Source: Intrexon Corporation

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Intrexon Corp (PGEN 0.76%) soared higher by as much as 20% after reporting fourth quarter and full year results this morning.

So What: Intrexon is a leading player in an emerging synthetic biology industry. Synthetic biology offers an intriguing new biological approach to developing and producing products across energy, food, and pharmaceutical markets. Fellow Motley Fool analyst Maxx Chatsko has been following Intrexon closely, and he offers up a great look at the company's business here.

Suffice to say, investors were pretty encouraged by Intrexon's fourth quarter results. In the quarter, Intrexon delivered revenue of $31.1 million, up 338% year-over-year. That performance led to full year revenue of $71.9 million, up 202% from 2013.

Of that $71.9 million, $45.2 million came from collaborations with companies that are partnering with Intrexon to use Intrexon's unique bio-engineering technology to create medicines. The company also reported $11.8 million in sales tied to the sale of cows, calves, and livestock used in production by its subsidiary Trans Ova. Intrexon also generated $14.7 million in services revenue last year for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer services by Trans Ova.

Although the company reported substantial revenue growth, Intrexon's expenses also climbed. Total operating expenses reached $141.9 million in 2014, resulting in a net loss of $81.8 million. For comparison, the company's net loss was $38.9 million in 2013.

Now What: Intrexon is a clinical stage company with a lot of irons in the fire that may or may not pan out. A lot of excitement surrounds the company recently following news that it is collaborating with the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Ziopharm on Car-T immunology programs that could one day help treat common cancers. However, we're still years away from any potential commercialization of those therapies, and the failure rate for oncology drugs entering phase 1 clinical trials is extraordinarily high at 93%. As a result, while this is an intriguing company with an innovative approach, I'm content to sit on the sidelines until we get a clearer picture of how successful its approach proves to be in clinical trials.