Written by: Aaron Katsman | June 17, 2008
Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com
Once again Israel has demonstrated that what it lacks in natural resources it more than makes up for in brainpower. Lucky for the world that it’s a renewable resource. News that Azilect, a drug that is co-developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA), has been successful in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, is another in the long-line of cutting edge innovations produced in Israel, and exported to the the rest of the world.
According to a report in Haaretz: “Azilect, which is the brand name for rasagiline, was tested in 1 milligram tablets as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. Teva said yesterday that the drug can actually slow the disease’s progression, which can’t be said for any other therapy for the so-far incurable nervous system condition.”
For Teva, this drug has the potential to generate $1billion is sales, and be a mega-drug. Teva, biggest generic drug company in the world, has also turned into a R&D powerhouse focusing on neurological diseases. Copaxone, another Teva product which treats Multiple Sclerosis, has turned into the number 1 global treatment in the fight against MS.
For the more than 4 million Parkinson’s sufferers, this breakthrough could be life changing. Teva hopes to get regulatory permits to sell the drug not only as a treatment of the disease but also as a way to slow down the progression of the disease. They are shooting for the end of ‘09 to get the permits. For both investors and Parkinson’s sufferers, let’s hope they get the permits sooner rather than later.
Disclosure: Author’s fund has a position in TEVA as of 6/17/08.
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Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.
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Written by: Zack Miller | November 15, 2007
I stumbled across the Reuters Health Summit that’s taking place in New York this week. Interestingly enough, they’re blogging the conference, so cheap investors like me can “attend” remotely. You can find the blog for the summit here.
Israeli generics giant, Teva Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TEVA), participated and there’s a great (short) audio clip on what Teva believes in happening in the biogenerics space during and after the election cycle. Go here to check it out.
Written by: Zack Miller | September 3, 2007
Globes article that Gazit is buying more Ormat (ORA). We first reported this back in June when Gazit initiated a 12% stake in the clean-tech energy play. Gazit-Globe president Dori Segal told “Globes” that the company believes that cleantech has a long-term upside, and that it has unreserved confidence in Ormat and its executives.
Interesting interview with NICE Systems (NICE) product manager, Brian Spraetz, on the IP communications industry and what NICE is up to.
Forbes reporting that generic pharmaceuticals giant, TEVA (TEVA), spent over $1M on lobbying in 2007. Specifically, the article mentions that TEVA lobbied on funding for Food and Drug Administration’s generic drug office, patent reform legislation, the children’s health insurance program and trade issues.
Blue Square-Israel (BSI) leaks their intention to build-out a big-box presence in the Health Food/Organics market. Read IsraelNewsletter’s Zack Miller’s recent analysis of the move.
What a roller coaster. Protalix BioTherapeutics (PLX) treats first patient in a Phase III trial of prGCD, a drug in research to treat Gaucher Disease. We’ve seen this stock tank over 40% in last week’s trading.
Written by: Aaron Katsman | August 9, 2007
By Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com
After disappointing investors with a weak Q1 ‘07, Omrix Biopharmaceutical’s(OMRI), has more bad news with a very disappointing Q2 ‘07 as well. This news sent the stock tumbling more than 20% in after-hours trading. I guess after the bloodbath takes place today, the company can sell some of their biosurgical products which are are designed to stop bleeding.
Omrix is a commercial-stage company that aims to develop and market innovative biosurgical and passive immunotherapy products, utilizing its proprietary protein purification technology and manufacturing know-how. I am no expert in this field, and the extent of my knowledge in this comes from shows like St. Elsewhere, Trapper John, MD, and ER, but I do understand that when companies quarterly profits drop by 71%, there is a need to look out below.
Uncertainty regarding future shipments of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) to an European Union country, as well as related unrecognized revenue, resulted in the company cutting its full-year product sales view. The company said it was facing administrative issues over about $3.0 million of IVIG shipments to the EU country, which it did not name. Omrix didn’t even know as to when it could record the revenue or if it could even continue to sell the product in that country in 2007. The company projects sales of $42 million to $47 million for 2007, down from its prior view of $50 million to $55 million. This is the second quarter in a row that the target has been lowered.
If the stock were to drop down and start trading in the low to mid-teens, even with all this bad news, I think an opportunity would arise (as looking forward into ‘08, there is hope). CEO Robert Taub said,” I am particularly encouraged by the continued market penetration of Evicel in the US, which will be accelerated by the expected general hemostasis approval in the first quarter of 2008. Adding to the growth in our biosurgery platform is the anticipated approval of thrombin in September of this year.”
Keep an eye on the stock. I would expect it to continue to trade lower, but if it were to hit the levels mentioned above, I think an interesting buying opportunity would be at hand.
Please see our Disclaimer HERE.
Disclosure: Author’s fund has no position in OMRI as of 8/09/07.
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Aaron Katsman is the lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.
