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 hepatitis-C drug hopeful Idenix Pharmaceuticals
So what: Stifel Nicolaus slapped the dreaded sell rating on Idenix this morning, downgrading it from neutral. Idenix has rallied recently on speculation that it could be the next takeover target in the red-hot hepatitis-C research sector. Its rivals, Pharmasset and Inhibitex
Now what: I've often described the hep-C sector as Tulipmania at its finest -- and I've also been completely wrong up to this point. Pharmasset's PSI-7977 had only cleared phase 2 clinical trials and Inihibtex's INX-189 is just beginning in phase 2 clinical trials, yet both commanded a huge pricing premium. Idenix currently has its drug midway through phase 2 trials as well, and speculators are betting the boat on a possible buyout. As for me, I think this sector is brutally unproven, and I've gone so far as to give Bristol-Myers Squibb
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