Illumina Aims at Roche for Tests Seen Worth $25B

Source: Bloomberg, Michelle Fay Cortez (9/28/12)

"Illumina Inc. bought BlueGnome Ltd. for an undisclosed sum, its first foray into the diagnostics market. Life Technologies Corp. is also after small diagnostic businesses, most recently Navigenics Inc., which it acquired in July."

Bloomberg, Michelle Fay Cortez

With gene testing all the rage, the two biggest makers of DNA sequencing equipment are about to snap up smaller players in an attempt to stake out a market expected to reach $8 billion ($8B) by 2014 and $25B within a decade.

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) and Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE)'s gene deciphering gear has helped revolutionize genetic testing. Now, the two companies are intent on entering the fast-growing genetic diagnostics market on their own, putting them in direct competition with such giant players as Roche Holding AG (ROG) and Abbott Laboratories. Last week, Illumina bought BlueGnome Ltd. for an undisclosed sum, its first foray into the diagnostics market. Life Technologies, which has grown its gene-tool business through nine acquisitions totaling $8.3B in the past 10 years, is also after small diagnostic businesses, most recently Navigenics Inc., which it acquired in July. . .View Full Article

Novavax Shares Shoot 65% Higher on Phase 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial's 89.3% Effectiveness
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/29/2021)

Novavax Inc. shares established a new 52-week high after the firm's COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated an 89.3% efficacy rate in a Phase 3 trial in the U.K. and also showed efficacy against the South African variant in a Phase 2b trial.

Sorrento Shares Rise 35% After Firm Posts Positive Data from Phase 1b ICU COVID-19 Trial
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Shares of Sorrento Therapeutics traded higher after the company released positive preliminary results from it of Phase 1b COVI-MSC™ Study for treatment of hospitalized ICU COVID-19 patients.

Life Sciences Co. Receives Large Livestock Feed Order from New Client in Mexico
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Avivagen Inc. reported it has secured a six tonne order for OxC-beta™ Livestock from a new customer in Queretaro City, Mexico.

Coverage Initiated on Biotech 'Improving Drugs Via Prodrug'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

KemPharm's key near-term catalyst, lead value driver and other pipeline drug candidates are discussed in a ROTH Capital Partners report.

Vir Shares Climb 48% on Initial Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Trial Data
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Vir Biotechnology shares traded higher after the company reported data from its Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Study that showed VIR-3434 significantly and rapidly reduced hepatitis B surface antigen.

Aurinia Pharma Shares Open at 52-Week High as FDA Approves Adult Lupus Nephritis Drug
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/25/2021)

Shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals traded 30% higher after the company reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) for use in treating adults with active lupus nephritis.

AzurRx Doses First Two People in Expanded Phase 2b Trial of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/22/2021)

AzurRx BioPharma shares traded 45% higher after the firm advised it had dosed the first two patients in its Phase 2b OPTION 2 Extension Study of MS1819 for treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Gritstone Oncology Licenses LNP Platform from Genevant Sciences to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/20/2021)

Shares of Gritstone Oncology reached a new 52-week high price after the company advised it entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Genevant Sciences to develop and commercialize self-amplifying RNA vaccines for use against SARS-CoV-2.

Biotech Given Go-Ahead to Proceed with Phase 3 COVID-19 Study
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/20/2021)

Algernon Pharmaceuticals reported that it has been granted approval from the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to conduct a Phase 3 Study of Ifenprodil for SARS-CoV-2.

Aclaris Shares Triple in Value on Positive Topline Data from Phase 2a Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/19/2021)

Shares of Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. soared to a new 52-week high after the company reported positive preliminary topline data from its Phase 2a trial of oral ATI-450 for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.