NeoStem Provides Updates and Reports Year End Results; $NBS

NeoStem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS; Stock Twits: $NBS) is engaged in the development and manufacturing of cell-based therapies in the U.S.  Its January 2011 acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") is central to the Company's strategic mission of capturing the paradigm shift to cell therapy.  The acquisition of PCT gives NeoStem not only access to a world class contract manufacturing cell therapy company but provides a platform and expertise around the evaluation, development and regulatory requirements to develop autologous, allogeneic, immunomodulatory and vaccine-based therapeutics. NeoStem also holds the worldwide exclusive license to VSEL(TM) Technology, which uses very small embryonic-like stem cells, shown to have several physical characteristics that are generally found in embryonic stem cells, and is pursuing the licensing of other technologies for therapeutic use. 

 

NeoStem has reported its audited results for 2011: 

 

"Consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $73.7 million compared to $69.8 million for 2010. The Company's consolidated net loss for 2011 was $56.6 million, which included $10.3 million of non-cash equity-based compensation expense, $19.4 million of goodwill impairment charges and $9.0 million of depreciation and amortization. Overall, the Company's consolidated cash loss for 2011 was $15.5 million (see reconciliation below). Net loss attributable to NeoStem common shareholder interests for 2011 was $47.8 million, or $0.54 per share. 

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $12.7 million, and an additional $2.5 million in cash held in escrow (classified in Other Assets)." 

 

Despite a persistently difficult financial environment, Neostem believes that "the opportunities that exist today in cell therapy are robust and growing" and that current conditions make this "an opportunistic time to pursue the monetization of the Company's 51% ownership of Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and bolster its cell therapy business." 

 

Read the full release at Nasdaq.com.  

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The Biotech Bull Market Is Just Getting Started @ Growth Stock Wire

According to an article on GrowthStockWire.com by Larsen Kusick, the  lead analyst for the exclusive Phase 1 Investor advisory, the biotech sector is on its way up. He cited Roche's $5.8 billion bid to buy Illumina, Bristol-Myers' $2.5 billion offer for Inhibitex, and Amgen's $1.2 billion bid for Micromet as "part of a larger trend that's propelling the whole biotech sector to new highs. And it's just getting started."  

Kusick pointed out that while "Big Pharma companies have tons of cash...these companies aren't growing." The average sales growth this year for companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Amgen, Merck, Roche and others is negative 0.6%. These companies are "losing billions of dollars in revenue as blockbuster drugs, like Lipitor, go off patent and have to compete with cheaper generic versions. Big Pharma executives realize the only way to boost revenue growth, while earning a reasonable return on their investment, is to buy biotech assets at distressed prices."

He predicted that "a growing buyout bonanza would put a solid bid beneath biotech stock prices. The sector is already rocketing off its 2011 lows." The chart below illustrates his point:

He concluded, "if Big Pharma puts more of its cash to work this year, the uptrends here are just the beginning."

Read the full article at GrowthStockWire.com. 

WBB Upgrades NeoStem ($NBS), Target = $2.00

WBB Securities upgraded NeoStem (NASDAQ: NBS) to a Buy with a 12 months price target of $2.00 per share. The report cited a few reasons which include:

1. Expansion of the intellectual property associated with Amorcyte beyond STEMI (Heart attacks) to all Vascular Insufficiency.
2. New PCT clients on-board such as Immunocellular (IMUC) - (working on a dendritic cell based approach to brain cancer), and Islet BioSciences (microencapsulated insulin-producing, pathogen free swine (pigs) for type 1 diabetes’s. NeoStem actually gets a royalty on commercial sales (utilizing PCT's manufacturing currency to participate in clients downstream revenues).
   
3. Divestiture of China Generic company (WBB estimates $25 million).
4. The start of the Amorcyte Phase II trial.

ARM Panel shines light on the Cell Therapy Cardiovascular Space

This morning in SanFransico the ARM panel on cardiovascular medicine is taking place. NeoStem (Amorcyte), MesoBlast (MSB), Athersys (ATHX) and Cytori (CYTX) are presenting their cell therapy approaches. We will follow up with comments from this panel and the panels that follow throughout the day. In other news NeoStem announced the expansion of their IP for AMR-001 (their CD34+ cell therapy product) beyond STEMI (heart attacks) and to all ischemic (vascular insufficiency) diseases. We looked at the patent and we see this as a landmark expansion in the space. Immunocelluar (IMUC) also had news today, raising capital (aprox $9.4 mln) which will be used to fund the development of their dendritic approach to brain cancer (glioblastoma). We note that IMUC is working with NeoStem's CMO subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy (PCT).

ProActive Capital Resources Group Announces Client Participation at San Francisco Healthcare Conferences

JP Morgan's 30th Annual Healthcare Conference 

5^th Annual OneMedForum San Francisco 2012

Biotech Showcase 2012 in San Francisco

New York, NY, January 9, 2012 – ProActive Capital Resources Group, a strategic corporate communications, investor relations and social media firm today announced that several of its clients will be presenting at three prestigious investor conferences in San Francisco next week. The following companies will be presenting their corporate presentations at JP Morgan's 30th Annual Healthcare Conference, the 5^th Annual OneMedForum San Francisco 2012, and the Biotech Showcase 2012 in San Francisco.

“We are proud to have several of our clients presenting at these quality industry conferences as we continue to grow our healthcare practice at ProActive Capital,” stated Jeff Ramson, CEO of ProActive Capital Resources Group. “These healthcare conferences provide the visibility and help build awareness as our clients continue to execute on their growth initiatives.”

To schedule a one on one meeting with any of the companies please contact us at the number below.

Coronado Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNDO), will present at the Biotech Showcase 2012 Conference on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 4:30 PM PT.

Ventrus BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:VTUS) will be attending the conferences and is available for one on one meetings.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:KERX) will be presenting at JP Morgan's 30th Annual Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTCBB:WGBS.OB) - The company is scheduled to present at OneMedForum on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (OTCBB:TNXP.OB), will be presenting at the Biotech Showcase 2012 on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. PT, as well as on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. PT at the OneMedForum Conference.

AtheroNova, (OTCQB: AHRO.OB) will be attending the conferences and is available for one on one meetings.

Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTCBB:FCSC.OB), will be presenting at the 5^th Annual OneMedForum on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Cerecor Inc. (a privately held company) will present at the Biotech Showcase 2012 on Monday, January 9th at 10:00 AM PST. 

NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: NBS) will be presenting at Biotech Showcase 2012 on January 10, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. PT.

CytoSorbents Corporation (OTC.BB: CTSO.OB), will present at the OneMedForum 2012 on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:15a.m. PT.

For more information about each of the conferences, go to:

www.onemedplace.com/forum/

http://www.ebdgroup.com/bts/index.php

About ProActive Capital Resources Group, LLC

ProActive Capital Resources Group, LLC (“PACRG”) (www.proactivecrg.com) is dedicated to the discovery and creation of value in the small-cap marketplace. PACRG provides turnkey solutions that combine traditional investor relations services with the latest Internet, mobile and social media communications. The Company’s integrated digital media and global distribution platform www.ProActiveNewsroom.com connects innovative, emerging-growth companies to the investment community using a variety of user-friendly and interactive formats.

Investor Relations Contact:

Jeff Ramson

Proactive Capital Resources Group, LLC.

212-792-4294

jramson@proactivecrg.com

Athersys (ATHX): New IP that Protects MultiStem (but does not block others) !

Athersys (ATHX) announced earlier in the week a new patent has been granted (U.S. patent 8,075,881) that covers the use of "non-embryonic multipotent stem cells for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions including myocardial infarction, or heart attack, congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and other heart conditions".

From the company's press release: "The patent also provides protection for multiple techniques for delivering the stem cells to treat the conditions. Athersys also announced the issuance in 2011 of more than 25 patents in the U.S. and other countries covering non-embryonic multipotent stem cells, their production, and usage.

The issued patents cover Athersys' proprietary MultiStem has demonstrated therapeutic potential to treat a broad range of indications in the cardiovascular, neurological, and inflammatory and immune condition disease areas. Athersys currently has four clinical stage programs in acute myocardial infarction, ulcerative colitis, hematopoietic stem cell transplant support and ischemic stroke using its MultiStem product candidate."

We reviewed the IP claims as many questions were raised about how this IP impacts other companies also pursuing the use of adult stem cells in cardiology, MesoBlast, Cytori, NeoStem, Baxter and we found a few claims that narrow the Athersys IP around a specific cell type where the IP specifies this is for cells that are "mononuclear, centrifuged, and depleted (of CD45 and GlyA). The remaining cells are plated and, with successive doublings in culture, becoming more homogenous - by 10 doublings. So what does this all mean? It means that Athersys has IP to protect MultiStem but this is really not "blocking IP" that locks anyone else out of the space.

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Announces Agenda for Regenerative Medicine Insight Track at Biotech Showcase on January 10 and 11 in San Francisco

Speakers include Advanced Cell Technology, Athersys, Cytori, Dendreon,

Genzyme-Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Mesoblast and Shire

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the regenerative medicine (RM) community, today released the agenda for its second annual State of the Industry Briefing and RM Insight Track. The meeting will take place on January 10 - 11, 2012 at the Park 55 Wyndham in San Francisco.

The Regenerative Medicine State of the Industry Briefing will focus on recent developments and the future outlook for regenerative medicine, cell therapy and other advanced therapeutics. A full day of panels focused on several disease areas will follow the briefing as part of the Regenerative Medicine Insight track at the Biotech Showcase 2012. The panels will be moderated by key analysts in the sector. Please see agenda below:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

8:00 – 9:30 AM Regenerative Medicine State of the Industry Briefing

• Gil Van Bokkelen, CEO, Athersys (Moderator)
• Silviu Itescu, CEO, Mesoblast
• Tim Mayleben, CEO of Aaastrom
• Gary Rabin, CEO, Advanced Cell Technology
• Robin Smith, CEO, NeoStem
• Leanna Caron, VP & GM of Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Genzyme-Sanofi
• Ed Field, COO, Aldagen
• Jay Seigal, CBO, Johnson & Johnson
• Dean Tozer, Senior VP of Corporate Development, ABH-Shire
• Susan Solomon, CEO, New York Stem Cell Foundation
  

Therapeutic Focus Panels

9:30 - 10:45 AM Cardiovascular, AMI and PAD—Part 1

Analyst: Jason Butler, JMP Securities

• Amorcyte, Andrew Pecora, CSO
• Cytori, Marc Hendrick, President
• Athersys, Gil Van Bokkelen, CEO                               
• Mesoblast, Silviu Itescu, CEO                              

10:50AM - 12:15 PM Cardiovascular, CLI and Stroke—Part 2

Analyst: Ren Benjamin, Rodman and Renshaw

• Aastrom, Brian Gibson, VP Finance
• ReNeuron, Michael Hunt, CEO                             
• Aldagen, Ed Field, COO                            
• Tissue Genesis, Anton Krucky, CEO                                      
• SanBio, Keita Mori, CEO

1:45 – 3:00 PM Neurodegenerative Disease, Ophthalmology and Spinal Injury  

Analyst: Steve Brozak, WBB Securities

• StemCells, Inc., Martin McGlynn, CEO 
• NeuralStem, Richard Garr, CEO                           
• InVivo, Frank Reynolds, Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO,
• Advanced Cell Technology, Gary Rabin, CEO

3:00 – 4:15 PM Renal and AutoImmune Disease

Analyst: Kai Makay, Roth Capital

• Tengion, Mark Stejbach, VP, CCO
• Allocure, John Wirthlin, COO
• Tigenix, Eduardo Bravo, CEO
• Q Therapeutics, Deborah Eppstein, CEO 

4:20 – 5:45 PM Tissue Engineering, Orthobiologics and Artificial Conduits to Wound Care and BioPrinting

Analyst: Jeffery Cohen, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.

• ISTO, Scott Gill, CFO
• Organovo, Keith Murphy, CEO                   
• ABH - Shire, Dean Tozer, Senior VP of Corporate Development
• Healthpoint, Rob Bancroft, VP, Strategic and Corporate Development
• Axogen, Karen Zaderej, CEO
• ·      Harvard Biosciences, David Green, CEO

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

9:00 - 10:30 AM Hematology &  Immunology

Analyst: Stephen Dunn, LifeTech Capital

• Dendreon, David L. Urdal, Executive VP, CSO                                         
• Prima BioMed, Martin Rogers, CEO                               
• ImmunoCellular, Manish Singh, CEO
• Coronado, Bobby Sandage, CEO
• bluebird bio, Jeffrey Walsh, COO
• NexImmune, Ken Carter, CEO                                           
• Maxcyte, Doug Doerfler, CEO

To learn more and to register for the conference, please contact Rob Margolin at (646) 201-4192.  Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media and the investment community. The State of the Industry briefing is open to the public, but attendance at the disease panels will require registration for individuals without press or investor credentials. 

About Biotech Showcase™ (Innovation – Opportunity – Collaboration):

Now in its fourth year, Biotech Showcase™ will feature corporate presentations by 200+ innovative life science companies to an audience of public and private investors, business development executives and professional advisors who are interested in investment opportunities and collaboration.  The showcase takes place during the week of the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, one of the most important healthcare industry events of the year which attracts thousands of healthcare and life science business executives to San Francisco. Biotech Showcase was co-founded by Demy-Colton Life Science Advisors and EBD Group.  Please visit their website for more information:  www.biotechshowcase.com.

About The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)

ARM is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that promotes legislative, regulatory, reimbursement, and financing initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, and provides services to support the growth of its member companies and organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in September 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of regenerative medicine companies, research institutions, investors, and patient groups supporting more rapid adoption of technologies in our field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit www.alliancerm.org.

Ventrus Biosciences (NASDAQ: VTUS) works to provide prescription alternatives for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

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.

Last week, Ventrus announced that S.L.A. Pharma (Private), its EU partner, is ahead of schedule and has completed enrollment in the first of two pivotal Phase III studies with Diltiazem (VEN 307) for the treatment of anal fissures. Diltiazem is an off-label calcium channel blocker that is commonly used to treat anal fissures. 

Although Diltiazem has been shown to be effective, it remains difficult for consumers to access. Because it is off-label, patients need to find a special pharmacy that can make it, which is a hassle for pharmacies, doctors and patients. 

Ventrus hopes to resolve the situation by bringing a quality controlled, clinically trial proven product to the market. Avoiding surgery and having a prescription (ie, reimbursed) alternative is a genuine patient need.

The company’s other lead product is VEN 309, Iferanserin. This product, like VEN 307, is a topical treatment for hemorrhoids. The first Phase III trial started in August 2011 and top-line data is expected in June 2012. VEN 309 can be thought of as a prescription alternative to Preparation H, an over-the-counter cream.

Given that an increased risk of hemorrhoids is yet another consequence of leading a sedentary lifestyle, the market opportunity for a new Rx product for hemorrhoids is significant.