Thursday's Bio-Pharma Drug Approval And Catalyst Event List

May 3, 2012  | 2 comments  |  includes: ALNY, ALXA, GTXI, OSUR, VTUS

Catalyst trades in the bio pharma sector can provide big profits if traded correctly. Some traders and investors who enjoy bringing more risk into play often times will hold through the catalyst event. While this does bring a lot more risk into play, the reward from engaging in this can be a massive one.

The bio-pharma companies listed below have near-term catalyst events associated with them, which also include drug approval dates. Traders and investors might also consider using option trading to hedge or lever their positions accordingly.

Alnylam Pharma (ALNY) 5/2/12 pps: $10.75. Market cap: $464.49M

Alnylam Pharma engages in discovering, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi).

Catalyst event: Phase 2b data of ALN-RSV01 for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The data from this trial is due to come out by early June.

Alexza Pharma (ALXA) 5/2/12 pps: $0.69. Market cap: $80.13M

Alexza Pharma engages in the research, development, and commercialization of novel proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system conditions

Catalyst event: PDUFA 5/4/12 of Staccato loxapine for Schizophrenia

GTX (GTXI) 5/2/12 pps: $3.28. Market cap: $205.99M

GTX engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecules for the treatment of cancer, cancer supportive care, and other serious medical conditions.

Catalyst event: FDA Decision expected to be made by May 4, 2012 regarding clinical hold of Capesaris (GTx-758) for primary (first line hormonal) androgen deprivation therapy for advanced prostate cancer.

Ventrus Biosciences (VTUS) 5/2/12 pps: $9.11/ Market cap: $113.02M

Ventrus focuses on the development and commercialization of late-stage prescription drugs for gastrointestinal disorders, primarily hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissures, and fecal incontinence.

Catalyst event: Phase 3 data due by May 15th, 2012 from Phase 3 European trial of VEN 307 (diltiazem cream) for Anal fissures

OraSure Technologies (OSUR) 5/2/12 pps: $11.07. Market cap: $533.30M

OraSure develops, manufactures, markets, and sells oral fluid diagnostic products and specimen collection devices in the United States and internationally.

Catalyst event: FDA Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC) to meet May 15, 2012 for HIV test OraQuick

My trade I am playing this week:

MediciNova (MNOV) 5/2/12 pps: $3.02. Market cap: $48.59M for information about MNOV, please refer to my last article. I am playing it because I think it has the highest short term upside potential.

By Scot Matusow

Disclosure: I am long MNOV.