Biotech Sector Looking to Outperform in 2017

LONDON, September 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Biotech is a thriving industry, driven by constant innovation and a search for daring new solutions to serious health problems. After several years of struggle, with smaller companies losing out to rising costs and once-favored stocks taking a beating amidst bearish conditions, biotech is set for a comeback. Leading biotechs in focus include: Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), Epizyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPZM), Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: SGYP), Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON)

Each year, stroke and heart disease cost the U.S. nearly $1 billion every day in lost productivity and hospital bills, while untreated or untreatable medical conditions constitute one of the biggest burdens to the U.S. economy.

Fortunately, groundbreaking advances in medical technology have allowed innovative biotech firms to push the envelope, opening up opportunities for health-care proponents and investors alike.

Here are some of the most exciting biotech opportunities currently open to investors looking to take advantage of this emerging trend:

1. Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN)

As one of the biggest players in medical research, testing and product development, Amgen is the original "blue chip" investment in pharmaceuticals. Trading above $180 as of September 7, Amgen has paid out a dividend to investors since 2011 and is currently yielding near 2.4 percent.

A significant amount of growth is locked up in Kyprolis, acquired in Amgen's purchase of Onyx Pharmaceuticals in 2013. Year on year the drug has grown by 23 percent. With prices heading upwards and demand growing, Kyprolis could see annual sales of close to $1 billion.

Amgen continues to innovate, purchasing new therapies and launching a new therapeutic focus on cardiovascular drugs. Along with new product launches, the company has made cost-cutting a priority: trimming about 20 percent of the workforce since 2014, resulting in annual savings of $1.5 billion.

This has helped Amgen enjoy healthy share growth, rising from November 2016 by nearly 30 percent. With a host of other products on-line and a sterling reputation, there's no reason Amgen shouldn't remain a go-too for investors looking for a solid earner, albeit at a steep price.

2. CVR Medical (CVM.V; CRRVF)

A smaller firm with big ambitions, CVR Medical is taking a hard look at one of the leading causes of death for adults worldwide: strokes. The company has pioneered a brand-new technology, the Carotid Stenotic Scan (CSS) to search for Ischemia, one of main indicators of a potential stroke.

Every year, some 15 million people suffer a stroke, and of that number, 6 million die while 5 million are rendered permanently disabled. In the United States, stroke deaths occur on average once every four minutes, and some 800,000 people are affected by the condition every year.

Blood flowing through the carotid arteries create wave patterns, which the CSS monitors for signs of stenosis within the arteries, an indicator of Ischemia. Using patented algorithms, the CSS analyzes the wave patterns and pinpoints potential trouble spots. The technology is similar to seismic imaging methods used in the oil and gas industry.

Currently, the main method for detecting early signs of strokes is the CT scan, which can be pricey: each CT scan machine can cost up to $2.5 million, yet this scan isn't always accurate.

The CSS monitoring system is a steal compared to its competition. At the currently planned price of just $49,000 per unit, the CSS has the potential to become the main method for detecting early signs of a stroke.

So far, CVR Medical has developed this technology while attracting very little investor attention. With a minimum of fuss, CVR has slowly grown and could become a major disruptor in the field of stroke detection and prevention.

The company is progressing fast, in August, CVR announced a deal with Canon Virginia, Inc., to manufacture the CSS in larger numbers. This provides CVR with the ability to scale up quickly and offers a catalyst to potential success. A second catalyst came on September 7, when CVR released results from preliminary trials of the CSS. Together, these validate CVR's claims and help to bolster confidence in the CSS technology. Assuming FDA approval, a completed agreement with Canon and the medical industry's anticipating embrace of this technology, CSS units could be under mass manufacture quite soon, meeting the strong demand for stroke-prevention and detection methods in hospitals across the U.S.

The company's approach, one which favors a slow build (CSS), has been in development for 10 years (and CVR has invested $23 million in the technology) rather than flashy promos, should favor both patients and investors who are interested in getting in at this stage and staying with a company as it creates value.

Trading at $0.40 a share, CVR Medical represents an exciting opportunity for investors looking to get in on the ground floor of a potential emerging biotech pioneer.

3. Medtronic (NYSE: MDT)

A manufacturer of medical devices based in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Fridley, Minnesota, Medtronic has seen its share price tumble somewhat in 2017, falling from $89 to $79 a share, after an impressive rise on a bullish market from early 2017. Yet the company has a string of impressive products and is well-positioned to recapture its former momentum.

Recently, the company announced a new series of tests of its radical new bone-growth product Infuse, which could be used to strengthen the spine in order to treat back pain, which is the most common reason Americans visit the doctor.

While the product was approved by the FDA in 2007, Infuse has been used most widely in procedures unrelated to its intended purpose, including some the FDA considered dangerous. Political pressure, as well as a U.S. Senate committee investigation, pushed Medtronic to do more studies on the drug.

Medtronic is a company which, like many in the U.S. healthcare market, will be heavily affected by changes in U.S. healthcare law. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medtronic benefited from 17 million new customers, as more people became eligible for health insurance. But a repeal of this law could upset Medtronic's plans for growth, potentially making it a riskier investment option.

4. Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM)

A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Epizyme has enjoyed a boost of investor confidence in Q3 of 2017, with its share price soaring above a 52-week high in September to reach $18.70. The company's share price has enjoyed strong, steady growth since July 2017, after tumbling for a month on the back of disappointing Q2 results.

Based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Epizyme focuses on developing and commercializing unique epigenetic therapies for cancer patients. The company's premier product is tazemetostat, an inhibitor of EZH2, and the company has studies underway on solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Positive interim data on the drug's Phase 2 trial was announced in June 2017, with reports indicating it had a beneficial impact on patients with follicular lymphoma.

In August 2017 the company shifted its financial leadership, as management was reshuffled after a less-than-stellar June and July.

There are now strong signs the company is making its way towards a come-back, with a good Chaikin Money Flow indicator (CFI). Investors could buy into Epizyme now and hope the bounce that began in August continues.

5. Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP)

Though it's in the midst of a year-long slump, having seen share price tumble from $7 to less than $3 since January 2017, Synergy Pharmaceuticals is posed to make a recovery, thanks to a fresh infusion of capital.

In September the gastrointestinal-focused drug developer based in New York secured a $300 million debt financing deal from CRG. The deal is non-dilutive, so further drop in the share price is not to be expected.

The money should help the country push ahead its prize product, Trulance. The drug treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and enters a market with relatively little competition. Approved by the FDA in December 2016 and launched in 2017, Trulance has been hyped by the company's spokespeople, yet its release was followed by disappointing Q2 earnings of $2.3 million, well below the estimate of $3.6 million investors predicted.

The share price tumbled some 40% since Trulance was approved by the FDA, but investors shouldn't be too spooked about the fall, as it's customary for a hyped stock to see its value tumble after the release of its first major product.

The recent debt financing deal should reassure investors that Synergy's plans for the future remain unchanged. The company could see a recovery in its stock price fairly soon, especially if Q3 earnings come in above expectations.

Another interesting biotech stock to watch is Intrexon Corp (NYSE:XON) is a leader in the bio-tech field. The company's biologically-based products and processes are some of the most interesting and important revelations in the medical industry. Designing, building, and regulating gene programs, the company's technological advancements are ahead of most.

One of Intrexon's most important technologies is its patented UltraVector. The platform is a software-based operating system that accurately maps and assembles genetic programs. The platform allows for deeper understanding of how everything works and allows for experiments not possible otherwise.

As tech continues to fuel medical breakthroughs, Intrexon Corp is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

By Joao Piexe

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