The ASCO abstracts are coming! The ASCO abstracts are coming!
The biotech investors' Christmas in May is once again upon us. Throw on your pajamas and head here today at 6 p.m. Eastern, where investors and researchers alike will be able to find the synopsis of what will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting next month.
Until we get to unwrap the presents, here's a look at five companies that might have interesting data.
SUCEEDed, but by how much?
Ariad Pharmaceuticals
Look for information about the balancing of the treatment arms since the placebo group proceeded faster than expected and about further details on the progression-free survival data.
Data galore
YM BioSciences
YM BioSciences will also have data on its earlier stage compound, CYT387, in myelofibrosis.
Which is more likely to move the stock price? I'd guess the nimotuzumab data, but we'll have to wait for the abstracts to find out.
Orphan indication a starting point
Exelixis
Ovarian and prostate cancer, on the other hand, could easily propel cabozantinib toward the $1 billion mark and beyond. Exelixis will have data in both cancer types at the meeting.
Right drug, wrong indications
Investors will see data on Curis'
A long time coming
We'll have to wait and see what Vical
Vical presented phase 2 data for Allovectin at ASCO 2000, some 11 years ago. If that isn't a sign about the slow nature of drug development, I don't know what is.
A couple words of warning
"Buy the abstract, sell the presentation" is a pretty common theme for ASCO. Some biotech's stock prices run up into ASCO and then see a sell off after the presentations. It's less of an issue for larger companies like Pfizer
Also keep in mind that abstracts don't contain the most current information. They had to be submitted by Feb. 2 -- or April 1 for late-breaking abstracts -- but the presentations will contain the current data. Occasionally that means the abstract is nothing more than a placeholder without much data in it, and other times it means the updated data changes for better or worse.
What abstracts are you looking forward to this evening? Let us know in the comment box below.