Capstone Holding Stock (OTC:CAPS), Trade Ideas

Capstone Holding Corp operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary as a construction materials company, which distributes manufactured and natural stone cladding products, natural stone landscape products, and related goods for residential and commercial construction.

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Capstone Therapeutics Announces Pre-Clinical Results With AZX100 in Radiation and Bleomycin Models of Pulmonary Fibrosis; Pulmonary Anti-Fibrotic Effect Demonstrated

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Capstone Therapeutics (OTCQB:CAPS) announced today additional steps it has taken to preserve cash and move toward winding down operations.

Capstone will cease clinical development of AZX100, its principal drug candidate, in dermal scarring. Certain pre-clinical, manufacturing and regulatory projects related to AZX100 that are either required from a statutory perspective or are under contract will continue to their completion.

The Company also intends to cease all activities related to the development of TP508, its other drug candidate, and return the patent and other intellectual property it owns related to TP508 to the original licensor, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas. Following the return of the intellectual property, the Company will no longer have any interest in or rights to TP508.

In addition, in light of the Company's reduced activities, Capstone has reduced the size of its board of directors from six members to three, and in connection with this, directors Robert Spiegel, MD, William Wardell, MD, PhD and Augustus White, III, MD, PhD have resigned, effective January 17, 2012.

"Capstone initiated its cash-preserving 'hibernation' mode in October 2011," said Jock Holliman, Executive Chairman. "Because we have not yet secured a development partner for AZX100 in dermal scarring, we are now further reducing our operations to preserve cash. We presently have four employees and several part-time consultants, most of whom will terminate as their wind down projects are completed in coming months. Capstone remains a publicly-traded company, subject to the regulations and reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, we must maintain a financial reporting and securities compliance capability and will incur costs associated with these obligations.

Point Roberts, WA - July 20, 2011- Investorideas.com , an investor research portal specializing in sector research including biotech and pharma stocks, issues a trading alert for July 19, 2011.


Biotech/Pharma Sector Snapshot Trading July 19 th

Aethlon Medical (OTCBB: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aemd#OTCBB">AEMD</a>) traded lower by 0.0041 (-4.14%) to $0.0949. Last week, the stock moved up following a letter to shareholders discussing its Aethlon ADAPT™ (Adaptive Dialysis-Like Affinity Platform Technology) system, as an innovative medical device platform that provides a basis to create new therapeutic devices through the convergence of affinity drug agents and plasma membrane technologies.

The Aethlon ADAPT™ system provides a previously unrecognized commercialization pathway to antibody and other affinity drug developers, who should also appreciate a less onerous medical device regulatory pathway. We are already seeing evidence of our ADAPT™ system being the impetus for industry collaborations that offer new channels of early revenue generation.

Capstone Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#NASDAQ">CAPS</a>) was one of the biggest gainers among the biotech companies and soared 44% to $0.36 on technical signal. The stock had corrected about 60% in the previous three-month before resumed its uptrend and over the past one week it has risen over 51%.

Oncothyreon Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/onty#NASDAQ">ONTY</a>) shares also climbed 9.81% to $8.84 after a positive article released by seekingalpha.com.

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/anx#AMEX">ANX</a>) climbed 8.40% to $3.49 on high volume. Last week, it has secured work worth at roughly $165 million for numerous new projects and extensions to present projects in the Latin America, Asia-Pacific, EAME and North America areas.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/regn#NASDAQ">REGN</a>) added 6.02% to $59.16. Last week, the company announced results from Phase 2b trials in rheumatoid arthritis (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/ra#">RA</a>) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with sarilumab (REGN88/SAR153191), a novel, high-affinity, subcutaneously administered, fully-human antibody targeting the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R).

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At Aethlon Medical, we create revolutionary devices to address infectious disease and cancer. Our devices are designed to be novel platform solutions that fill therapeutic voids or aid in disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Our Hemopurifier® is the first medical device to selectively target the removal of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from the entire circulatory system. We recently discovered that our Hemopurifier® captures tumor-secreted exosomes that suppress the immune system of those afflicted with cancer. Prior to this discovery, a therapeutic strategy to directly inhibit or reverse the immunosuppressive destruction caused by exosomes did not exist in cancer care. By eliminating this mechanism, we believe our Hemopurifier® can fill an unmet clinical need and provide the benefit of an immune-based therapy without adding drug toxicity or interaction risks to established and emerging treatment strategies.

Human studies have documented the ability of our Hemopurifier® to safely reduce viral load in both Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients without the administration of antiviral drugs. However, our initial clinical and commercialization focus is to establish our Hemopurifier® as an adjunct therapy to enhance the benefit of both infectious disease and cancer treatment regimens. In this regard, we plan to commercialize our Hemopurifier® in India as we advance our clinical strategies in the United States and the European Union. In vitro studies conducted by government and non-government research institutes have also verified that our Hemopurifier® has broad-spectrum capabilities against bioterror and emerging pandemic threats. These studies have confirmed the capture of Dengue Hemorrhagic Virus, Ebola Hemorrhagic Virus, Lassa Hemorrhagic Virus, West Nile Virus, H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus, 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus, the reconstructed Spanish Flu of 1918 Virus, and Monkeypox Virus, which serves as a model for human Smallpox infection.

As a therapeutic device, the Hemopurifier® provides us with a pipeline into four significant market opportunities:

1.Cancer: A treatment candidate to improve patient responsiveness to established cancer therapies by removing immunosuppressive exosomes from circulation.

2.Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV): As an adjunct therapy to accelerate viral load reduction at the outset of standard of care drug regimens.

3.Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Provides a potential therapeutic option for HIV-infected individuals to manage disease progression once they become resistant to antiviral drug regimens.

4.Bioterror and Pandemic Threats: Represents the most advanced broad-spectrum strategy to address untreatable bioterror and emerging pandemic threats.

The Hemopurifier® is an expansive multi-patented platform technology whose mechanism of action can be leveraged to provide therapeutic, diagnostic, and biomarker discovery solutions. As a therapeutic, the Hemopurifier® is a single-use disposable cartridge designed for implementation within the established infrastructure of dialysis machines and other blood circulatory pumps already located in hospitals and clinics worldwide.

In design, our Hemopurifier® is a selective filtration device containing affinity agents that tightly bind to high-mannose structures unique to the surface of exosomes produced by cancer and glycoproteins residing on the envelope of viruses. These agents are immobilized around approximately 2800 porous hollow fibers that run the interior length of our device. The resulting design provides us the novel ability to separate both exosome and viral targets away from blood cells so they can then be selectively and permanently removed from the circulatory system. In application, blood circulation is established into the Hemopurifier® via a catheter or other blood access device. Once blood flow has been established, treatment benefit is immediate as the entire circulatory system can pass through the Hemopurifier® in as little as 15 minutes.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Exosome Sciences, Inc. (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/esi#">ESI</a>) is focused on the development of exosome-targeted products and services that improve cancer diagnosis, provide post-treatment cancer surveillance, and aid in the discovery of biomarkers that allow doctors to optimize patient therapy. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical and Exosome Sciences can be accessed online at www.aethlonmedical.com.

Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the company's ability to commercialize its Hemopurifier® in India, capability of the Hemopurifier® to reduce viral loads and other disease conditions or to identify or treat disease conditions such as cancer or Hepatitis-C, including the ability to capture exosomes and the impact that potential ability may have on disease conditions, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products either internally or through outside companies and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings .

Contacts:

James A. Joyce 
Chairman, CEO 
858.459.7800 x301 
jj@aethlonmedical.com

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Capstone Therapeutics (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#Nasdaq">CAPS</a>) today announced results from a pre-clinical study of AZX100 in a rodent model of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Using the TUNEL assay – an established method for detecting DNA fragments that are the hallmark of "programmed cell death" known as "apoptosis" – a significant decrease in apoptosis among all cell types was demonstrated with AZX100 treatment for 28 days compared to untreated lung (p = 0.00058).
 
Importantly, the TUNEL assay also showed with AZX100 treatment a significant decrease in apoptotic epithelial cells (p = 0.003). This effect translated to a greater than 70% decrease in apoptotic epithelial cell count with AZX100 compared to the untreated cohort. Preservation of normal epithelial cells is required for proper lung function.
 
Using the hydroxyproline assay for collagen assessment - a well-characterized and accepted method for biochemical evaluation of fibrosis - a trend toward decreased hydroxyproline content was observed after AZX100 treatment for 28 days (p = 0.067). 

These data provide additional pre-clinical evidence supporting an anti-fibrotic effect of aerosolized AZX100 in lung tissue. Earlier studies in the bleomycin-induced model of pulmonary fibrosis showed that AZX100 treatment significantly reduced soluble and tissue collagen (p = &lt;0.05) and inflammation (shown via significant decreases in TNF-alpha and TGF-beta, p = &lt;0.05) at a 1 mg/kg single daily dose for 18 days. Treatment with AZX100 was also shown to modulate several pulmonary metabolic pathways‚ including circadian rhythm and cytoskeletal remodeling. (Data from these studies were presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, May-2011- Denver, CO.)

According to Citadel Securities, Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/svnt#NASDAQ">SVNT</a>) Neutral rating is reiterated.

Citadel Securities said that the FDA's Arthritis Drugs Advisory Committee voted 11-1 against approval of Novartis' Ilaris for the treatment of gout flares in patients with an inadequate response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine. “We view this decision as a modest positive for SVNT as the panel's decision removes a potential on-label competitor to Krystexxa. Although we believe physicians may be currently using Ilaris off-label (the drug was approved for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#">CAPS</a>) in June 2009), negative commentary from the panel and FDA briefing documents could curtail any off-label use.”

Savient Pharmaceuticals closed yesterday at $6.87.

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Citadel Securities Reiterates Neutral Rating On Savient Pharmaceuticals

Capstone Therapeutics (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#Nasdaq">CAPS</a>) today announced a material transfer agreement with BiolineRx to develop Chrysalin (TP508) in pre-clinical models of acute myocardial infarction. The goal of these studies is to further demonstrate the potential cardiovascular benefit of TP508 in an additional large-species model, a regulatory prerequisite to advance the program through the IND process toward human clinical trials.

Capstone has previously announced the cardioprotective benefit of TP508 as demonstrated in a series of landmark pre-clinical studies. These studies, performed in the laboratory of Frank W. Sellke, MD, formerly Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgical Research, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School, showed that TP508 extensively decreases myocardial injury when administered following a major ischemic insult. (This administration timing reflects the anticipated clinical scenario of a heart attack.) Endpoints of the study included infarct size, coronary microvessel function, myocardial function and apoptotic markers. Findings showing the beneficial effects of TP508 were consistent across multiple models of AMI and attendant conditions, including normal and elevated cholesterol levels as well as diabetes.

The Capstone-BiolineRx alliance consists of sequential examination of the acute and chronic effects of TP508, studying in this additional large-species model 1) the ability to reduce post-MI ischemic area at risk, and 2) the chronic impact on left ventricular function and remodeling.

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Capstone Therapeutics Signs Alliance With BiolineRx to Develop Chrysalin (TP508) in Acute Myocardial Infarction

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Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced that a newly-developed MS drug known as BG-12 has shown to be even more effective in clinical studies than Copaxone. If all goes according to plan, BG-12 will hit the market in late 2012 or the first half of 2013. Biogen Idec Inc. (Biogen Idec) is a global biotechnology company. The products of the Company include AVONEX, RITUXAN, TYSABRI and FUMADERM. The Company's products address diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (CD) and psoriasis. In addition to the marketed products, Biogen Idec has a number of product candidates in or near registrational stage development.
<a href="http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/tag/cbst">Cubist Pharmaceuticals</a> (NASDAQ: CBST)- Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Cubist) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs in the acute care environment. The Company's products are used primarily in hospitals, but also may be used in acute care settings, including home infusion and hospital outpatient clinics.
<a href="http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/tag/mygn">Myriad Genetics</a> (NASDAQ: MYGN)- Myriad Genetics, Inc. is a molecular diagnostic company focused on developing and marketing novel predictive medicine, personalized medicine and prognostic medicine products. The molecular diagnostic products are designed to analyze genes and their mutations 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 ensure optimal dosing and reduced drug toxicity.
<a href="http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/tag/regn">Regeneron Pharmaceuticals</a> (NASDAQ: REGN)- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron) is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat human disorders and conditions. The Company's facilities are primarily located in New York. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had one marketed product: ARCALYST (rilonacept) injection for subcutaneous use, which is available for prescription in the United States for the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), including Familial Cold Auto-inflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) in adults and children 12 and older. Its late stage programs are rilonacept, which is being developed for the prevention and treatment of gout-related flares; VEGF Trap-Eye, which is being developed in eye diseases using intraocular delivery in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare LLC, and aflibercept (VEGF Trap), which is being developed in oncology in collaboration with the sanofi-aventis Group.
<a href="http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/tag/itmn">InterMune</a> (NASDAQ: ITMN)- InterMune Inc. (InterMune) is a biotech company focused on developing and commercializing therapies in pulmonology and hepatology. In November 2008, InterMune together with Roche and Pharmasset, Inc. (Pharmasset) announced the initiation of INFORM-1, a dual combination clinical trial investigating the combination of two oral antiviral molecules in the absence of interferon. In August 2009, the Company together with Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc. and F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd. (collectively Roche) began a Phase IIb study testing RG7227 in combination with PEGASYS (peginterferon alfa-2a) and COPEGUS (ribavirin), the standard of care (SOC) in hepatitis C virus (HCV).
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has meted out a severe blow to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN) and partner Sanofi-Aventis (<acronym>SNY</acronym>) by halting the development of REGN475/SAR164877, which was being developed for treating pain associated with osteoarthritis.

	Regeneron stated that no study involving the candidate, aimed to inhibit a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) associated with pain, is currently underway. Regeneron announced the FDA's decision via a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

	The decision to put the NEGF inhibitor on “clinical hold” arose from safety concerns after a patient developed avascular necrosis of a joint on being treated with a candidate (developed by another company) in the same category.

	Avascular necrosis is a serious bone disorder and is responsible for a bone tissue becoming dysfunctional due to insufficient blood supply. Earlier in the year, Pfizer Inc. (<acronym>PFE</acronym>) too halted the development of its NGF inhibitor, tanezumab, on being requested by the FDA .The candidate was being developed to treat patients suffering from chronic back pain and diabetes.

	Even though the clinical hold placed on the pain candidate is a setback for its pipeline, we remain upbeat about the successful development of its other pipeline candidates. The company's late-stage development candidates include aflibercept (VEGF trap) for the treatment of cancer, VEGF trap-eye for eye diseases and IL-1 (Interleukin-1) trap for gout.

	The successful development and commercialization of the candidates should boost the top line at Regeneron, whose only marketed product is Arcalyst for treating cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#">CAPS</a>) - a group of rare genetic inflammatory conditions, including familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome and Muckle-Wells Syndrome. Moreover, the company's deals with players like Sanofi-Aventis and Bayer AG (<acronym>BAYRY</acronym>) have helped bring in funds in the form of upfront and milestone payments.

	Currently, we have a ‘Neutral' recommendation on Regeneron, which is supported by a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating).
   <a href="http://www.zacks.com/registration/pfp?ALERT=ZER_LINK&amp;d_alert=ZER_LINK&amp;t=BAYRY&amp;ADID=BENZ_CONTENT_ZER">BAYER A G -ADR (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/bayry#">BAYRY</a>): Free Stock Analysis Report</a>   <a href="http://www.zacks.com/registration/pfp?ALERT=ZER_LINK&amp;d_alert=ZER_LINK&amp;t=PFE&amp;ADID=BENZ_CONTENT_ZER">PFIZER INC (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/pfe#">PFE</a>): Free Stock Analysis Report</a>   <a href="http://www.zacks.com/registration/pfp?ALERT=ZER_LINK&amp;d_alert=ZER_LINK&amp;t=REGN&amp;ADID=BENZ_CONTENT_ZER">REGENERON PHARM (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/regn#">REGN</a>): Free Stock Analysis Report</a>   <a href="http://www.zacks.com/registration/pfp?ALERT=ZER_LINK&amp;d_alert=ZER_LINK&amp;t=SNY&amp;ADID=BENZ_CONTENT_ZER">SANOFI-AVENTIS (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/sny#">SNY</a>): Free Stock Analysis Report</a>   <a href="http://www.zacks.com/">Zacks Investment Research</a>

BAYRY

Jolt for Regeneron's Pipeline - Analyst Blog

Recently, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/REGN">REGN</a>) and partner Sanofi-Aventis (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/SNY">SNY</a>) announced that the late-stage study (n=1,226) of their candidate aflibercept (VEGF trap) will continue without any modifications. The decision followed the favorable recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) after a planned interim analysis. However, both companies are unaware of the results of the interim study results. Final data from the study are expected in the second half of 2011.
	The study (VELOUR) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the candidate as a combination therapy in patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have previously undergone treatment with an oxaliplatin-based regimen. Improvement in overall survival is the primary endpoint of the study whereas progression-free survival, response to treatment and safety are the secondary objectives.
	Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women across the globe. The disease is responsible for approximately 8% of all cancer related deaths. This makes it the fourth most common cause for cancer related deaths.
	The candidate is also being developed, as a combination therapy, for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (VITAL - phase III) and the first-line treatment of hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer (VENICE - phase III) and as a first-line therapy for treating patients suffering from mCRC (AFFIRM- phase II). Regeneron expects results from all these studies, which have completed enrolling patients, within the next couple of years.
	While complete data from the VITAL study are expected in the first half of 2011, results from the AFFIRM study are expected in the second half of the same year. The IDMC is expected to conduct an interim analysis of the data from the VENICE study in mid-2011. Complete results are expected in 2012.
	We believe that the successful development and commercialization of aflibercept will boost Regeneron’s top line significantly. Currently, the company, which has only one product in the market -- Arcalyst, used in treating cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (<a class="ticker" href="/stock/caps#">CAPS</a>) -- is highly dependent on collaboration revenues and technology licensing revenues.
	Neutral on Regeneron &amp; Sanofi
	Currently, we have a Neutral recommendation on Regeneron, which is supported by a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating). We are pleased with the approval of Arcalyst for CAPS. Furthermore, the expansion of the antibody agreement with Sanofi and the extension of the antibody technology deal with Astellas also please us. However, even though the drug has been approved in the European Union in 2009, it has not yet hit the European markets, which we believe is a dampener on its sales potential.
	We are also concerned about the potential competition awaiting Regeneron’s pipeline candidates. The company’s fundamentals lead us to believe that the risk/reward profile at Regeneron is balanced and forms the basis of the short-term and long-term stance on the stock.
	We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Sanofi, which is supplemented by a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating). Our biggest concern for Sanofi is the high exposure to generic risk on many of its leading franchises. The entry of generic Lovenox (an anti-coagulant/blood thinner) is a huge setback for the company. However, we are encouraged to see Sanofi’s progress with its pipeline. 
	 
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Good News for Regeneron - Analyst Blog

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 5, 2010 – Zacks.com Analyst Blog features: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (<a onclick="quotepop('REGN')" href="javascript:void(0)">REGN</a>), Sanofi-Aventis (<a onclick="quotepop('SNY')" href="javascript:void(0)">SNY</a>), AstraZeneca (<a onclick="quotepop('AZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">AZN</a>), Interactive Data Corp. (<a onclick="quotepop('IDC')" href="javascript:void(0)">IDC</a>) and Thompson Reuters (<a onclick="quotepop('TRI')" href="javascript:void(0)">TRI</a>).
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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog: 
Regeneron Loss Narrower
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (<a onclick="quotepop('REGN')" href="javascript:void(0)">REGN</a>) first-quarter loss of $30.5 million, or 38 cents per share, was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 49 cents. The company suffered a loss of $15.4 million, or 19 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. This was due to higher research and development expenses although revenues climbed higher.
Total revenue in the reported quarter climbed 38% year over year to $103.5 million. Total revenue included collaboration revenue, technology licensing revenue, net product sales, and contract research and other revenue. The increase in total revenue was mainly attributable to higher collaboration revenues in the quarter.
Collaboration revenues climbed approximately 37% year over year to $81.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. Out of that, $68.7 million came from Regeneron’s aflibercept and antibody collaborations with Sanofi-Aventis (<a onclick="quotepop('SNY')" href="javascript:void(0)">SNY</a>) and $13.1 million from its VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Trap-Eye collaboration with Bayer HealthCare.
Revenues from technology licensing, arising out of the license agreements with AstraZeneca (<a onclick="quotepop('AZN')" href="javascript:void(0)">AZN</a>) and Astellas, came in flat year over year at $10 million. Arcalyst, approved for treating Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), generated revenue of $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2010, up 153.2% year-over-year. Regeneron reported $5.1 million in Arcalyst sales during the reported quarter. The balance came through deferred revenue. Revenues from contract research and others accounted for the remaining in the reported quarter.
Total operating expenses in the quarter climbed 44% year over year to $132.2 million. Research and development (R&amp;D) expenditure for the quarter jumped 46% year over year to $117.5 million primarily because of the additional R&amp;D headcount, clinical and pre-clinical development costs for the company’s pipeline candidates.
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&amp;A) expenses increased to $14 million in the reported quarter from $11.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The rise was attributable to higher compensation expense, higher recruitment costs and facility-related costs.
Regeneron exited the quarter with cash, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $413.5 million compared with $390 million at the end of 2009. Furthermore, the company received $47.5 million from its landlord in the reported quarter. The payment from the landlord was related to tenant improvement costs for new laboratory and office facilities that Regeneron leases in Tarrytown, New York.
IDC Headed for Private Equity 
Interactive Data Corp. (<a onclick="quotepop('IDC')" href="javascript:void(0)">IDC</a>), a global provider of financial and business information, has caught the eyes of private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Silver Lake Partners, who have more or less agreed to take over the financial information company for an estimated value of more than $3 billion.
The Financial Times has reported that this is going to be one of the largest Private Equity deals since the beginning of the credit crisis three years back. Other big private equity players also participated in the bidding process, but exited early, as the bid price shot up to levels that would make it difficult for them to fetch a desired return on investment.
IDC’s largest division, Pricing and Reference Data, serves more than 4,000 institutional customers. Revenue from the segment grew by 5% in fiscal 2009 from the 2008 levels, in a challenging market environment, given the desire to cut costs by asset managers. The company’s pricing and independent division evaluates over 2.8 million fixed income securities, while its reference data evaluates over 6 million securities globally.
IDC maintains very strong renewal rates, typically around the 95% range. The company has further strengthened this business with its recently acquired 80% majority interest in NTT DATA Financial Corporation (NDF), a leading provider of securities pricing, reference data and related services to most of the major financial institutions in Japan.
The private equity firms have been sitting on cash for quite some time, as in the past three years the credit environment was not conducive for investment. While these private equity firms have got an opportunity to invest in a business which is expected to pick up in the near future, the flipside is that it may prove to be a difficult business decision as Interactive Data faces tough competition from companies such as Bloomberg L.P., Dow Jones &amp; Company Inc. and Thompson Reuters (<a onclick="quotepop('TRI')" href="javascript:void(0)">TRI</a>), which have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources compared to IDC.
 
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Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, AstraZeneca, Interactive Data Corp. and Thompson Reuters - Press Releases

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/REGN">REGN</a>) first-quarter loss of $30.5 million, or 38 cents per share, was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 49 cents. The company suffered a loss of $15.4 million, or 19 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. This was due to higher research and development expenses although revenues climbed higher. 
  
Total revenue in the reported quarter climbed 38% year over year to $103.5 million. Total revenue included collaboration revenue, technology licensing revenue, net product sales, and contract research and other revenue. The increase in total revenue was mainly attributable to higher collaboration revenues in the quarter. 
  
Collaboration revenues climbed approximately 37% year over year to $81.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. Out of that, $68.7 million came from Regeneron’s aflibercept and antibody collaborations with Sanofi-Aventis (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/SNY">SNY</a>) and $13.1 million from its VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Trap-Eye collaboration with Bayer HealthCare. 
  
Revenues from technology licensing, arising out of the license agreements with AstraZeneca (<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/AZN">AZN</a>) and Astellas, came in flat year over year at $10 million. Arcalyst, approved for treating Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), generated revenue of $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2010, up 153.2% year-over-year. Regeneron reported $5.1 million in Arcalyst sales during the reported quarter. The balance came through deferred revenue. Revenues from contract research and others accounted for the remaining in the reported quarter. 
  
Total operating expenses in the quarter climbed 44% year over year to $132.2 million. Research and development (R&amp;D) expenditure for the quarter jumped 46% year over year to $117.5 million primarily because of the additional R&amp;D headcount, clinical and pre-clinical development costs for the company’s pipeline candidates. 
  
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&amp;A) expenses increased to $14 million in the reported quarter from $11.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The rise was attributable to higher compensation expense, higher recruitment costs and facility-related costs. 
  
Regeneron exited the quarter with cash, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $413.5 million compared with $390 million at the end of 2009.  Furthermore, the company received $47.5 million from its landlord in the reported quarter. The payment from the landlord was related to tenant improvement costs for new laboratory and office facilities that Regeneron leases in Tarrytown, New York. 
  
Our Take 
  
Currently, we have a Neutral outlook on Regeneron. We are pleased with the approval of Arcalyst by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU) for CAPS, and the extension and expansion of the antibody agreement with Sanofi in late 2009. 
  
However, we are concerned about the potential competition awaiting Regeneron’s pipeline candidates.  Furthermore, the company faced a pipeline setback when the development of late-stage pipeline candidate, aflibercept, used for pancreatic cancer, was halted in 2009. The study showed that patients on aflibercept were not surviving significantly longer than those in the placebo group.
Our Neutral long-term outlook on the stock indicates that it will perform in line with the overall US equity market over the next six to twelve months. We advise investors to retain the stock over this time period.
<a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=REGN">Read the full analyst report on "REGN"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=SNY">Read the full analyst report on "SNY"</a> <a href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZR&amp;d_alert=rd_final_rank&amp;ADID=GENSYND_ZER&amp;t=AZN">Read the full analyst report on "AZN"</a> <a href="http://www.zacks.com" alt="Investment Research">Zacks Investment Research</a>