The latter is the case with Chemed Corp (NYSE: CHE).
Chemed operates two very disparate businesses. In addition to owning the iconic Roto-Rooter company, the largest provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services in North America, it also owns VITAS Innovative Hospice Care. VITAS is the largest provider in the US of palliative care services, otherwise known as hospice, with about 8 percent market share in the country, operating 51 programs in 18 states.
As America’s World War II generation passes away and the Baby Boom generation rapidly turns gray, hospice has become a growth industry. While industry data is fragmentary, in 2009 about 33.5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who passed away died at home, according to a study published by lead author Joan Teno that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this year. Of those, 42 percent died in hospice care as compared to only about 20 percent in the year 2000.
Top 10 Trucking Companies To Own For 2015: ResMed Inc (RMD)
ResMed Inc., (ResMed), incorporated on March 31, 1994, is a holding company for the ResMed Group. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment for treating, diagnosing, and managing sleep-disordered breathing and other respiratory disorders. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) includes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and other respiratory disorders that occur during sleep. The Company has developed a number of products for SDB and other respiratory disorders including airflow generators, diagnostic products, mask systems, headgear and other accessories. Its manufacturing operations are located in Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Malaysia and the United States. Its distribution and sales sites are located in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Norway and Sweden. In December 2013, ResMed Inc acquired Unimedis SRO, a surgical appliance and manufacturing company.
Air Flow Generators
The Company produces continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), variable positive airway pressure (VPAP) and AutoSet systems for the titration and treatment of SDB. The flow generator systems deliver positive airway pressure through a patient interface, either a small nasal mask, nasal pillows system, or full-face mask. Its VPAP units deliver bilevel therapy. There are two preset pressures: a higher pressure as the patient breathes in, and a lower pressure as the patient breathes out. AutoSet systems are based on a technology to monitor breathing and can also be used in the diagnosis, treatment and management of OSA. The Company�� Stellar 100 and 150 ventilation devices, provide both invasive and non invasive ventilation applications for adult and pediatric patients.
ResMed Inc.�� CPAP products include S8 Escape, S9 Elite and S9 Escape. Its VPAP products include VPAP III STA with QuickNav, VPAP S / VPAP IV, VPAP IV ST, S8 Auto 25, VPAP Tx Lab System, S9 VPAP S, S9 VPAP ST! , S9 VPAP Auto, S9 VPAP Adapt, S9 AutoSet CS, S9 Auto 25 and S9 VPAP COPD. The Company�� automatic positive airway pressure products include S9 AutoSet and S9 Escape Auto. Its ventilation products include Elisee 150, VS III and Stellar 100 and 150.
Masks, Accessories, Motors and Diagnostic Products
Masks, accessories, motors and diagnostic products together accounted for approximately 46% of its net revenues in fiscal 2012. Its Mask products include Activa LT, Swift LT for Her, Swift FX, Mirage SoftGel, Quattro FX, Swift FX for Her, Mirage FX, Mirage FX for Her, Pixi Pediatric Mask, Quattro FX for Her, Swift FX Bella, Quattro Air and Swift FX Nano. Its diagnostic products includes ApneaLink + Oximetry and ApneaLink Plus (U.S.)
Accessories and Other Products
The Company to assist those professionals diagnosing or managing the treatment of patients have data communications and control products, such as the EasyCare, ResLink, ResControl, ResControl II, TxControl, ResScan and ResTraxx modules that facilitate the transfer of data and other information to and from the flow generators. These products include humidifiers, such as H5i and H4i, which connect directly with the CPAP, VPAP and AutoSet flow generators to humidify and heat the air delivered to the patient, helping to prevent the drying of nasal passages that can cause discomfort. Other optional accessories include cold passover humidifiers, carry bags and breathing circuits. The Company�� data/patient management products include S9 Embletta Adapter, ResScan v3.14, ResTraxx v17.1., ResTraxx v18.3, ResScan v3.16 and EasyCare 1.0.
The Company competes with Philips BV, DeVilbiss Healthcare., Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited, Apex Medical Corp, BMC Medical Co. Ltd and Weinmann Gerate fur Medizin GmbH + Co. KG.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Basic guidelines
In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at ResMed (NYSE: RMD ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is ResMed doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, pretty well. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 10.0%, and inventory decreased 9.3%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks decent. Revenue increased 9.9%, and inventory shrank 9.3%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks healthy. Revenue grew 1.9%, and inventory dropped 14.5%. - [By Sean Williams]
ResMed (NYSE: RMD ) : 2% projected forward yield
Like the previous companies, ResMed has operations on a global scale, but unlike the preceding device makers, its focus is on medical equipment that helps diagnose and treat sleeping disorders. Whereas growth at Smith & Nephew and Medtronic has been slow-and-go in recent quarters, ResMed has seen sales take off. In its recently reported fourth-quarter results, ResMed delivered record quarterly revenue and income of $414.6 million and $86.2 million. Revenue in its Americas and combined Europe/Asia Pacific regions rose by 11% and 12%, respectively, with the company announcing a 47% increase to its quarterly dividend.� - [By Jon C. Ogg]
ResMed�Inc. (NYSE: RMD) was raised to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) was downgraded to Neutral rom Buy at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: 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 Monica Gerson]
Breaking news
Loews (NYSE: L) reported a 59% rise in its third-quarter earnings. Loews posted a quarterly profit of $282 million, or $0.73 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $177 million, or $0.45 per share. To read the full news, click here. BankUnited (NYSE: BKU) announced today the commencement of an underwritten offering of 9,000,000 shares of its common stock by certain of its existing stockholders, subject to market and other conditions. To read the full news, click here. Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA) announced today an agreement to sell substantially all of its international content division Chellomedia to AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX).To read the full news, click here. Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) today announced that validation data for the Myriad myPlan Lung Cancer test showed that it significantly predicted patients' risk of death from early-stage lung adenocarcinoma within five years of being diagnosed. To read the full news, click here.Posted-In: Bank of America US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: Prima BioMed Ltd (PBMD)
Prima BioMed Ltd is a biotechnology company is engaged in the development and commercialization of medical therapies with a focus on oncology. Its product candidates in development include Cvac, an autologous dendritic cell vaccine for ovarian cancer, monoclonal antibodies for multiple tumour types, and an oral formulation for the human papilloma virus (HPV), vaccine. Its product candidate Cvac is a dendritic cell therapy, for which it is conducting a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Cvac is designed to target the tumour antigen mucin-1, which is expressed at high levels on different tumour types. It also has two preclinical product development programs. In May 2011, Prima BioMed GmbH, a 100 % owned subsidiary of Prima BioMed Ltd, was incorporated in Germany. In May 2011, Prima BioMed Middle East FZLLC, a 100 % owned subsidiary of Prima BioMed Ltd, was incorporated in the United Arab Emirates. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Prima Biomed (NASDAQ: PBMD) shares dipped 38.59% to touch a new 52-week low of $1.44 after the company reported top-line analysis of CVac Phase 2 trial.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
Were it the first time, or even the second time, it happened, it might be dismissible. A third time though? As they say, the third time is the charm. If the old saying applies in the worlds of small cap stocks (and it usually does), then Prima Biomed Ltd. (NASDAQ:PBMD) just kick-started what could be a trade-worthy rally.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Prima Biomed (NASDAQ: PBMD) dropped 38.17% to $1.45 after the company reported top-line analysis of CVac Phase 2 trial.
Tower Group International (NASDAQ: TWGP) plummeted 24.31% to $10.49. Tower Group announced its plans to release its Q2 results during the week of October 7, 2013. FBR Capital downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform.
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NAVB)
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Navidea), formerly Neoprobe Corporation, incorporated in 1983, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of precision diagnostic agents. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� radiopharmaceutical development programs included Lymphoseek (Lymphoseek, Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m for Injection), a radiopharmaceutical agent for lymph node mapping; AZD4694, an imaging agent, and RIGScan, a tumor antigen-specific targeting agent. In January 2012, the Company executed an option agreement with Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alseres) to license [123I]-E-IACFT Injection, also called Altropane, an Iodine-123 radiolabeled imaging agent, being developed as an aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson�� disease, movement disorders and dementia. In August 2011, the Company sold its gamma detection device line of business (the GDS Business) to Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
Lymphoseek
Navidea�� pipeline includes clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical agents used to identify the presence and status of disease. Lymphoseek (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m for Injection) is a lymph node targeting agent intended for use in intraoperative lymphatic mapping (ILM) procedures and lymphoscintigraphy employed in the overall diagnostic assessment of certain solid tumor cancers. The lymph system is a component of the body�� immune system. The key components of the lymph system are lymph nodes-small anatomic structures that contain disease-fighting lymphocytes, filter lymph of bacteria and cancer cells, and signal infection in response to heightened levels of pathogens. In Navidea�� Phase III clinical studies of Lymphoseek, it detected over 99% of positive nodes identified by vital blue dye (VBD). As of December 31, 2011, Navidea, in co-operation with UC, San Diego affiliate (UCSD), completed or initiated five Phase I clinical trials, one multi-center Phase II trial and three multi-center Phase II trials inv! olving Lymphoseek. Two Phase III studies were completed in subjects with breast cancer and melanoma. During the year ended December 31, 2011, data from NEO3-09 were released, which indicated that all primary and secondary endpoints for the study were met. As of December 31, 2011, third Phase III clinical trial for Lymphoseek in subjects with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (NEO3-06) was in progress.
AZD4694
AZD4694 is a Fluorine-18 labeled precision radiopharmaceutical candidate for use in the imaging and evaluation of patients with signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). It binds to beta-amyloid deposits in the brain that can then be imaged in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Amyloid plaque pathology is a required feature of AD and the presence of amyloid pathology is a supportive feature for diagnosis of probable AD. Patients who are negative for amyloid pathology do not have AD. AZD4694 has been studied in several clinical trials. Clinical studies through Phase IIa have included more than 80 patients to date, both suspected AD patients and healthy volunteers. No significant adverse events have been observed. Results suggest that AZD4694 has the ability to image patients quickly and safely with high sensitivity.
RadioImmunoGuided Surgery
As of December 31, 2011, RIGScan had been studied in a number of clinical trials, including Phase III studies. Navidea has conducted two Phase III studies, NEO2-13 and NEO2-14, of RIGScan in patients with primary and metastatic colorectal cancer, respectively. Both studies were multi-institutional involving cancer treatment institutions in the United States, Israel, and the European Union.
The Company competes with Pharmalucence, Eli Lilly, Bayer Schering, General Electric and GE Healthcare.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
3. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: NAVB )
Some investors were likely befuddled by Navidea's stock action earlier this year. The company received FDA approval in March for Lymphoseek, its radiopharmaceutical agent used for imaging lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer or melanoma. That was great news, but shares dropped quickly and still haven't returned to previous levels. - [By Sean Williams]
Another prime example here would be Navidea Biopharmaceuticals' (NYSEMKT: NAVB ) Lymphoseek which is an injectable agent used in external lymph-node imaging and intra-operative lymphatic mapping. In English this means it will dramatically improve the staging and treatment options for patients with breast cancer. Being that breast cancer was also listed as a commonly misdiagnosed cancer, this is a big step in the right direction for patient care.
- [By Sean Williams]
Diagnostics can also play an important role in early and late-stage breast cancer diagnoses. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: NAVB ) had Lymphoseek, its external lymph-node imaging and intra-operative lymphatic mapping diagnostic device, approved by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year to help doctors stage cancer. Discovering whether breast cancer has invaded adjacent lymph nodes has never been easier or safer thanks to Lymphoseek, and it can dramatically aid physicians in determining the best course of action for breast cancer patients.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL) and Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(NAVB)
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Ltd (IMUC)
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., incorporated on March 20, 1987, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. The Company is engaged in developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of cancers, such as brain, ovarian and other solid tumors. Immunotherapy is an approach to treat cancer in which a patient�� own immune system is stimulated to target tumor antigens, which are molecular signals that the immune system uses to identify foreign bodies. The Company�� products include ICT-107, ICT-140, ICT-120, ICT-109 and DIAAD. ICT-107, the pipeline product, is a Phase II therapeutic dendritic cell (DC) vaccine for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the common and lethal type of brain cancer. ICT-107 is designed to activate a patient�� immune system to target six different tumor-associated antigens. In February 2012, it acquired a world-wide license from the University of Pennsylvania and The John Hopkins University (JHU).
The Company in addition to ICT-107, is also developing other therapeutic DC vaccines: ICT-140 for ovarian cancer and ICT-121 for recurrent GBM. ICT-140 targets seven tumor-associated antigens expressed on ovarian cancer cells. ICT-107 is a DC vaccine that targets six different tumor-associated antigens that are found on patients��tumor cells; four of the six antigens are expressed on CSCs. The therapeutic vaccine is used subsequent to conventional therapy or concomitantly with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. ICT-140 is a DC vaccine that targets seven different ovarian cancer antigens. ICT-121 is a DC vaccine that targets CD133 antigens; it has the potential to be a universal cancer vaccine because CD133 is widely expressed on CSCs from a majority of cancers. Data from this small study demonstrated that ICT-109 had a statistically ability to discriminate between cancerous and non-cancerous samples, suggesting the potential to detect pancreatic and lung cancer in plasma and serum study sets. The DIAAD (differential immunization for an! tigen and antibody discovery) platform it acquired from Molecular Discoveries utilizes immunological tolerization to accelerate the discovery of the molecular differences between diseased cells and their normal counterparts. The monoclonal antibodies produced by DIAAD provide the basis for the discovery and development of its potential diagnostic and therapeutic products.
The Company competes with Dendreon, Oncothyreon, Galena, Bavarian Nordic and Immunovaccine, Northwest Biotherapeutics, Prima Biomed, DCPrime, Roche/Genentech, Seattle Genetics, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Immunogen.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of ImmunoCellular (IMUC) �jumped after the drug developer said data on a mid-stage brain cancer drug study were looking encouraging.
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (SGYP)
Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on February 11, 1992, is a biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development of drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI), disorders and diseases. The Company�� lead product candidate is plecanatide, a guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), receptor agonist, to treat GI disorders, primarily chronic constipation (CC), and constipation-predominant-irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). It is also developing SP-333, the second generation GC-C receptor agonist for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). The Company�� active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and the final formulated drug products are manufactured for it by third party contractors.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company was developing plecanatide, a synthetic hexadecapeptide designed to mimic the actions of the GI hormone uroguanylin, for the treatment of CC and IBS-C. Plecanatide is an agonist of GC-C receptor. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was dosing patients in an 800-patient Phase II/III clinical trial of plecanatide to treat. It is also developing a second generation GC-C receptor analog, SP-333, which is in pre-clinical development for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. SP-333 is a synthetic analog of uroguanylin, a natriuretic hormone.
The Company competes with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Forest Laboratories, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Shire Plc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Finally, Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP ) may have had the wildest week of them all. Synergy's share price spiked 16% on Tuesday as an analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald raised her peak sales estimate for plecanatide, the company's midstage drug for chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, to $1.58 billion from $1.05 billion, as clinical data has been stronger than expected. However, the company didn't return the favor to shareholders by -- the very next day, mind you ��announcing a secondary offering of 16.375 million shares. The downside of clinical-stage companies is the always apparent risk of dilution. Shares have lost 25% since their Tuesday close.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Breaking news
Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) reported a drop in its third-quarter profit. Time Warner Cable's quarterly profit fell to $532 million, or $1.84 per share, from $808 million, or $2.60 per share, in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here. Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP) today announced the start of a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SP-333, its second-generation GC-C agonist and once-daily oral treatment, in adult patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC). To read the full news, click here. Cigna (NYSE: CI) reported a 19% rise in its third-quarter earnings and lifted its full-year earnings outlook. To read the full news, click here. Charm Communications (NASDAQ: CHRM) announced today that the special committee of the Company's board of directors, consisting of independent directors Mr. Zhan Wang, Mr. Andrew J. Rickards and Mr. Gang Chen, has retained China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited as its financial advisor and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP as its legal advisor. To read the full news, click here.Posted-In: Bank of America US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets
Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: BioTime Inc (BTX)
BioTime, Inc., incorporated on November 30, 1990, is a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Its commercial strategy is focused on its line of research products, such as ACTCellerate cell lines and associated ESpan culture media, HyStem hydrogels, human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines, and royalties from Hextend. Its focus is to provide regenerative therapies for age-related degenerative diseases. In January 2011, the Company acquired the assets of Cell Targeting, Inc. (CTI), a biotechnology company focused on methods of painting molecules on the surface of cells, which in turn causes the cells to adhere to particular tissues, such as those afflicted with disease. On March 21, 2011, the Company acquired Glycosan BioSystems, Inc. (Glycosan) through a merger of Glycosan with OrthoCyte Corporation (OrthoCyte). Through the merger, OrthoCyte acquired all of Glycosan�� assets, including Glycosan�� Hystem hydrogel product line. In March 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with XenneX, Inc., pursuant to which it organized LifeMap Sciences, Inc. (LifeMap), a subsidiary formed to advance the development and commercialization of its human embryonic stem (hES) cell data base. In August 2011, four hES cell lines (ESI-035, ESI-049, ESI-051 and ESI-053) developed by its subsidiary ES Cell International (ESI) were approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for inclusion in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. In May 2012, the Company acquired XenneX, Inc., through a merger of XenneX into LifeMap Sciences. In September 2012, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corporation. In October 2013, Geron Corporation announced the closing of the transaction to divest the Company's stem cell assets to Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc.
HyStem is a biomaterial, which mimics the human extracellular matrix, which is the network of molecules surrounding cells in organs and tissues which is essent! ial to cellular function. Its HyStem hydrogels may have other applications when combined with the diverse and scalable cell types its scientists have isolated from hES cells. HyStem-Rx is a clinical grade formulation of HyStem-C, a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. Its subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, is developing PanC-Dx, a non-invasive blood-based cancer screening test designed to detect the presence of various human cancers, including cancers of the breast, lung, bladder, uterus, stomach, and colon, during routine check -ups. BioTime Asia, Limited (BioTime Asia) sells products for research use and may develop therapies to treat cancer and neurological and orthopedic diseases in Asia. OrthoCyte Corporation (OrthoCyte) is developing therapies to treat orthopedic disorders, diseases and injuries. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. (ReCyte Therapeutics) is developing therapies for age-related cardiovascular and blood disorders. Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. (Cell Cure Neurosciences), is a biotechnology company focused on developing stem cell-based therapies for retinal and other neurological disorders, including the development of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. LifeMap Sciences, Inc. (LifeMap) is advancing the development and commercialization of our embryonic stem cell database and plans to make the database available for the marketing of research products and for use by stem cell researchers at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and other institutions via paid subscriptions or on a fee per use basis.
The Company�� blood plasma expander product, Hextend, is a physiologically balanced intravenous solution used in the treatment of hypovolemia, a condition caused by low blood volume, often from blood loss during surgery or injury. Hextend maintains circulatory system fluid volume and blood pressure, and keeps vital organs perfused during surgery and t! rauma car! e. Hextend is manufactured and distributed in the United States by Hospira, Inc., and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang (CJ), under license from it.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Research Use
Combined with the Company�� ACTCellerate technology, it derives of a range of markets human embryonic progenitor cells (hEPCs). ESI�� six current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) hES cell lines have been approved by the NIH for inclusion in the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry, which renders those cell lines eligible for use in federally funded research. The ESI hES cell lines are available for purchase through www.biotimeinc.com. It also markets hEPCs developed using ACTCellerate technology. Its hEPCs are also available for sale through www.biotimeinc.com. It derived the complete genome sequence of five of the ESI hES cell lines to facilitate the development of products derived from these cell lines. It has made these GMP-grade cell lines, along with certain documentation and complete genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence information, available for sale.
The Company offers human stem cell products and technology that can be used by researchers at universities and at companies in the bioscience and biopharmaceutical industries. It has developed research and clinical grade hES cell lines, which it markets for both basic research and therapeutic product development. It also markets human embryonic progenitor cell (hEPCs) developed using ACTCellerate technology. These hEPCs are purified lineages of cells, which are intermediate in the developmental process between embryonic stem cells and fully differentiated cells. The ACTCellerate cell lines are also available for purchase through http://www.biotimeinc.com.
Human Embryonic Progenitor Cells
Through the Company�� subsidiary ReCyte Therapeutics, it had a license from Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) to use ACTCellerate technology, and the rights to market more than 200 human c! ell types! made using that process. ACTCellerate allows the rapid isolation of hEPCs, which are cells that are intermediate in the developmental process between embryonic stem cells and fully differentiated cells.
Through an agreement with ReCyte Therapeutics, Millipore Corporation became a global distributor of ACTCellerate hEPC lines. In addition to the products, which it is co-marketing with Millipore, it offers 92 other ACTCellerate hEPC lines for purchase at www.biotimeinc.com. Through its subsidiary LifeMap, it provides online biomedical database services to increase awareness of molecular markers and diverse cell types comprising its ACTCellerate hEPC lines. It also focuses to market additional cell types manufactured with its PureStem technology. PureStem cell lines are produced by the exogenous expression of specific transcription factors, which regulate the differentiation of cell types from hES or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. BioTime Asia has an agreement with Shanghai Genext Medical Technology Co., Ltd. to sell ACTCellerate hEPC lines and related ESpan growth media to the medical and biological research communities in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on an exclusive basis. The marketing agreement includes provisions for an initial stocking inventory and annual milestones to maintain exclusivity. The Company�� California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)-funded research addresses the need for industrial scale production of purified therapeutic cells.
hES Cells Carrying Genetic Diseases
The Company focuses to add to its product line muscle progenitor cells produced from five hES cell lines carrying genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy Type I, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1A, and Becker muscular dystrophy. It obtained the diseased hES cell lines from Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI).
ESpan Cell Growth Media
The Company is marketing a range of! cell-gro! wth media products called ESpan. These growth media are optimized for the growth of hEPC types. Cells need to be propagated in liquid media, in both the laboratory setting, where basic research on stem cells is performed, and in the commercial sector. Its ESpan products are marketed through Millipore and Genext.
ESpy Cell Lines
The Company focuses for development of ESpy cell lines. The ability of the ESpy cells to emit light will allow researchers to track the location and distribution of the cells in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
HyStem Hydrogel for Research and HyStem-Rx for Cell Delivery Medical Devices
HyStem is a patented biomaterial that mimics the ECM, the network of molecules surrounding cells in organs and tissues that is essential to cellular function. Its HyStem technology forms the foundation for stem cell delivery products in both the adult and embryonic stem cell marketplace, including products manufactured using its ACTCellerate technology. As an injectable product, HyStem-Rx may address need in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries and other procedures by transplanting adipose derived cells or other adult stem cells. The transfer of cells in HyStem-Rx localizes the transplanted cells at the intended site and by providing a three-dimensional scaffold upon which cells can rebuild normal tissue. HyStem-Rx may support other emerging cell and tissue transplant therapies, such as those derived from hES and iPS cells, in addition to its potential application in the treatment of a range of conditions such as osteoarthritis, brain tumors, stroke, bone fracture, and wounds.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Stem cell stocks have not exactly been the best performers lately in part because the controversy over their use has died down over the years while major breakthroughs have been few or far between, but the industry along with small cap stem cell stocks Pluristem Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: PSTI), BioTime, Inc (NYSEMKT: BTX) and BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX) are still quietly producing their share of news or minor breakthroughs worth taking note of. Just consider the following stem cell news or news from small cap players in the sector:
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