Scimitar Equity Blog

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

Today’s Gospel: The market is feeling more comfortable and that they can really trust the rally. Expect the market to rally “at least another 10 to 15%” until year-end based on strong fundamentals and improved market confidence, though there will be some pullbacks along the way.  RegMed and health care stocks, two of the biggest … underperformers … of the broader market this year, are … selectively …  trading higher as the Supreme Court hears arguments on the 2-year old US health care overhaul law.

Mid-Day: The NASDAQ is UP +36.19(+1.18%) to 3,104.11 while the Dow is UP +116.44 (+0.89%) to 13,197.17.

Mid-Day Market Commentary: Stocks rise sharply in early trading Monday, continuing the rebound … mid-day … from last week’s losses, after a speech from Fed’s Bernanke signaled the central bank is committed to a monetary policy that’s helped buoy stocks. Much of the strength … in the mid-day market stems that the unemployment rate has declined faster than the Fed predicted but cautioned that the jobs market remains far from normal. As a result of the focus on Bernanke’s remarks, traders have largely shrugged off the release of a report from the National Association of Realtors showing an … unexpected drop in pending home sales in the month of February.

Who is UP … Mid-day: 

• BioMimetic (BMTI)
• BioTime (Amex: BTX);
• Cryo-Cell (OTC BB: CCEL);
• Cytomedix (OTC BB: CMXI);
• Cytori (CYTX);
• Dendreon (DNDN);
• Fibrocell (OTC BB: FCSC);
• Opexa (OPXA);
• Osiris (OSIR);
• ReNeuron (RENE.L);
• ThermoGenesis (KOOL).

What’s new in the regenerative medicine/stem cell market … not much … to know today …

Aastrom (ASTM) New Findings on Atheroprotective Effects of Ixmyelocel-T:  http://www.scimitarequity.com/blog/2012/03/26/aastrom-astm-new-findings-on-atheroprotective-effects-of-ixmyelocel-t . The Bottom Line: In clinical trials, ixmyelocel-T has shown promise in the treatment of severe, chronic ischemic and inflammatory diseases associated with atherosclerosis. Ixmyelocel-T therapy is an investigational, patient-specific, multicellular therapy expanded from a patient’s own bone marrow and comprised primarily of CD90⁺ mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and CD14⁺autofluorescent⁺ alternatively activated macrophages. These macrophages have been identified by the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, expression of scavenger receptors and the up-regulation of reverse cholesterol transporter proteins. This study represents the first report of expansion of this cell type in vitro. Advanced atherosclerotic disease and its associated arterial lesions (atheroma) are characterized by lipid accumulation, chronic inflammation and defective removal of apoptotic cells. In this in vitro study, alternatively activated macrophages in ixmyelocel-T demonstrated key functions in the resolution of atherosclerotic lesions: active removal of apoptotic cells and reverse cholesterol transport. ASTM scientists are currently evaluating the characteristics and therapeutic potential of alternatively activated macrophages, which are a cell population unique to ASTM’s patented cellular therapy.