Accessibility Log In Help Join The Motley Fool

Catherine Shaffer

cathshaffer

Catherine Shaffer is a freelance biotech writer with a background in biochemistry and pharmaceutical research. Having received early training in laboratory wetwork, she transitioned to science communication. She specializes in the biotech industry--where cutting edge science intersects the business world--with the goal of keeping all of its various stakeholders (scientists, investors, patients) informed and up to date on developments in a rapidly shifting landscape. She has covered the industry for more than ten years, writing news and features for science and trade journals.

Recent Articles by Catherine Shaffer

May 13, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

What Biotech Investors Need to Know About Phase 2 Trials

Phase II is an in-between time in clinical development and results can be difficult to place in context. Investors should take into account factors such as rigor of study design, validation of mechanism or concept, and emerging safety signals.

Apr 21, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

Mar 28, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

Overall Survival Will Be Critical for Endocyte's Vintafolide

The CHMP decision recommending European approval is great news for Endocyte, but success in the U.S. will require meeting a more stringent standard for efficacy.

Mar 26, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

Is Idera's Sell-Off Premature?

Idera took a 25 percent stock hit when the FDA approved Celgene's competing psoriasis drug Otezla. But investors who unloaded Idera may regret it if upcoming Phase II results are positive for Idera.

Mar 26, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

ThromboGenics Plays Long Game for Eye Disease

ThromboGenics's expansion from the small neighborhood of vitreomacular adhesion to the big city of diabetic macular edema is a solid long term strategy for building is pipeline of ophthalmologic drugs.

Mar 14, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

Is Celldex's Loss Alexion's Gain?

Celldex's potential Soliris-killer bites the dust, leaving Alexion large and in charge in its corner of the complement-mediated rare kidney disease world.

Mar 7, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

3 Things to Know About Omeros Corporation

Omeros's newest clinical program, OMS721, for thrombotic microangiopathies, together with its lead drug program OMS302 for lens replacement surgery, show a lot of promise and all by themselves would be worth paying attention to. But a peek at Omeros's early stage pipeline shows some potential for pants-wetting excitement.

Mar 3, 2014 by Catherine Shaffer

What This FDA Decision Means for Amarin Investors

Investors barely twitched when Amarin Corp. (NASDAQ: AMRN) announced earlier that the FDA had denied new chemical entity status for Vascepa, its fish oil-based therapy for high triglycerides—and for good reason. Amarin's stock hit bottom hard in October when the EMDAC vote went against the drug, and the biotech's flatlined stock is unlikely to do anything interesting until the outcome of its legal wrangling with the FDA is determined.

HOW THE MOTLEY FOOL CAN HELP YOU

Motley Fool Returns

Market-beating stocks from our award-winning analyst team.

Stock Advisor Returns

627%

S&P 500 Returns

147%

Calculated by average return of all stock recommendations since inception of the Stock Advisor service in February of 2002. Returns as of 04/26/2024.

Discounted offers are only available to new members. Stock Advisor list price is $199 per year.

Join Stock Advisor

Cumulative Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Stock Advisor

Calculated by Time-Weighted Return since 2002. Volatility profiles based on trailing-three-year calculations of the standard deviation of service investment returns.

Premium Investing Services

Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services.

View Premium Services

Catherine Shaffer

Recent Articles by Catherine Shaffer

What Biotech Investors Need to Know About Phase 2 Trials

Biotech Investing 101: What Investors Need to Know About Phase 1 Trials

Merck Launches Hail Mary Lung Cancer Trial

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Bouncing on Phase 2 Success