Biotech Catalyst Trades For This Week

Submitted by Scott Matusow as part of our contributors program.

EnteroMedics Inc. (ETRM)

Entero focuses on the design and development of devices that use neuroblocking technology to treat obesity, metabolic diseases, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Its proprietary neuroblocking technology is designed to intermittently block the vagus nerve using electrical impulses. The company is developing Maestro System, which is used to limit the expansion of the stomach, control hunger sensations between meals, reduce the frequency and intensity of stomach contractions, and produce a feeling of early and preolonged fullness.

According to company press releases, conference calls, and my email correspondence with IR for the company, Phase III data from its Recharge study on its flagship product The Maestro system, is due to be released around mid Q1, which would be mid to late February. in 2009, traders bet the stock to near $30 a share on anticipation of the company’s “EMPOWER” study succeeding, but ultimately failed to meet both its primary and secondary endpoints.

After the failure, the company and its stock became somewhat forgotten by the market. During this time, the company made some modifications to the system designed to improve its efficacy. The new trial design requires the company show a 10% greater Excess Weight Loss (EWL) from randomization with the Maestro System after 12 months of VBLOC therapy compared to control by BMI method, and to observe clinically meaningful responder rates in the treatment arm of 20% and 25% EWL from implant at 12 months (not statistically based).

I expect the company to announce positive results from the newly designed trial based on data from 2010, when its Austrian cohort showed results that easily surpasses the new trial’s requirements. In the Australian cohort, a total of 83 subjects were enrolled at two centers, with 61 subjects implanted. Main outcome measures were morbidity, mortality and excess weight loss at 12 months. Results include:

Mean 12-month EWL was 25% for the treatment group and 17% for the control group;
Weight loss was linearly related to hours of device use; subjects with greater than or equal to 9 hours/day use achieved 37% and 21% mean EWL (treated versus control, p = .02); and
No therapy-related serious adverse events or deaths were reported across the entire study population.

As we can see from above, the numbers easily surpass the endpoints defined in the new Recharge Study.

Morbid obesity is an ever growing problem world wide, and having the option of a device like the Maestro System as a choice over gastric bypass surgery and potentially dangerous pills could really make a difference in the lives of those who might need it — it could also mean big dollars for the company, which in turn would mean huge gains for the company’s stock holders. Both traders and investors should keep a close eye out on this one.

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL)

Auxilium engages in developing and marketing pharmaceutical products primarily in the United States. It markets Testim, a testosterone gel for the treatment of hypogonadism; and XIAFLEX (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), an injectable collagenase enzyme for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture in adult patients with a palpable cord.

In the third quarter of 2012, Auxilium completed enrollment in its Frozen Shoulder phase IIa. Top-line data from the XIAFLEX study is expected in the first quarter of 2013.

Frozen Shoulder, which doctors call adhesive capsulitis, is frequently caused by injury that leads to lack of use due to pain. Rheumatic disease progression and recent shoulder surgery can also cause frozen shoulder. Frozen Shoulder affects 10% to 20% of people with diabetes and 10% of those with rotator cuff injuries ages 40-60.

There is a decent size market for Frozen Shoulder, so I expect anticipation of positive results here to add some upside catalyst trade value to the stock.

Perhaps another reason to trade Auxilium to the long side is the recently announced Pricing of $325.0 Million of 1.50% Convertible Senior Notes which are in Due 2018. The conversion rate is equal to an initial conversion price of about $24.17 per share, which is over 30% higher than the company’s last closing price of $18.34. Considering the data catalyst, a strong cash position, and a much higher initial conversion price for the convertibles over the stock’s current price, Auxilium might be poised to make a nice run higher in the near term.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (KERX)

Keryx focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease in the United States. It is developing Zerenex (ferric citrate), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract and form non-absorbable complexes.

To sum Keryx up here is rather simple; the company is over a month late in reporting the top line data for its Phase III drug Zerenex. Another Seeking Alpha writer remarks:

Reasons for the Phase III data delay include: 1) Trial complexity – many parameters to be measured per patient, such as TSAT, ferritin levels, hemoglobin, and IV iron and ESA (erythropoietin stimulating agent) requirements for patients in the trial; 2) Year-end issues (hurricane Sandy, vacations, etc.); and most importantly, 3) Query resolution, or the process of making sure all the data are entered and accounted for, prior to releasing results. Nevertheless, we believe that queries by the CRO conducting the study have wrapped up and that the company will release results imminently, perhaps later this week.

Should Zerenex demonstrate that it can meaningfully help manage anemia in dialysis patients, and ultimately in pre-dialysis patients (those with Chronic Kidney Disease), the drug could have multi-hundred million-dollar potential. As we see it, the odds of Zerenex repeating prior clinical results are high, and the upside to KERX could be significant if it does.

The above writer might be ultimately proven correct in his assessment, but investors and traders should consider alternate viewpoints as well.

One such viewpoint for the Phase III data being late hinges on comments offered by Martin Shkreli in an article he wrote for The Street.com covering another company back in December, 2012. Shkereli remarks;

Clinical trials taking longer than expected usually means someone made bad assumptions about the way control-group patients would behave. When a company tells you results from a cancer drug trial are being pushed back, don’t think, “Hurray, the drug must be working!” Instead, run away, scared.

Last month, Amicus (FOLD) finally released its Phase III top line data for its 6 month study for its clinical drug Amigal, designed to treat Fabry disease. The 6 month trial failed to meet its primary endpoint. After six months, 13 of 32, or 41%, of Amigal-treated patients demonstrated a kidney response compared to 9 of 32, or 28%, of the placebo controlled patients. The results failed to show the required statistical advantage of Amigal over the placebo control arm.

Also in December 2012, Oncothyreon (ONTY) saw Phase III data for its drug L-BLP25, being developed for the treatment of unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), fail. L-BLP25 did not meet its primary endpoint to improve overall survival (OS) significantly.

Shkereli’s exact comment was offered towards cancer drugs, yet Amicus’s Amigal is not designed to treat cancer. However, both of the above companies had one point in common — both data releases were delayed significantly.

All of this does not necessarily mean Keryx’s Zerenex has failed to meet data endpoints, but success in the market in large part heavily relies on predicting future events by establishing a clear trend in past events. While Zerenex is not designed to treat cancer, again, neither is Amicus’s Amigal. I consider Martin Shkreli to be a smart man, so it’s my opinion that the best course of action concerning Keryx is to carefully weigh all factors, pros and cons before either going long or shorting the stock.

Celsion Corp. (CLSN)

Celsion engages in the development and commercialization of targeted chemotherapeutic oncology drugs based on its proprietary heat-activated liposomal technology. The company develops ThermoDox, a liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin.

Data from the company’s Phase III HEAT Study, a pivotal study of its clinical drug ThermoDox is expected in the current quarter. ThermoDox, in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), is designed to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), also known as primary liver cancer.

On Tuesday of last week, Celsion entered into an agreement with Zhejiang Hisun Pharma for the development of ThermoDox in the greater China region. Hisun agreed to a $5 million upfront payment to Celsion while Celsion agreed to provide Hisun with support for its ThermoDox manufacturing development program. The payment is in advance of Celsion’s data results from its pivotal Phase III HEAT trial in hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as primary liver cancer. Results of the trial are expected by the end of this month.

According to Celsion, it believes it could receive “several hundred million U.S. dollars” from Hisun over the next decade.

I remarked in my Januarry 3rd article:

The stock seems to have run into a triple top situation while I did not see a move yesterday to support the likeliness of positive data here. However, this does not mean the data will be bad. It means with all the volatility, that there is no clear indicator either way.

On January 16th, the stock was halted for trading after it plunged from $9.40 down to $6.17 on what appeared to be a “bear raid” after being downgraded the same morning from a “buy” to a “sell” rating by Brean Capital.

In my opinion, this is actually a good sign as many bear raids are designed to get short sellers out of a potential bad position, helping them to avoid a margin call situation when a stock price rises too far and fast. In Celsion’s case, it is my opinion that this is what transpired, as the stock rebounded to close at $8.10, up sharply from its intraday low of $6.17.

A large chunk of short sellers wanting out of their Celsion position on an apparent bear raid indicates to me that it’s a good chance the company’s HEAT study will produce positive results.

Disclosure: I am long ETRM. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and entertainment use only, and should not be construed as professional investment advice. They are my opinions only. Trading stocks is risky — always be sure to know and understand your risk tolerance. You can incur substantial financial losses in any trade or investment. Always do your own due diligence before buying and selling any stock, and/or consult with a licensed financial adviser.