(REGN) Archives

The Stem Cells in Your Investment Future

I’ll do anything to postpone aging, as regular readers of this letter already know.

So when my doctor told me that she could extend the life of my knees by ten years with a stem cell injection, I was all for it.

You better pay attention too.

Stem cells, along with CRISPR gene editing (CRSP), are two hyper-accelerating medical technologies that promise to cure your ills, extend your life, and make you fabulously rich along the way.

Have I got your attention?

When my doc confirmed that she was already getting spectacular results from her other elderly patients, such as the dramatic regrowth of knee cartilage, it was like pushing on an open door.

Yes, these are the famous well-worn 71-year-old knees you have heard so much about over the past 15 years that hike and snowshoe 2,000 miles a year with a 50-pound backpack.

My doc is not lightweight. She is the orthopedic surgeon for the US Ski Team at Lake Tahoe, which is why I sought her out in the first place.

As a UCLA-trained biochemist, I have known about stem cells for most of my life. They only left the realm of science fiction two decades ago.

Early sources of stem cells relied on stillborn human fetuses, creating a religious and political firestorm that led to severe restrictions, a funding drought, or outright bans.

During the 2000’s, California was almost the only state that permitted stem cell research.

Since then, the technology has developed to the point where it can be easily harvested throughout the human body.

Easy, except when the source is the bone marrow in your backbone.

“You may feel a slight twinge,” said my doctor, as she flushed the air out of a gigantic horse needle the width of a straw. “I only have to hammer this needle into your hip bone 20 or 25 times to get the marrow I need.”

This was NOT in the glossy brochure I had been provided.

I said, “Don’t worry, Marines are immune to pain.”

“Does that work?” she asked.

“No, not really,” I replied, grimacing. “But it sounds good.”

I felt every single blow and tried to imagine myself on a faraway tropical island. It turned out to be 55 blows. I counted.

Once she obtained the 10cc she needed, she popped it into a small centrifuge to separate the stem cells (clear) from the red blood cells (red).

She then used an ultrasound machine to inject my stem cells at the exact right spot in both of my knees.

Being the true journalist that I am, I took pictures throughout the entire procedure with my iPhone 15 (see below).

The problem with advanced, experimental treatments is that they are not covered by your health insurance. Still, I thought $2,000 for ten years of extra life for both knees was a bargain.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can transform into specialized cells such as the heart, neurons, liver, lung, skin, and so on, and can also divide to produce more stem cells.

You can think of stem cells as chemical factories generating vital growth factors that can help to reduce inflammation, fight autoimmune diseases, increase muscle mass, repair joints, and even revitalize skin and grow hair.

Goodbye, Rogaine!

When you are young, you have oodles of these cells, which is why kids so rarely die from dread diseases.

However, as you age, your exposure to too much sunlight at the beach, too many chemicals in the food and water you eat and drink, and natural background radiation degrades your DNA and reduces your stem cell supply.

Supplies of stem cells diminish as much as 100 to 10,000-fold in different tissues and organs. Welcome to old age, and eventually death.

The procedure I underwent is called Autologous Adult Stem Cells Treatment.

The great thing about it is that since you are using your cells, the risk of rejection or infection is minimal. And they are free!

This approach has become the must-go treatment for the wealthy seeking to repair aging, sagging parts of their bodies.

They are often sold with vacation packages in exotic third-world countries where regulation and medical malpractice suits are nonexistent.

The fact that the treatments are now becoming widely available in the US testifies to their effectiveness.

Do any search on stem cell treatments, rejuvenation, or life extension and you will find hundreds and hundreds of private clinics offering to do so for high prices.

California leads the nation with 109 clinics (including 18 in Beverly Hills alone), followed by New York and Texas.

Just follow the money.

The market is now on fire and is expected to reach $270 billion by 2025.

As a result, several breakthroughs in longevity are just around the corner.

The industry is now branching out into fields considered unimaginable just a few years ago. I’ll cover some of the highlights.

Imagine using your stem cells to repair not only your knees but any other organ. This is already being done in the lab with animal trials.

In Japan, they are growing human eyes from scratch, including lenses and corneas.

At Stanford, stem cells are bringing dramatic improvements in stroke victims.

At USC they are deployed to bring rapid repairs to those with severe spinal cord injuries.

Several private firms have sprung up to facilitate the banking of your stem cells through cryogenic freezing, such as Lifebank. Just harvest them when you are young for future use.

Better yet, get born to wealthy parents who will pay to have your birth placenta and umbilical cord frozen, the two richest sources of stem cells known.

The key term to search for your investment strategy is Mesenchymal Stem Cells, the major stem cells for cell therapy, or MSCs.

These cells can differentiate into vital cells that can be used to cure autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and cancer.

There are now several hundred clinical trials involving these cells underway.

A more adventurous strategy is to buy the stem cells of others and have them injected into yourself, a procedure known as parabiosis.

A company in Monterey, CA named Ambrosia is doing exactly this for $8,000 a patient. The goal here is to reverse aging across every major organ system.

Of course, I think there’s got to be a trade here.

Not so fast.

Almost all stem cell efforts are now confined to the research labs of major universities or are buried inside large biotech and drug companies.

A few researchers have spun off to set up their own private companies with substantial venture capital backing.

That said, there are a few peripheral listed plays.

Celgene is one of my favorites and is an early entrant in the field. They are using placenta-derived cells to cure a whole host of diseases, which you can find listed on their site at http://www.celgene.com/research-development/rd-locations/celgene-cellular-therapeutics/cell-therapy/

Thermo Fischer Scientific (TMO) provides a range of tools and supplies scientists need to pursue stem cell research (click here for their site at https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home.html

Regeneron (REGN) uses stem cells to pursue a broad range of serious medical conditions, including ophthalmology, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, pain, and infectious diseases. Visit their site at
https://www.regeneron.com

The problem with the entire biotech sector is that it can take a long time to deliver new drugs and procedures to market. So these may be next year's investments, instead of next week's ones.

And how are my knees doing? I knew you would ask.

A little swelling in my knees went away in a day. I sat funny for a few more days, thanks to my bone marrow extraction.

It will take about six months before any real growth in new cartilage in my knees can be measured with an MRI scan, which I have scheduled. So far, the results have been great.

But you know what?

My knees have not hurt an iota, despite my regular tortuous exercise regime. And I think that, right there, is a win.

If it works, my doctor wants to extract fat cells from my middle, known as Adipose Cells, and inject their stem cells, into my knees.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

This Won’t Hurt a Bit

November 16, 2023/by MHFTR

November 2, 2023

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
November 2, 2023
Fiat Lux

Featured Trade:

(SLICING THROUGH DOUBT)

(CRSP), (VRTX), (BLUE), (BEAM), (AMGN), (REGN)

November 2, 2023/by april@madhedgefundtrader.com

Slicing Through Doubt

Biotech Letter

In the intricate world of medical breakthroughs, September 14, 1990, stands out like a sore thumb—or perhaps, a healing one.

On this day, the baseball world was left agog as Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. knocked out back-to-back home runs, a feat as rare as hen’s teeth.

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the planet, a medical marvel was unfolding. Ashanti DeSilva, a 4-year-old with a genetic disorder ravaging her immune system, was about to become the poster child for gene therapy, receiving a groundbreaking treatment that involved a cocktail of modified white blood cells. The aim? To supercharge her immune system and give her a fighting chance at a normal life.

But let’s not sugarcoat it—the road from there to here was anything but a walk in the park. Gene therapy, the promising prodigy of the biotechnology and healthcare sector, had its fair share of teenage rebellion, grappling with safety concerns and delivery vehicle dilemmas. It wasn’t until the early 2010s when gene correction technologies got their act together and safer delivery systems stepped onto the scene, that gene therapy started living up to its potential.

Enter Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), the blood disorder that’s been playing hard to get, affecting around 70,000 Americans and causing everything from anemia to organ damage.

The cure seemed as elusive as a winning lottery ticket until exa-cel, the brainchild of CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), entered the scene.

This therapy, wielding the mighty CRISPR/Cas9 like a genetic scalpel, takes a patient's stem cells on a rollercoaster ride—harvesting, modifying, and infusing them back into the patient, with the end goal of producing healthy red blood cells.

Looking ahead, CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex are gearing up for a potential launch of exa-cel in 2024, assuming all the stars align. This innovative gene therapy is poised to be a significant growth catalyst for both companies in the coming decade. Initially, the focus will be approximately 32,000 patients suffering from SCD and TDT.

However, investors need to brace themselves for the price tag, as gene editing therapies don't come cheap. The cost for exa-cel is anticipated to be well north of $1 million, reflecting the complexity and value of this cutting-edge treatment.

At this point, it's crucial to acknowledge that exa-cel is not the only player in this high-stakes game.

A variety of other gene therapies are also vying for the spotlight, with contenders like Bluebird Bio's (BLUE) lovo-cel, Beam Therapeutics' (BEAM) innovative base-edited candidates, and Editas Medicine's (EDIT) competitive CRISPR/Cas9 therapy all in the running.

Now, let’s talk turkey. The financial forecast for exa-cel is looking bright, with CRISPR Therapeutics poised to tap into a $48 billion market opportunity.

Although the treatment has yet to gain FDA approval, the company already has its ducks in a row. It set up 50 treatment centers in the US and 25 in Europe, as well as schmoozed with commercial payers to ensure exa-cel is as accessible as a cold beer on a hot day.

Still, let’s not put on our rose-colored glasses just yet. The biotech sector is as fickle as a cat on a hot tin roof, with CRISPR Therapeutics’ market cap doing the cha-cha in response to industry volatility. With a slew of gene therapies for SCD waiting in the wings, it’s a stark reminder that in biotech, it’s not enough to keep up—you’ve got to lead the pack.

Meanwhile, CRISPR Therapeutics is flexing its muscles with six other clinical trial programs targeting a spectrum of conditions from various cancers to type 1 diabetes, where it is ambitiously seeking a functional cure. With a robust $1.8 billion in cash, equivalents, and marketable securities as of the second quarter and a market capitalization of $3.2 billion, the company is in a strong financial position.

For the astute investors, the real gold is in playing the long game. Rather than getting caught up in the short-term ebbs and flows of the biotech market, the savvy should be pondering how to leverage the current market conditions to their advantage.

After all, CRISPR Therapeutics, with its pioneering gene-editing technology, has the potential to follow in the footsteps of biotech titans like Amgen (AMGN) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN), both of which have turned early investments into veritable treasure troves.

Moreover, its financial stability, bolstered by its partnership with Vertex, ensures that funding woes common among smaller biotechs are less of a concern. While it may not be the largest or most prominent player in the biotech arena, the next decade could very well see CRISPR Therapeutics delivering returns that outpace the market. I suggest you buy the dip.

November 2, 2023/by april@madhedgefundtrader.com

August 24, 2023

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
August 24, 2023
Fiat Lux

Featured Trade:

(FUTUREPROOFING BIOTECH)
(REGN), (SNY), (BAYN), (RHHBY)

August 24, 2023/by Mad Hedge Fund Trader

Futureproofing Biotech

Biotech Letter

The financial landscape of 2023 offers a captivating tableau. While stock market giants, such as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite, have been garnering attention with their respective 18% and 34% gains, the biotechnology and healthcare domain unfolds a more nuanced story.

When I take a look at this sector, I notice certain ETFs, notably the iShares Biotechnology and the SPDR S&P Biotech, in a decellerative phase. However, the industry's canvas is dotted with companies that are scripting their distinct success stories.

Among these trailblazers is Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN).

Contrary to the broader biotech trend, Regeneron has asserted itself with a commendable 7% growth this year. This is complemented by its sturdy revenue and an impressive EPS trajectory showcased in Q2.

For those not completely familiar with the annals of biotech, the name Regeneron is synonymous with pioneering achievements in therapeutic proteins. Their landmark collaboration with Bayer (BAYN) resulted in the creation of Eylea, a beacon in the anti-VEGF drug realm.

Their story doesn't end there.

Together with Sanofi (SNY), they've masterminded treatments that have potentially revolutionized the way we approach cancer, inflammation, and specific respiratory disorders. A testament to this partnership's prowess is Dupixent, which registered a remarkable $8.68 billion in sales during 2022.

Insider chatter hints at the possibility of these figures ascending to an ambitious $20 billion by the end of this decade.

A retrospective look at Regeneron's journey over the past decade reveals a remarkable story of resilience and growth. Their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stood at an enviable 24.2% from 2012 to 2022.

When contrasted against the S&P 500's relatively modest 16.3% in the same window, it underscores the vast potential that biologic therapies hold. Moreover, it showcases Regeneron's ability to harness this potential effectively.

Yet, as we look ahead, the landscape is not devoid of challenges.

Enter Roche’s (RHHBY) Vabysmo — a new contender that has begun to question Eylea's unchallenged dominion since its 2022 introduction.

Recognizing this, Regeneron has strategically moved towards bolstering Eylea to ensure it maintains its market presence. These evolving dynamics serve as a reminder that the arena of retinal disease treatments is becoming increasingly competitive.

Anticipating the industry's fluid dynamics, Regeneron has exhibited strategic foresight. Their ventures into the realm of immuno-oncology, notably their stalwart, Libtayo, are significant.

They've not stopped there, however.

Their strategic diversification includes incursions into groundbreaking fields like gene therapy, RNA interference, and more. The company's research pipeline, promising an influx of innovative drugs in the near future, showcases its commitment to remaining at the industry's forefront.

A key partnership that's generating interest is Regeneron's association with Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) in the sphere of gene editing.

This venture is pivotal. Such therapies have the potential to redefine medicine, offering transformative, perhaps even curative, treatments. Their adoption, however, comes with its fair share of challenges.

The industry's somewhat tentative approach towards gene editing, with a preference for licensing and equity stakes rather than outright acquisitions, underscores the nascent and experimental nature of this domain.

In conclusion, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals stands as an epitome of innovation and adaptability in the biotech sector. It amalgamates a rich history of achievements with an ambitious vision for the future.

As the company maneuvers through the intricate maze of opportunities and challenges that the 2020s present, investors ought to approach with both optimism and prudence. In a domain characterized by rapid advancements and uncertainties, Regeneron's journey offers valuable insights.

The upcoming years promise a blend of innovation, challenges, and milestones, and firms like Regeneron are poised to shape this narrative. I suggest you buy the dip.

regeneron biotech

August 24, 2023/by Mad Hedge Fund Trader

March 28, 2023

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
March 28, 2023
Fiat Lux

Featured Trade:

(NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP)
(REGN), (SNY), (RHHBY)

March 28, 2023/by Mad Hedge Fund Trader

Nowhere To Go But Up

Biotech Letter

For any biotechnology company, one of the critical elements of success is the capability to create and develop new and innovative treatments.

That is one requirement Regeneron (REGN) has no trouble meeting.

The latest update from this biotech involves its blockbuster asthma medication, Dupixent. The top-selling drug delivered promising results from a study that aims to expand its indication, signifying the potential for additional billions of dollars in revenue.

According to Regeneron and its co-developer, Sanofi (SNY), the Dupixent trial on current or previous smokers displayed a 30% reduction in moderate or severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD is a lung condition that makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs due to the narrowing of the airways. It's is caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarettes, coal, and other pollutants. It can be fatal and life-threatening. There is no cure for COPD, but treatments may help improve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.

The market for COPD is estimated to grow significantly over the next five years due to the increasing prevalence of COPD and related comorbidities, such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

Additionally, factors such as continuous growth in the elderly population and the introduction of novel therapies are likely to drive the growth of this market during the forecast period. The global COPD market was valued at $27 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $50 billion by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%.

Considering Dupixent’s positioning in the market and the competitors for this segment, Regeneron is projected to rake in an additional $4 billion in sales from this expanded COPD indication. Taking all its indications together, this blockbuster drug is estimated to contribute a whopping $19.2 billion in the company’s sales.

Aside from Dupixent, Regeneron has also aggressively expanded the indications for another blockbuster drug, Eylea.

In February, the company submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to allow them to administer Eylea in 8-milligram doses.

Eylea is a medication used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema. This treatment is typically administered via an injection into the patient’s eye once every two or four weeks, depending on their condition.

In terms of revenue, the wet AMD market is expected to grow significantly over the following years. This growth is driven by the climbing number of cases and the prevalence of associated comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. In 2018, the global wet AMD market was valued at $17 billion. This number is anticipated to reach $28 billion by 2025.
Going back to Regeneron, the company’s move to increase the formulation of Eylea from 2 mg to 8 mg is critical. This will enable patients to undergo fewer injections of the treatment from 8-week intervals to 12- and even 16-week intervals, which would be a key selling point.

Another excellent reason behind this move is that Eylea’s patent expires in 2023, making it a target for biosimilar competitors. Regeneron’s decision to switch to a higher dosage formulation is a strategic way to sidestep this impending concern.

On top of blockbusters Eylea and Dupixent, Regeneron is also charging headlong on efforts to expand its immune-oncology franchise. Its top treatment in this field, Libtayo, is slated for multiple clinical trials to expand its indication. In addition, Regeneron has seven or so candidates queued in this lucrative but crowded space.

While Roche (RHHBY) has more candidates than the biotech in the immuno-oncology field, Regeneron’s speed in capitalizing on opportunities in this fast-advancing sector is nothing short of breathtaking. Given that immuno-oncology is a relatively new segment, the company’s ability to deliver promising results enables it to stand out in the biotech world.

Regeneron is a beacon of stability in an otherwise unpredictable industry, steadily ascending since its inception. But the stock’s continued success isn't just luck. Their past successes with their treatments and medicines have placed them on solid ground to continue advancing, while further wins through the widening use of approved drugs have only reinforced that position - setting up Regeneron for continued growth into the future.

March 28, 2023/by Mad Hedge Fund Trader

February 9, 2023

Biotech Letter

Mad Hedge Biotech and Healthcare Letter
February 9, 2023
Fiat Lux

Featured Trade:

(AN EMERGING KING OF BIOSIMILARS)
(AMGN), (ABBV), (JNJ), (BAYG), (AZN), (REGN)

February 9, 2023/by Mad Hedge Fund Trader

An Emerging King of Biosimilars

Biotech Letter

Patience is one of the key attributes that long-term investors need to cultivate, but practicing it is challenging. Stock markets are entirely unpredictable, and their ups and downs tend to rattle even the most experienced investors.

However, it’s essential to keep a calm mind and to be confident that the businesses you invest in have the fortitude to overcome even the most challenging economic or market downturn.

The biotechnology industry is an excellent place to search for stocks that can overcome market turmoils and succeed in the long run because the treatments they develop are so crucial to the lives of their clients.

Amgen (AMGN) is a biotech that would make an excellent long-term investment.

This business, which has been a leader in the biotech sector since the 1980s, is among the largest in the world.

Amgen is also a member of the renowned Dow 30 companies, with a focus on oncology, biosimilars, and inflammatory diseases. In the past 10 years, it has established a strong track record and solid revenue growth trajectory.

The company recently released its fourth-quarter results, and they looked a tad flat on the surface. The report disclosed a total revenue growth of only 2%, which could have been caused by the pressures linked to pricing and competition around the company’s top-selling cholesterol-lowering treatment Repatha, migraine drug Aimovig, and immunology medications Otezla and Enbrel.

Still, Amgen continues to be a solid profit-making business, holding an A+ grade in terms of profitability. It sustains considerable pricing power on its treatments under exclusive patents and from its up-and-coming portfolio of biosimilar candidates.

Amgen has maintained a BBB+ rated balance sheet. It also pays a respectable dividend yield of 3.5%, with a well-protected payout ratio of 44%.

The company has also recorded consecutive growth in this aspect for 11 years. Looking at these figures, Amgen has scored primarily As in terms of consistency, growth, dividend, and yield.

Notably, the company’s foray into the biosimilar landscape would make long-term investors of the company quite happy soon.

Its long-awaited biosimilar version of the No. 1 selling drug worldwide, AbbVie’s (ABBV) Humira, has recently been launched to market.

Amgen’s version, called Amgevita, is the leading biosimilar in this market to date. It already has a five-month lead over the next competitor, arming it with a lot of time to establish a more competitive standing.

Beyond this candidate, Amgen has at least six more biosimilars that it plans to launch in the US and across the globe from 2023 until the end of 2030. This timeline would give the company excellent visibility in the long run.

Another potential biosimilar blockbuster is ABP 654, which is a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) top-selling immunology treatment Stelara.

Amgen also has biosimilar versions of Bayer's (BAYG) and Regeneron’s (REGN) eye disorder drug Eylea and AstraZeneca’s (AZN) rare kidney disease treatment Soliris.

Basically, biosimilars are knock-offs for biologic drugs. They cost less because the manufacturers do not spend less in the research, trials, and approval stages. The processes are also shorter and less risky.

Biosimilars provide a way for patients and the whole healthcare system to save billions of dollars, signaling a bright future for this segment. They offer more affordable options to patients, which is an excellent response to the rising prices of medicines.

This means biosimilar development is far less speculative than creating a new drug, as manufacturers only need to replicate the already established results and success of the existing “original” drug.

Moreover, biosimilars bring with them a degree of pricing power. Unlike traditional treatments, no two biosimilars are allowed to carry the same biologic profile and should still undergo a stringent FDA assessment prior to gaining approval.

Overall, Amgen is a good option for long-term investors on the lookout for a quality biotech to add to their portfolios. Thanks to its burgeoning portfolio of potentially top-selling biosimilars, it has long-term solid revenue growth catalysts. These factors make Amgen a compelling buy on the drop.

biosimilar