Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Swing trade or stay long (and risk loss)?



Stock Talk



Today, I will briefly state
a fundamental principal
of
the stock market.


Buy Low
Sell Higher.

When a Company you "believe"
has potential, but does
not prove it or act like it
and the short sellers are
all about bashing it-
it may be time to rethink
your strategy. If there is
a gain to be had, sometimes
it's best to trade all or
part of the stock in
question and take the gain!
Or sometimes cut the loss
and move on. Sometimes, you may
have too large of a position
and have to trim shares.

Pulling the sell trigger
is not easy. But losing
money is worse and winning
is much better. I trimmed
some shares on Inovio today.
I was losing perspective on
the reward/ risk profile.



__
ALL in my humble opinion, scr
This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
___

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Inovio reports a Positive PR on Phase1, But ... always a BUT .


Stock Talk



Today Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO) reported
a PR on results of Phase 1 testing. At
first glance, the report looked favorable.
 
However, the market is selling off INO as
of this writing, mid day, being whipsawed
down.
 
Barron's had a pretty good explanation.
Inovio did not share specific info on
neutralizing antibodies.
 
https://www.barrons.com/articles/inovios-stock-covid-19-vaccine-trial-51593525763?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo 
 
Barron's noted that 5 out 8 analysts
that cover Inovio rate it as a HOLD.
 
However after seeing it double and
enjoying an adversity filled ride,
today's drop and whipsaw is
disheartening as a shareholder in some
INO.
 
That's it, I took a gain on half my
shares.  It sucks to be a bag holder 
and I have FOMO about that too! 

I will watch INO and hold my remaining
half position. Today, Inovio became a
trading stock to me. Whipsaws do that!

 WHY?
Because if Inovio shared neutralizing 
antibody data with the government but
not to shareholders?
  - that seems a backhanded slap.
  - and if they did not and are holding 
    back info   
 
 why? 
So it just got more dicey. I still like INO,
and holding half for now.

half are free shares to those who
bought the 13's here. 
 
INO still has some "future dots". 
namely  "future funding"  and pipeline 
 -  maybe. 
 
On another trade, I bought back some 
Vaxart (VXRT ) just some. An oral vaccine
being tested in monkeys may find traction
maybe some good juju.
 
like my reasoning?  we'll see.

I tried to be a long on INO but they
kind of let me down on the lack of
full data on neutralizing  antibody data.
 
In closing.... 
 
 I am STILL HOLDING INO, just not as much.
 
 I need to remember ...
    - there is always "a BUT" 
    - and something always happens! 
 
 celebrate a gain if ya got it.






__ 

ALL in my humble opinion. 


This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
___

Monday, June 29, 2020

NASA used a Chimp called Ham for Space. watching VRTX?

  
 
Market Talk
 
The market wants so bad to recover, but the
corona pandemic still looms.  The young people
are acting like the threat is over. I get it.
They've been cooped up months, summer is here
and hormones rage. And they don't wear masks.
 
However, the Covid 19 cases among the young
are spiking.  Only a matter of time before
they pass it on to more of the vulnerable.
More hospitals could fill and more deaths.
This is why the Federal government is racing
for a vaccine.  I don't like being dramatic.
However, Covid 19 has crippled the entire
world! 
 
 
 Monkeys in Space - Decades TV Network - YouTube
  
Stock Talk 

 
Today, I will focus on FOMO, or "Fear of
missing out". Last week, Vaxart, Inc (VXRT}
announced selection into the government's
Operation Warp speed as a study candidate for
the only oral vaccine. It's being called a
"challenge candidate" . I have not seen
specific funding amounts in such monkey
studies. However, monkey studies are not
Phased Clinical trials as established by
the FDA.
 
As a result of the announcement VXRT rose in
share price from the $4 per share range
to as high the $13 range fora brief while.
Vaxart is a small company. I traded that swing
on "some". I sold on the basis of a quick
decision, that an oral vaccine succeeding 
for preventing Covid 19, seems like a long 
shot. I wonder if stomach acid may
deteriorate active compounds. However, I 
am starting to rethink that snap opinion.
what if they come up with something to
dissolve under the tongue? Or, designed to
dissolve in the intestine? 
well, that is pure speculation at this
point in my analysis. I'll leave the door
open that they may make progress.
In time?  that would be the question. 
 
It seems the purpose of a challenge study 
is try to answer the  question -- why not?
So the VXRT shares "skyrocked" on the news.
Do I believe the oral vaccine will succeed
or if so, make it to market before others?
 
My view is it has a long road ahead to prove.
 
But the notion of an easy to use oral pill to
protect against Covid 19  has a lot of appeal.
Will the market take VXRT to higher valuations,
maybe on FOMO ?
 
VXRT bears watching as a possible trade, but I
remain doubtful of it making an oral vaccine
pill to market by testing on monkeys. It does
seem like a backup plan that operation warp
speed thinkers are taking.
 
Always good to have a backup plan I guess. 
Will I trade VXRT again?  watching and maybe.
 
I am holding INO in the vaccine space, waiting
on Phase 1 trial results. 
 
 
 NASA's First Chimp in Space | Smithsonian Magazine
 
 

 
__ 
ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.. 

This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
___

Friday, June 26, 2020

Can Inovio "CRACK THE CODE" ?


Market Talk
The world has been crippled
by Covid 19 pandemic for
months now. For this reason,
I am focused on a few
companies that may yet be
undervalued. At this time
there is both hype and what
appears to be sound science
to try to discern.
 
Stock Talk

Yesterday, President Trump
hinted that he thinks there
will be an unexpected 
big surprise coming on a
vaccine. Each individual
company responded to the
dynamics at play for each.

I still believe the known 
facts on Inovio
Pharmaceuticals (INO)
that resulted in 
neutralizing antibodies and
T- cells in another corona 
virus, mers, provides at
least "a dot" that may be
forming to show success of
INO 4800, their Covid 19
vaccine candidate. Also
"a dot" on animal studies in
guinea pigs and mice on INO
4800. Results of the Phase 1
trial will tell the rest of
the story, where dots
will either be confirmed
or not.

Today, the Stifel analyst,
gave opinion  that he
believed the INO price was
no longer palatable, as a
buy at the surged prices
into the 30's. But he left
the target price of $24 a
share as a hold.

I can partially see the
Stifel analyst's point until
"we know" what the Phase 1
results are. However, some
who believe they can see
the future dots forming
may disagree.

The market is a funny thing.
FOMO - Fear of Missing Out 
is a dynamic that is
sometimes hard to predict
and its often too late for
some who hesitate in "some".

Yesterday and today, a penny
stock, Vaxart Inc, surged
from single digits to more
than double and surged past the
10 range. I saw this
happening yesterday and
jumped in the $ 5's with
"a some" 200 shares as
a trade.
 
After a quick look to see
the story is about Vaxart
collaboration on an oral
based vaccine, I decided to
continue to think of it as
a quick trade and sold my
200 shares this morning in
the 11's. A quick double as
the Stifel opinion on
INO took some steam out of
shares, but since
recovering quite well.
yep, FOMO.

Regarding Oral based
vaccines, it once was
used for the ailment,
polio. However, a
quick google shows that
practice was scrapped in
the US and only injections
are used for Polio.

Without being an expert,
I am doubtful Covid 19
neutralizing antibodies
will be durable or garnered
from an Oral vaccine. 
I am doubtful that any Oral
vaccine candidate will be
made and tested in time.
why?
Two words: "stomach acid". 

With that view,I took the
quick trade gain on
Vaxart and hold Inovio. I am
holding INO and waiting on the
Phase 1 clinical results and
will watch "the dots" form
along the way.

One final point that is being
missed by fancy pants
analysts:  

What If INO 4800 succeeds?
Then Inovio proves they can
"crack the code"  and- quick!
 - on future Corona mutations,
pandemics and such deadly
pathogens that may suddenly
pop up and cripple the world
again!

Another Inovio "dot"? 
Oh my indeed.






__ 
ALL in my humble opinion. 

This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
___

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Are Future Dots Forming on Inovio Pharmaceuticals ?






Market Talk:


The world has been in lock down for months
due to Corona. Yes, it has to reopen
carefully. However, the younger crowd seems
to act like it's over. It's not. Previously
I wrote about a few stocks that I thought
could make headway. Today, my focus is one
stock, Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO).

Stock Talk


My last post pointed out one advantage that
seemed to point to Inovio. Since then, I am
seeing other future dots forming
that are pointing to a fair chance of
success. INO uses a handheld application
device for their DNA based Vaccine
trademarked as Cellectra, It uses the theory
of Electroportation (EP) to theoretically
deliver their vaccines more
efficiently.

Inovio was just awarded a $71 M contract from
the Pentagon for their devices. However, this
may just be the beginning. You see, INO 4800
is Inovio's Covid 19 vaccine currently in
Phase 1 Clinical trial. Also South Korea is
reported to planning Phase 1 trial of INO 4800.

The end vaccine product does not require
super cooling in INO 4800 as would Moderna's
candidate. Inovio has a pipeline of cancer
treatments where DNA based treatment may target
the cancer by creating trained T Fighter
immune cells to infiltrate the cancer
and destroy it from the body.

I do not make buy or sell recommendations.
However, I will say that it seems like the
dots of the future chart may be forming for
Inovio to become a Biotech force of the
future. Every stock has risks, including
INO. My strategy is I may buy into "some"
shares if I believe it has a fair chance of
success. With that note, the caveat is that
in vaccines, many companies do not make it
to the end. However, look into Inovio's
history and form your own view on the
chances of success for corona strains.

One open question about INO is the ability
to mass produce INO 4800 vaccine from a
smaller trial setting to the masses. However,
if the Trump / Fauci warp speed corona vaccine
team gets behind Inovio results with massive
funding, the hurdles to mass production may
seem to vanish. With the $71 M purchase of
Cellectra devices, what does it seem like
to the reader?


Will the Phase 1 results in people prove to be
strong durable lasting antibodies and T Cells
to protect against Covid 19? There were
clinical studies on guinea pigs and mice
reported that looked promising enough to start
a Phase 1 trial in people. Reportedly, the
company will be ready by the end of June
(this month!) to report Phase 1 results. There
is some chatter about INO possibly being approved
to start a combined FDA P2/3 trial.

The ability for a vaccine to produce
neutralizing antibodies should not be
understated. And durable trained T fighter
immune cells as well? From what I
read about other more highly touted
candidates may NOT, n a durable sense. This
all makes Inovio an interesting horse in the
race and a strong contender in my humble
view.

With all of the above, I will close with the
statement, I am NO stock pumper. Look into it
all and form your own view, weigh the risk and
potential award. Look at the chart and history.
Biotech stocks can be risky ! But the ones that
do succeed can be rewarded in share price due
to improving fundamentals.

Putting hard earned money into anything like
stocks should be weighed carefully. In full
disclosure, I am in some INO shares and holding.
I am still waiting, as are many, on published
results of the INO 4800 Covid 19 vaccine candidate.

 


 

1



 __
ALL in my humble opinion.  

This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations
.

___

Monday, May 18, 2020

TWO Vaccine stocks: MRNA and INO, and a Test Stock, CODX





Market Talk:

Today, the overall market jumped on the news that Moderna Inc, MRNA, Phase 1 results resulted in antibodies in test participants against  Covid 19 .  This is huge news because it is the first vaccine out of several companies that actually produced antibodies in humans equal to antibodies found in those surviving Corona virus. Meanwhile , The Fed is warning about risk of the stock market. Yes, its a risky business my friends!

The following talk is on a few stocks I find interesting . I find them interesting from both a scientific and stock potential view.    I won't even try to advise on stock direction as there are so many uncertainties and both Bull and Bear forces in the market and especially the biotech arena. I do kind of like the following Stocks in the present  moment.  However venture in or out or abstain at your own doing.  That all being said, all I am saying is that these are interesting STOCKS TO WATCH.

Stock Talk:

 Here are a few Corona based issues that bear watching :

MRNA :  Moderna, Inc:

It seems that both the near term and the long term outlook or this position is looking favorable.  The viewpoint that MRNA can quickly produce vaccines based on the genetic coding of a pathogen has positive implications to future performance.  The  RNA based vaccine is bringing hope that  vaccines can be created and tested more quickly to overcome deadly pathogens that have future pandemic implications. MRNA is now the leader in the space in my view. So far, MRNA is leading the entire world at the Corona vaccine arena. But more testing is required to determine safety according to FDA practices.  I expect Fast track status on MRNA.

 INO:   Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc

  INO also has both a corona vaccine and a promising pipeline of cancer therapy in development.  The vaccine is a DNA based approach in early human trials.  The INO vaccine, if successful, would not require super cooing for transport and shelf life.  INO has seen a good run up of the share level and is in the teens at the moment.  If the INO vaccine produces antibodies also, I would anticipate a huge run up in share price. Note the word "IF".

INO also has a promising drug to treat a deadly form of brain cancer, GBM. Further news on the progress is in the following link:


CODX : Co Diagnostics, Inc

This is a small cap company that has a reportedly highly effective Corona test using a saliva test.  The test kits are already selling and very economically priced. Possibly TOO cheap for the good of the company.  Short hedge funds bashed the quarterly call and I feel possibly manipulated the share price lower. It seems that they take advantage of the smaller share float and scare shareholders out driving the share price down to make huge dollars.  However, it seems that CODX may weather the short storm and progress based on new orders coming.  Key words "it seems".  However, that is my call today. CODX may be Ok if they can increase sales and gain traction. Scroll down and read my previous post on CODX if interested.


_____
ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more..

This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.

______

Friday, May 15, 2020

Solving the Corona Crisis? Who is dropping the ball? TEST!



The COVID 19 virus has crippled world commerce. The rush for a vaccine by various companies is unprecedented.

However, the multi- phased safety and efficacy trials required take time.

Today I will highlight a Corona test that could well be part of the solution.

 The key tenants of Corona policy so far:

  Isolation of known carriers.
  Social separation with masks and gloves.
  Closure of business all around the world.

 Now if everyone who is a carrier of Corona knew that they were and self isolating at home or getting appropriate care, where would Corona virus find new hosts?

The entire problem has been that asymptomatic carriers of Corona walk around like "typhoid mary's"  of the past. infecting people as they go about their days. Healthy people spread the corona bug, period.

 A " simple solution"  ?

TEST EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET.

  For those that test positive, send them to their rooms!
  For those that need care. get them in care.

But tests involve a nose swath that are extremely uncomfortable.  There is a company that manufactures oral based tests that are reported to be highly reliable and much simpler using saliva. That company I am watching is Co-diagnostics, CODX.

Upon announcing their last quarter results they underwhelmed the market but appear set up to prosper coming in test kit sales. The stock price fell back instead of continuing to surge.

I wonder why the President Trump / Mike Pence Corona team is not all over the Co-Diagnostics Test kits and making plans to get everyone tested quickly before the next outbreak increases with states starting to open up commerce.  I think they may be dropping the ball here.

I say this more strongly with the news that the very test kits (by Abbott) used at the White House  are under more scrutiny as producing false negatives

  I'm watching CODX.


__
ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more..

This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
___