health information solutions and consumer diagnostics. The Company distributes its professional diagnostic products to hospitals, reference laboratories, physician offices and other point-of-care settings through an worldwide distribution networks. In February 2013, the Company acquired Epocal, Inc.

Professional Diagnostics

Professional diagnostics are generally designed to assist medical professionals in both preventative and interventional medicine, and include testing and monitoring performed in hospitals, laboratories and doctors' offices and, increasingly, patient self-testing, which the Company defines as testing or monitoring performed at home under the supervision of a medical professional. Professional diagnostic products provide for qualitative or quantitative analysis of patient samples for evidence of a specific medical condition, disease state or toxicological state or to measure response to therapy. The point-of-care market for rapid diagnostic products includes all areas where a patient is assessed or diagnosed, including hospitals, laboratories, physician offices, specialized mobile clinics, emergency rooms, rapid-response laboratories and patient health screening locations.

The Company's Alere Cholestech LDX System is a point-of-care monitor of blood cholesterol and related lipids which is used to test patients at risk of, or suffering from, heart disease and related conditions. The Alere Cholestech LDX System makes it possible to provide ! a complete lipid profile with tests for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides, and glucose. The Company's Alere INRatio System is an easy-to-use, hand-held blood coagulation monitoring system for use by patients and healthcare professionals in the management of warfarin, a commonly prescribed medication used to prevent blood clots. The Company also offers the epoc Blood Analysis System for bloods gas, electrolyte and metabolite testing, which is manufactured by its recently acquired Epocal division. The epoc (enterprise point-of-care) platform is a point-of-care analysis system which provides Wireless bedside blood gas, electrolyte and metabolite measurement testing solutions and complements the Company's Alere Triage products in cardiology and emergency room settings.

The Company develops and markets a range of point-of-care tests for influenza A/B, RSV, strep throat, pneumonia, C. difficile, infectious mononucleosis, HIV, herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), malaria, lyme disease, Chlamydia, H. pylori, rubella and other infectious diseases. The Company's tests for infectious disease are sold under brand names that include Alere, Alere Determine, Acceava, BinaxNOW, Clearview, DoubleCheckGold, Panbio, SD, TECHLAB and Alere TestPack. In addition to point-of-care products, the Company also offers a line of indirect fluorescent antibody, or IFA, assays for over 20 viral, bacterial and autoimmune diseases, a full line of serology diagnostic products covering a range of disease categories and over 50 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), tests for a range of infectious and autoimmune diseases, as well as a full line of automated instrumentation for processing ELISA tests.

The Company offers laboratory-based testing services throughout Europe under the name Alere Toxicology, formerly Concateno, and in the United States under the names Alere Toxicology Services, or! Alere To! xicology, and Redwood Toxicology Laboratory, or Redwood. The Company offers point-of-care diabetes products, including its Afinion Analyzer System and its NycoCard System. The Company's Alere Connect products include HealthPAL and HealthCOM.

Health Information Solutions

The Company's health information solutions are designed to provide physicians with actionable data that allows them to make more decisions in real time, deliver quality care, and put the individuals they treat on a pathway to better health. The Company offers a range of software-based analytics, clinical decision support tools, and accountable cares programs that enable healthcare providers to initiate earlier interventions, personalize treatment plans, lower costs by reducing hospital readmissions, and measure improvements in outcomes at both a patient and population level. With this range of scalable solutions, the Company is able to support healthcare practitioners in the transition to accountable care, as well as in meeting the new pay-for-performance guidelines set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Company's Women's and Children's Health division delivers a range of obstetrical care services that range from risk assessments focused on identifying women who may experience pregnancy complications to a neonatal program that supports early infant care management. The Company offers home-based obstetrical monitoring for pregnant women with medical or pregnancy-related problems that could puts their health or the health of their babies at risk. The Company also delivers telephonic and home-based nursing services that support improved clinical outcomes. The Company offers a suite of integrated wellness programs and resources that is designed to reduce participant health risks and healthcare-related costs. The Company's wellness programs include screening for risk factors associated with chronic disease, particularly tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and chron! ic stress! .

The Company offers services designed to support anticoagulation management for patients who takes warfarin to control their risk for stroke and clotting disorders. Alere Home Monitoring, the Company's patient self-testing business, assists patients in acquiring home INR monitors and with insurance coverage determinations and provides physicians with a comprehensive model that allows them to incorporate patient self-testing into their practices.

Consumer Diagnostics

The Company's consumer diagnostic products consist of the Company's First Check brand of over-the-counter drug tests for at-home testing for up to seven illicit drugs and five prescription drugs, as well as First Check brand over-the-counter tests for cholesterol monitoring. The Company also sells Balance Activ Vaginal Gel directly to consumers and healthcare professionals for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis without antibiotics.

The Company competes with Abbott, Siemens, Beckman Coulter, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Abaxis Medical Diagnostics, International Technidyne Corporation, INOVA Diagnostics, DiaSorin, Diamedx and Qiagen.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Alere (NYSE: ALR  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SPPI)

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, primarily focuses on oncology and hematology. The company engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products. It markets Zevalin, a prescribed form of cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy; and Fusilev, a novel folate analog formulation and the pharmacologically active isomer of the racemic compound, calcium leucovorin. The company?s drugs in late stage development include Apaziquone, an anti-cancer agent; and Belinostat, a histone deacytelase inhibitor. Its drugs in development also include Ozarelix a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist, which is in Phase II clinical stage; SPI-1620, a peptide agonist of endothelin B receptors, which is in Phase I clinical stage; and RenaZorb, a lanthanum-based nanoparticle phosphate binding agent, which is in preclinical stage. The company was formerly known as NeoTherapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2002. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Henderson, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Eight months ago, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPPI) was a train wreck. Shares had plunged from $12.43 to $7.79 on the heels of bad news, and SPPI wouldn't stop bleeding until it hit a low of $6.92 a few days after the big selloff. That bad news? A warning that its full-year sales (and particularly sales of its cancer drug Fusilev) would be well short of expectations.

  • [By Keith Speights]

    Biotech stocks are highly volatile. A good example of this is Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI  ) . Spectrum rode a wave of generic leucovorin shortages in late 2010 and early 2011 to stock gains of more than 170%. Shares then plunged more than 30% from July through September 2011. But the ride wasn't over yet.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI) shares tumbled 9.77 percent to $8.18 after the company announced an offering of $100 million of convertible notes.

  • [By Keith Speights]

    Another prime case study for this comes from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI  ) . Spectrum's stock more than doubled from October 2011 through July 2012. However, shares plunged 55% from those highs because business dynamics changed since then. A shortage of a generic rival to Spectrum's lead drug Fusilev was alleviated, resulting in sales slowing down considerably.�

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