Scimitar Equity Blog

      The 6 W’s: Who, what, where, when, why and what of it …

Today’s Gospel: We are now seeing an UP but, hyped trading <news flow> market … I would be cautious of this market … The market is persevering and is getting close to erasing all the losses incurred during the past crises, but it has done so largely without retail investors … Quoting one of my favorite pundits:  “You may get some people saying: ‘we’re back to where we were several years ago and maybe we can move on from here,’” said Art Cashin, director of floor operations at UBS Financial Services. “I’d like to hope that’s true, but so far, it’s all psychology and there’s no following through” … a lot of applause on the trading floor but, there was no burst of enthusiasm that followed [13,000].

Mid-Day: The NASDAQ is UP +3.62 (+0.12%) to 2,955.40 while the Dow is also UP +38.75 (+0.30%) to 12,988.62.

Mid-Day Market Commentary: Traders are back to work after the 3 day holiday weekend after stocks turned in a relatively lackluster performance last Friday. Europe is the key topic as trading got underway in the US, mid-day. Euro-zone finance ministers early Tuesday gave a green light to a 2nd rescue package for Greece, unlocking 130B euros in bailout money for the cash-strapped nation. The deal follows weeks of sometimes tense negotiations and a number of austerity measures in Greece. <I don’t believe this is the end of it …. The Greeks will renege or screw-up their deal at a later date>.

 Who is UP … Mid-Day: 

• Athersys (ATHX);
• ImmunoCellular (OTC BB: IMUC);
• International Stem Cell (OTC BB: ISCO);
• Osiris (OSIR);
• Pluristem (PSTI);
• Tengion (TNGN);
• ThermoGenesis (KOOL).

What’s new in the regenerative medicine/stem cell market … 6 … things to know today …

Medistem, Shanghai Jia Fu unite to develop ERC stem cell treatment: Medistem and Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus have teamed up to develop an endometrial regenerative cell product for the treatment of critical limb ischemia in the Chinese market. Medistem obtained FDA approval to conduct a P1 clinical study of the stem cell treatment. The Bottom Line; Clinical Development Of Endometrial Regenerative Cells …

Gentium has submitted its response:  to the ‘Day 120’ list of questions issued by European Medicines Agency’s committee on its marketing authorization application(MAA) for Defibrotide to treat, prevent hepatic veno-occlusive disease in adults, children undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy, co. says in statement. The committee will continue its review of the MAA and will either issue an opinion or submit a list of outstanding issues requiring further clarification. The committee is expected to reach its final opinion no later than day 210. The Bottom Line: Gentium submitted its MAA in May; EMA issued questions end-Sept; 8/18 shrs fell most since 2009 after reporting it voluntarily withdrew NDA for defibrotide after FDA identified numerous “Refuse to File” issues.

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Licensing Agreement with University of Pennsylvania for Enhanced Dendritic-Cell Production: Under which University of Pennsylvania has granted the IMUC.OB an exclusive, worldwide license for a patent pending technology for the production of high-activity dendritic cells (DCs). The Bottom Line: the license covers the application of this technology to the development of therapeutics for all indications except breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Investigators at The Saban Research Institute Demonstrate That Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Can Slow Progression of Kidney Disease:  Investigators at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have found that amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. A new study, published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, reveals that these stem cells can protect the kidneys and help maintain their function.

Sigma® Life Science Obtains Global License for Kyoto University’s iPS Cell Patent Portfolio: NASDAQ: SIAL has furthered its commitment to stem cell research, drug discovery and ADME/Toxicology by acquiring a worldwide license to use KyotoUniversity’s induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell patent portfolio. Sigma Life Science, leveraging its zinc finger protein platform and stem cell technology portfolio, is now poised to develop a new set of differentiated tools for both the drug discovery and preclinical research communities. The Bottom Line: these tools will include novel iPS-cells, iPS-cell derived primary cells, novel assays, custom cell line development and ADME/Toxicology services.  Under the terms of the agreement, iPS Academia Japan, Inc. (AJ) will receive a license fee from Sigma-Aldrich.

Researchers use molecule to grow mesenchymal stem cells:  Australian researchers used a small molecule to transform embryonic stem cells into mesenchymal stem cells in 10 days, according to a study in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. The method also worked with induced pluripotent stem cells.