Ventrus Biosciences (NASDAQ: VTUS) is a development stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of late-stage prescription drugs for gastrointestinal disorders, specifically hemorrhoids, anal fissures and fecal incontinence. There are approximately 12.5 million Americans suffering from hemorrhoids, 7 million from fecal incontinence and over 4 million from anal fissures.
At Seeking Alpha, contributor Scott Matusow wrote an article about catalyst trades in the biopharma sector, which "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."
Matusow lists a handful of biopharma companies with near-term catalyst events associated with them, and includes their drug approval dates. About Ventrus Biosciences, one of the companies listed, he writes,
"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."