The Eclectic Investor

Tapping Spinal Profits

2005-11-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

Net sales for Kyphon (Nasdaq: KYPH) in the third quarter totaled $79.0 million, an increase of 42% over net sales in third quarter of 2004. Earnings per diluted share for the quarter increased 86% to $0.26 compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.14 for the same period a year ago. Kyphon develops and markets medical devices designed to restore spinal function using minimally invasive technologies. The company's KyphX line of products are used in Balloon Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure to treat spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis or cancer.

Abgenix trial could spell trouble for ImClone

2005-11-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

Abgenix's big success in the latest clinical trials for cancer drug, Panitumumab, could mean problems for its competitor, Erbitux by ImClone. Panitumumab appears to have an advantage over Erbitux. See previous biotech post for more on Abgenix trial.

More biotech

Disaster Recovery and Mitigation

2005-11-15T10:26:00.000-05:00

. . . Offshore repair continues - Hornbeck Offshore Services (NYSE:HOS), which provides vessels for offshore repair services, saw record results in the third quarter. Third quarter revenues increased $13.6 million, or 41.3%, to $46.5 million compared to $32.9 million for the third quarter of 2004. Operating income was $16.8 million, or 36.1% of revenues, for the third quarter of 2005, compared to $9.2 million, or 28.0% of revenues, for the same quarter in 2004. The Company's record results continue to be driven primarily by the strong OSV (Offshore Vehicle) market conditions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. According to Todd Hornbeck, CEO, "These recent hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region had a significant impact on offshore drilling and production facilities and resulted in offshore inspection, repair and construction activity that we believe may last two years or more."

More on Disaster Recovery stocks
More on Disaster

Biotech Stocks

2005-11-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

. . . Gene mouthwash - Colgate-Palmolive took a major stake in Austin biotech company Introgen Therapeutics (Nasdaq: INGN) as part of a new partnership to develop and potentially market oral health care products. The partnership will pursue the development of special formulations of Introgen's gene therapies targeted at oral cancer and precancerous conditions of the mouth. The company is already in early stages of human testing of a mouthwash containing a tumor-suppressor gene. Colgate-Palmolive will have priority regarding products that might be developed through the partnership. Introgen focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of molecular therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

. . . Colon Cancer drug exceeds expectations - Abgenix (NasdaqNM: ABGX), and its partner Amgen, had expected Panitumumab, the colon cancer drug they were developing, to slow the progression of the disease by 33%. It did a lot better than that. It slowed the progression of the disease by 46% in patients receiving the drug compared to those who didn't in a 463-patient experiment. The drug is produced by mice genetically engineered with human genes to make molecules that help prevent the cancer from growing in patients. Standard & Poor's Equity Research analyst Frank DiLorenzo upgraded Abgenix to "buy" from "hold" after news of the study was released.

More biotech

Oil and Gas Stocks

2005-09-30T14:09:00.000-04:00

. . . It stands to reason that companies involved in the repair of oil facilities on the Gulf coast will have plenty of new work. While some of that new business has already been built into the stock prices of those companies, the further effects of Rita are yet to be seen as the storm looms toward the Texas coast. Companies involved in repair include Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), which inspects and repairs underwater infrastructure of oil facilities and Global Industries (Nasdaq: GLBL), a rig repair company. Oceaneering recently authorized approximately $40 million in a variety of new capital projects, of which $20 million is anticipated to be spent in 2005. The company stated it was making these investments in "response to the escalation in market demand for the niche market products and services we provide."

. . . Open the spigots. Hurricane Rita has caused a slowdown in natural gas facilities in the Gulf Coast, so look for natural gas producers like Chesapeake Energy, which were not affected by Rita, to further rev up production.

. . . Refineries Rule. While all sectors of the oil business have been up, refineries have risen the furthest. Some cooling had been expected in the Fall, but Katrina's rampage has changed the game, and the refinery earnings boom looks like it will go into extra innings, extending for another year. While Valero's (NYSE: VLO) price is over 100, refineries with room to grow into the century mark include Frontier Oil (NYSE: FTO), Holly Corp (NYSE: HOC), and Tesoro (NYSE:TSO).

. . . Dune in the Bayou - Dune Energy (AMEX:DNE) has entered into a participation agreement with American Natural Energy Corporation (ANEC) (Vancouver:ANRU.V). Dune will acquire certain exclusive exploration and development rights in ANEC's Joint Development Agreement with ExxonMobil, covering approximately 11,000 contiguous acres in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana (the "Bayou Couba Field''). The Bayou Couba Field has 30 potentially productive sands. Preliminary analysis indicates numerous hydrocarbon traps at depths ranging between 4,000 and 20,000 feet.

ANEC reported that damage from Hurricane Katrina was minimal and that production has resumed. And Parker Drilling (NYSE: PKD), a Houston-based, global energy company specializing in offshore drilling, had no structural damage to its rigs in the path of Katrina.

. . . Underwater contract - ENSCO (NYSE:ESV) has entered into a drilling contract with a consortium of three independent oil companies to provide a new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig, to be named ENSCO 8500. The aggregate revenue expected to be paid under the contract during the four-year primary term is approximately $385 million, which includes approximately $20 million payable upon delivery of the rig.

From: InvestingIN Oil and Gas

More on oil stocks
* * *
To read about the potential of Canada's Oil Sands region and the stocks that can benefit, read the article:
The Biggest Oil Opportunity in the World - and how you can profit from it

Smallcap and Microcap Stocks

2005-09-30T14:06:00.000-04:00

Sun New Media Inc. (OTCBB:SNMD) has acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Sun New Media Group Ltd. from Shanghai based Sun Media Investment Holdings Ltd. ("SMIH"). The Company began trading under the new symbol "SNMD" on September 20, 2005...

The new management team includes Kay Koplovitz. Ms. Koplovitz is the Founder of USA Networks, and was the first female network president in television history, serving as chairman and CEO from 1977 to 1998. Under her direction, USA became the largest provider of original basic cable programming. Ms. Koplovitz also launched the Sci-Fi The Company aims to secure a major share of the multimedia market in China, which is expected to become the largest sector in the Chinese economy by 2010, exceeding aggregate revenues of $181 billion. RMB 1500 Billion(See note) (USD 181 Billion).

From The Smallcap Recap Report

Biotech Stocks

2005-09-30T14:03:00.000-04:00

. . . Comeback for silicon breast implants? The FDA gave conditional approval to Inamed (NasdaqNM:IMDC) to market silicon gel breast implants. In an approval letter, the FDA outlined conditions that must be met before the implants could be widely distributed in the U.S. Access to silicone-gel implants has been restricted in the U.S. since 1992. Since then, saline filled implants have been the standard, however many women and surgeons say that silicon implants are more natural-looking.

. . . Cheering the competition - When the FDA recently recommended the approval of Pfiizer's, Exubera, an inhaled insulin therapy and a competitor to Biosante's (Amex:BPA) product, Biosante cheered. Why so happy? In preclinical studies, Biosante's inhalable insulin delivery system has reported superior results. For Biosante's product, pulmonary insulin formulation offered about 60 percent absolute bioavailability. By comparison, the bioefficacy of the Exubera inhaled insulin is approximately 10 percent, according to data presented at a American Diabetic Association annual meeting.

From InvestingIN Biotech

More on biotech stocks

Biotech Stocks - Seracare...King Pharmaceuticals...Corautus Genetics

2005-08-10T12:24:00.000-04:00

. . . Seracare Soars - Sales for the fiscal 2005 third quarter for Seracare Life Sciences (Nasdaq: SRLS) increased 123% to $14.2 million. Net income for the quarter jumped 114% to $1.9 million, and EPS rose 60% to $0.16. Also during the quarter, the company completed a public offering of its common stock, raising $42.6 million. SeraCare Life Sciences is a manufacturer and supplier of biological materials and services essential for the use and manufacture of diagnostic tests and the discovery, development and commercial production of pharmaceuticals.

. . . King posts record revenue - King Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: KG) recorded a second-quarter profit, reversing a year-ago loss. The company reported net income of $20.5 million for the period ending June 30, up from a loss of $62.9 million, a year ago. Revenue for the second quarter rose 68% to a record $462.9 million from $275.6 million a year ago. King markets both generic and brand-name pharmaceuticals.

. . . Potential diabetes therapy - Corautus Genetics (Nasdaq: VEGF) has entered into agreements with Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston (CSEMC) that could lead to clinical trials by Corautus to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VEGF-2 for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Under the agreements, Corautus will provide its proprietary vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF-2 for evaluation in the 64-patient, Phase I trial for treating diabetic neuropathy now underway at CSEMC that is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health ("NIH"). Dr. Douglas W. Losordo, program director of NIH Grant for Excellence in Gene Therapy and Chief, Cardiovascular Research CSEMC, said that "VEGF-2 holds potential as a major new therapy for a very large patient population with few therapeutic alternatives."

Smallcap and Penny Stocks - Comtech ...Strategic Diagnostics ... Isis Pharmaceuticals ...

2005-08-10T12:19:00.000-04:00

. . . Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ:CMTL) announced that it has recently received orders totaling $30.0 million related to its Movement Tracking System, or MTS contract, with the U. S. Army Logistics Command. These orders encompass purchases of mobile satellite transceivers, ruggedized computers, spares, satellite capacity, as well as installation, training, and engineering support.

The orders include $18.5 million for purchases of Comtech's next generation satellite transceiver, which features embedded RFID and secure GPS capabilities. The satellite capacity portion of the order includes bandwidth and network management services in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The remaining orders are for installation, training, and general support activities in Kuwait, Iraq, and at selected U. S. Army bases in the United States.

. . . Safe enough to eat - Strategic Diagnostics (Nasdaq:SDIX) - a provider of biotechnology-based detection solutions for a broad range of food, water, agricultural, industrial, environmental and scientific applications, reported that revenues for the second quarter of 2005 increased 14.7% to $6.22 million, compared to $5.42 million for the second quarter of 2004. Food safety products proved to be its fastest growing market with revenues of $1.85 million in the second quarter of 2005, compared to $1.41 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 31.1%.

. . . Biowarfare defense - Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced that its Ibis division has shipped its first TIGER biosensor system to the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease (USAMRIID), which will use the system to identify infectious agents for biowarfare defense. The TIGER (Triangulation Identification for Genetic Evaluation of Risks) biosensor system is a revolutionary system that can simultaneously identify thousands of infectious organisms without needing to know what might be present in a sample.

Ibis also plans to deliver a TIGER biosensor system this year to the Naval Health Research Center and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each for use in epidemiological surveillance, and to the Department of Homeland Security, for use in microbial forensics.

. . . Property defense - Viscount Systems (OTCBB: VSYS) is a designer and manufacturer of telecommunications and electronic door control access systems for the security industry. The company's diverse line of products are designed to improve safety and manage security for property owners and users. The Company has recently received orders to secure 65 multi-tenant buildings throughout Eastern Ontario with its MESH system.

Viscount's products have been installed in approximately 35,000 sites in over 30 countries and are sold through a 500 member, North America-wide dealer network comprised of security equipment vendors. Viscount has recently received special spotlight coverage in the Homeland Security Sector report by Investrend research.

. . . Smallpox and electrified bullets - MDM Group (MDDM.PK) said that its Biodefense Division is finalizing agreements to develop a novel vaccine for smallpox designed for safe public immunization to counter bioterrorism. Currently available smallpox vaccines use modified live vaccinia virus that are time intensive in their application. They are also not considered safe for use in certain segments of the population, especially those with skin diseases, immune disorders, HIV, and pregnant or lactating mothers. Smallpox is a top priority on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control bioterrorism threat list.

The company has also developed ShockRounds, a form of electrified bullets. This patent pending technology introduces an "electric" charge to traditional ammunition and other projectiles such as rubber bullets through the combination of existing ballistic and piezoelectric technologies. The company sees ShockRounds as a more flexible solution in dealing with continued escalation of terrorism and civil unrest on a global scale. MDM says that the innocent bystander mistakenly killed in the attempted London bombing incident may have survived if Shockrounds were used. And if he had been a real terrorist, he could have been captured alive for questioning.

From The Smallcap Recap Report

Smallcap and Penny Stocks - ActivCard...Triton Technologies ...SinoFresh HealthCare ...Quest Oil...Netflix...

2005-07-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

. . . Merging identities - ActivCard (Nasdaq: ACTI) announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Protocom Development Systems Pty. Ltd. Activecard is a global provider of identity assurance solutions that allow customers to issue, use and manage trusted digital identities. Protocom develops innovative credential management solutions for governments and enterprises worldwide. ActivCard will capitalize on Protocom's recognized leadership in enterprise single sign-on solutions (eSSO).

. . . Green Power - Triton Technologies (Pink Sheets:TNTG) announced that the Company has entered into an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with Internal Hydro International (OTCBB:IHDR) to sell and service IHDR's revolutionary Energy Commander (EC) hydropower systems in North America. IHDR's patented technology utilizes volume and pressure from water, air or gas such as city water mains, industrial pipelines, and other available yet wasted flow sources, to create electricity. The EC is capable of generating electricity from any source of pressurized water, fluid, or gas, effectively enabling the smallest facilities to generate "green" power and facilitate recurring revenues from tax credits, "green certificates", and the sale of generated electricity.

. . . Nasal News - SinoFresh HealthCare (SFSH.OB) today released published results of in vitro laboratory experiments demonstrating the ability of its advanced nasal cleansing spray, SinoFresh(tm) Nasal Spray, to kill specific highly infectious respiratory viruses. The two viruses selected for the studies, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are responsible for a high percentage of ARI cases in infants and young children worldwide. The two strains are also common causes of community-acquired respiratory infections and, in particular, RSV is an important pathogen of elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Suitable vaccines are not currently available for either virus.

. . . More rail protection - Sentry Technology Corporation (SKVY.OB) announced the installation of its SentryVision® SmartTrack traveling CCTV systems in Cape Town, South Africa on The Metro Rail Network to monitor passengers at the junction of bus, railway and taxi services. SmartTrack will be an integral part of an overall crime prevention and deterrence program including central management of all video devices over a network. The SmartTrack system uses patented technology to transmit video images from two pan, tilt and zoom cameras traveling along an aluminum rail mounted on the ceiling or wall of a passenger platform. The camera carriage travels at speeds of up to 13 feet per second and provides unobstructed views of passenger activity that is not possible with conventional camera systems.

. . . Quest Oil Corporation (OTCBB:QOIL) has confirmed that the Acadia North gas well "15-24" will spud on July 29, 2005. The Acadia North project is a development property with a natural gas reserve at shallow depth, short payback period and long life reserves. The play is located in the "Viking Sand", the largest Viking hydrocarbon accumulation in Alberta, Canada. Initially Quest is focused on the development of North American oil and gas resources allowing highly leveraged production opportunities in Alberta and Texas, through its 100% owned subsidiaries Quest Canada Corp. and Wallstin Petroleum LLC.

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. . . Armor up 84% - Armor Holdings (AH:NYSE) reported record second quarter earnings of $37.4 million, an 84% increase from second quarter earnings a year ago.Revenue for the quarter jumped 66%.
Recent orders for Armor include a contract to provide $78 million worth of up-armored Humvees for the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command and a $45.2 million order from the U.S. Army for ceramic body armor inserts. Armor Holdings, Inc. manufactures and distributes security products and vehicle armor systems for the law enforcement, military, homeland security, and commercial markets

. . . Net surge for Netflix (NFLX)- generally we steer clear of the earnings expectations game. Still we have to note Netflix posted net income of 14 cents a share in the second quarter, rocketing past forecasts for a gain of just one cent. The online DVD-rental pioneer reported that net income nearly doubled in the second quarter and that it continued to attract new subscribers. For 2005, the company now expects to post a profit, having earlier predicted a loss. Piper Jaffray and upgraded the company to outperform

. . . Silver Lining - New Jersey Mining Company (OTCBB:NJMC) announced that it has received a final go-ahead for its operating plan at the Silver Strand mine from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Panhandle National Forest. Development work is planned to commence by September or October this year. Management thinks that the Silver Strand is an excellent exploration property with potential for a deposit containing up to 100 million ounces of silver equivalent. The Silver Strand mine contains reserves of silver-gold ore that will be mined and shipped to the Company's mill near Kellogg, Idaho.
New Jersey Mining Company is involved in exploring for and developing gold, silver and base metal ore resources in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District of northern Idaho. The Company has a portfolio of mineral properties in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District including the New Jersey mine, the Silver Strand mine, the Golden Chest mine, the CAMP project, the Scotch Thistle project, and the Silver Button project.

. . . New first responder systems for NYS Police - View Systems, (OTCBB:VYST), a provider of homeland defense solutions, announced that five more Visual First Responder systems (VFR) have been ordered from one of its leading dealers, Aramsco, Inc. Aramsco has been a leader in the marketplace of disaster preparedness since the early 1990's and was one of the first companies "on the scene at ground zero" during 9/11. This new set of five VFRs will be delivered to the New York State Police special unit civil support and HAZMAT teams, who will put these extended range, encrypted VFRs into service.

. . . The Ultimate Reality show for golfers -The World Golf League (OTCBB:WGFL) announced today that it has signed a network deal for the airing of seven one hour episodes of the WGL Million Dollar Shootout with PAX TV. As of July 1, 2005 PAX TV has changed its name to I Network to reflect its changes in programming objectives for the future. Airing of the WGL Million Dollar Shootout will begin on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 7 PM EST/PST and 6 PM CST/MST. The series will continue each Monday in the same time slot until March 6, 2006.

From: The Smallcap Recap Report

Checked into a hotel REIT lately?

2005-06-17T14:33:00.000-04:00

. . . Adding to the Miami Condo Boom - Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ ) and joint venture partner The Related Group of Florida have begun construction at 50 Biscayne - a 529 unit luxury residential condominium development in Miami, Florida. Located on a full-block facing Biscayne Boulevard between Flagler and First Street in Miami's central business district, the 54-story tower will be one of the tallest structures in Miami when completed in December, 2006. Cousins Properties has been public since 1962.Hotel REITS on the upswing

Checked into a hotel REIT lately?
A number of factors are spurring growth in hotel REITS. Business travel and conferences are enjoying a recovery. Domestic tourism, which had been suffering since 9/11, is also recovering nicely and should continue to rise as unfavorable exchange rates dampen international travel. According to Business Week, hotel REITs have reported an increase in revenue per available room between 7% and 12% in each of the past few quarters.

The big money has taken note of the hotel recovery and has stepped up M&A activity in the sector. Private equity group Blackstone has just agreed to buy hotel owner and franchiser Wyndham International (AMEX:WBR ) for $1.44 billion in cash. Notable deals in the past year include: Hyatt Hotels' purchase of AmeriSuites, CNL Hospitality Properties' acquisition of KSL Recreation Corp., and Blackstone's takeover of Extended Stay America, Prime Hospitality and Boca Resorts. Last year, 10 deals worth about $12 billion took place. Pricewaterhouse Cooper analyst Bjorn Hanson said he expects up to 11 deals in 2005.

Some major hotel REITs include:
Equity Inns (NYSE:ENN )
Hospitality Property Trusts (NYSE: HPT)
Host Marriott (NYSE: HMT )
LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO )
Starwood Lodging (NYSE: HOT )

. . . Mystical Partnership - Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX: HT) has entered into a joint venture with Waterford Hospitality Group, LLC. The newly formed company, to be named Mystic Partners, LLC, will own a portfolio consisting of nine Marriott and Hilton-branded hotels with 1,707 rooms in Connecticut and Rhode Island and an aggregate value of approximately $250 million. Under the terms of the transaction, HT is acquiring a 66.7 percent preferred equity interest in the seven stabilized properties in the portfolio and a 50 percent preferred equity interest in the two newly developed properties in the portfolio.

Hersha Hospitality Trust owns mid-scale and upscale hotels in the eastern United States with strong, national franchise affiliations. The company focuses on acquisition and joint venture opportunities of high quality assets in high barrier to entry markets.

. . . GMH Communities Trust (NYSE: GCT) has acquired Campus Edge Apartments, a Class A, purpose- built student housing property serving students attending the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The 180 unit/720 bed property was acquired for a purchase price of approximately $23.1 million. The property is in excess of 95% pre-leased for the 2005 Fall semester. The acquisition complements the company's strong portfolio in the student housing market.

. . . Upgrade - Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW), one of the largest owners and operators of suburban office properties in the Southeast, has been upgraded to market perform from underperform by Wachovia Securities. Wachovia said the upgrade reflected greater operational confidence, continued balance sheet improvement and greater transactional value in light of peer valuations and sector M&A activity. Recently the company announced it would sell its Charlotte portfolio and its Sabal Park assets in Tampa, Florida, for $228 million.

. . . Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA ) announced a second quarter dividend of $0.50 per share. The single-family residential mortgage lender is focused principally on the jumbo segment of the adjustable rate mortgage market. The company seeks to deliver attractive dividend income and steady growth by acquiring high-quality mortgage-backed securities and growing its share of the mortgage loan origination business. Recently the company raised $123.2 million in an equity offering. The proceeds will be primarily used to fund adjustable-rate loans originated by the company and to purchase additional adjustable-rate mortgage securities.

From: InvestingIN Real Estate

Real Estate Investor - Checked into a hotel REIT lately?

2005-06-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

. . . Adding to the Miami Condo Boom - Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ ) and joint venture partner The Related Group of Florida have begun construction at 50 Biscayne - a 529 unit luxury residential condominium development in Miami, Florida. Located on a full-block facing Biscayne Boulevard between Flagler and First Street in Miami's central business district, the 54-story tower will be one of the tallest structures in Miami when completed in December, 2006. Cousins Properties has been public since 1962.Hotel REITS on the upswing

Checked into a hotel REIT lately?
A number of factors are spurring growth in hotel REITS. Business travel and conferences are enjoying a recovery. Domestic tourism, which had been suffering since 9/11, is also recovering nicely and should continue to rise as unfavorable exchange rates dampen international travel. According to Business Week, hotel REITs have reported an increase in revenue per available room between 7% and 12% in each of the past few quarters.

The big money has taken note of the hotel recovery and has stepped up M&A activity in the sector. Private equity group Blackstone has just agreed to buy hotel owner and franchiser Wyndham International (AMEX:WBR ) for $1.44 billion in cash. Notable deals in the past year include: Hyatt Hotels' purchase of AmeriSuites, CNL Hospitality Properties' acquisition of KSL Recreation Corp., and Blackstone's takeover of Extended Stay America, Prime Hospitality and Boca Resorts. Last year, 10 deals worth about $12 billion took place. Pricewaterhouse Cooper analyst Bjorn Hanson said he expects up to 11 deals in 2005.

Some major hotel REITs include:
Equity Inns (NYSE:ENN )
Hospitality Property Trusts (NYSE: HPT)
<strong>Host Marriott (NYSE: HMT )
LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO )
Starwood Lodging (NYSE: HOT )

. . . Mystical Partnership - Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX: HT) has entered into a joint venture with Waterford Hospitality Group, LLC. The newly formed company, to be named Mystic Partners, LLC, will own a portfolio consisting of nine Marriott and Hilton-branded hotels with 1,707 rooms in Connecticut and Rhode Island and an aggregate value of approximately $250 million. Under the terms of the transaction, HT is acquiring a 66.7 percent preferred equity interest in the seven stabilized properties in the portfolio and a 50 percent preferred equity interest in the two newly developed properties in the portfolio.

Hersha Hospitality Trust owns mid-scale and upscale hotels in the eastern United States with strong, national franchise affiliations. The company focuses on acquisition and joint venture opportunities of high quality assets in high barrier to entry markets.

. . . GMH Communities Trust (NYSE: GCT) has acquired Campus Edge Apartments, a Class A, purpose- built student housing property serving students attending the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The 180 unit/720 bed property was acquired for a purchase price of approximately $23.1 million. The property is in excess of 95% pre-leased for the 2005 Fall semester. The acquisition complements the company's strong portfolio in the student housing market.

. . . Upgrade - Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW), one of the largest owners and operators of suburban office properties in the Southeast, has been upgraded to market perform from underperform by Wachovia Securities. Wachovia said the upgrade reflected greater operational confidence, continued balance sheet improvement and greater transactional value in light of peer valuations and sector M&A activity. Recently the company announced it would sell its Charlotte portfolio and its Sabal Park assets in Tampa, Florida, for $228 million.

. . . Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA ) announced a second quarter dividend of $0.50 per share. The single-family residential mortgage lender is focused principally on the jumbo segment of the adjustable rate mortgage market. The company seeks to deliver attractive dividend income and steady growth by acquiring high-quality mortgage-backed securities and growing its share of the mortgage loan origination business. Recently the company raised $123.2 million in an equity offering. The proceeds will be primarily used to fund adjustable-rate loans originated by the company and to purchase additional adjustable-rate mortgage securities.

Smallcap and Microcap Stock News - Tidlands Oil & Gas...Sew Cal Logo...Intelli-Check...

2005-06-17T14:19:00.000-04:00

. . . Propane Purchase - Tidelands Oil & Gas Corporation (OTC:TIDE), signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of CHDR, Inc. headquartered in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The acquisition of CHDR will enable Tidelands to purchase vast quantities of propane at discounted wholesale values. CHDR, Inc. owns a propane marine bulk terminal and numerous plants servicing the entire territory of Puerto Rico, and provides propane distribution to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tidelands Oil & Gas focuses its business on international pipeline crossings, gas processing plants and gas storage facilities.

. . . Surf's Up - Sew Cal Logo (OTCBB: SEWC), a Southern California-based company that produces film wardrobe, sportswear and related corporate identification has acquired the assets of Action Shirts for cash and stock. The company, also known as "Hangtime," has been a Huntington Beach icon since 1978. Joe Pearson, owner of Action, is well-known in the surfing world and will help expand and create original "California Life Style designs for Sew Cal's clients. The "California Lifestyle" continues to be a highly desired image in many parts of the US and around the world.

. . . Just checking - Intelli-Check (AMEX:IDN) announced that a significant retail customer has licensed its identification-document verification technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Intelli-Check is precluded from disclosing the retailer's name and the specific details. Intelli-Check expects to report record bookings for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Intelli-Check develops technology that assures the authenticity of driver licenses, state issued non-driver and military identification cards used as proof of identity. Its patented ID-CHECK technology instantly reads, analyzes, and verifies the encoded data in magnetic stripes and barcodes on government-issue IDs from approximately 60 jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada to determine if the content and format is valid.

. . . XM Satellite support - Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (OTC:LRLSQ), announced that it has been awarded a contract by XM Satellite Radio to build XM-5, a high-power, digital audio radio service (DARS) satellite that will serve as a ground spare in the XM Satellite Radio fleet, ensuring XM subscribers across North America with continued high- quality, digital- music, entertainment and data services. XM is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 4 million subscribers.

. . . Biomarker Collaboration - Compugen (Nasdaq:CGEN) announced a collaboration agreement with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Under the agreement, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Compugen will jointly develop diagnostic products based on biomarkers discovered by Compugen. Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics will have worldwide rights for commercialization, with Compugen receiving development milestones and royalties. The collaboration combines Compugen's unique discovery capability and existing candidate portfolio with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostic's global development and commercialization strengths.

. . . Warts Begone with Dr. Scholl - OraSure Technologies (NASDAQ:OSUR) announced an exclusive agreement with SSL International plc under which OraSure will manufacture and supply, and SSL will distribute, the company's cryosurgical wart removal product in the over-the-counter footcare market in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The product will be manufactured and sold under SSL International's Scholl and Dr. Scholl trademarks.

. . . Safer with eSafe - Aladdin Knowledge Systems (Nasdaq: ALDN) announced the availability of Aladdin eSafe 5, addressing the latest spyware/adware threats with multi-layered comprehensive content protection. According to the company, Aladdin eSafe 5 is the only gateway-based security solution that inspects all Web content. Aladdin eSafe 5 automatically blocks malicious code, scripts, exploits and more, significantly reducing the chance of gaining threats through Web browsing -- a common weakness in today's corporate networks.

. . . Handheld digital TV - Microtune, Inc. (Nasdaq:TUNE - News) has introduced a new family of tuners targeted for mobile handhelds, including cell phones, PDAs and other multimedia convergence devices. When integrated into portable handheld devices, the MT2260 tuner, permits users to watch multi-channel broadcast TV with full-motion digital pictures and CD-quality sound. In developing tuners for mobile devices, the company is building on its work on tuner technology for the digital TV market. In 1999, Microtune invented the single-chip TV tuner.

. . . Mobile Goes Global - Sona Mobile (PERF.OB), a provider of enterprise wireless solutions, announced that it has globally expanded the reach of its services through distribution partnerships with WIN Financial, a UK wireless data provider and EFO Group, China's premier provider of investor software. According to the agreement, both WIN and EFO Group will be granted permission to market and sell Sona Mobile's Mobile Markets enterprise wireless financial product to organizations within their region and under their own brand. Sona Mobile will service and maintain accounts from its offices in New York, London and Toronto.

From: The Smallcap Recap Report

Biotech Stock News - Depomed

2005-05-26T11:28:00.000-04:00

. . . Lower side effects - Drug maker Depomed (NasdaqNM:DEPO) received Food and Drug Administration approval for its antibiotic Proquin XR to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. While similar to Bayer AG's Cipro, Depomed's Proquin lists nausea and diarrhea as uncommon side effects rather than common side effects. The difference may be that Proquin's dosage is released over 6 hours instead of about 2 hours with Cipro, decreasing the side effects. The company believes that lower incidence of side effects will increase adherence to the treatment.
From: InvestingIN Biotech

Security Stock News - Techsphere...Engineered Support Systems...Advanced ID...Critical Path

2005-05-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

. . . Flight of the UAV - Techsphere Systems International has granted Cyber Defense(OTCBB:CYDF) the exclusive right to merge a subsidiary of Cyber Defense into Techsphere Systems. Techsphere Systems will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyber Defense. The merger brings together Cyber Defense's UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) expertise and Techsphere's airship manufacturing experience. . . . Earlier, Cyber Defense announced that its CyberScout UAV performed its first transition flight from hover flight to forward flight. The CyberScout is the first in a series of planned UAV's being developed to hover and/or fly horizontally for up to 60 minutes at speeds of 300 MPH plus. Cyber Defense Systems is an operating subsidiary of Proxity, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PRXT).

. . . Dust Buster - Engineered Support Systems (Nasdaq: EASI) received a contract from the U.S. Army to reset an estimated 4,000 generator sets returned to the U.S. with American forces from deployment in Southwest Asia, including Iraq and Afghanistan.The contract has a ceiling of $151 million over the 48-month performance period. The military generator sets have been exposed in the area of military operations to large amounts of fine desert dust and sand, and long periods of extreme heat. The dust and sand contaminants eventually compromise the generator engine and most electro-mechanical parts. Engineered Support Systems provides advanced sustainment solutions for all branches of America's armed forces and certain foreign militaries, homeland security forces and selected government and intelligence agencies.

. . . Animal Tracer - Finding diseased animals quickly is imperative to head off the spread of disease, as well as stopping enormous negative economic ramifications for an industry and a country. The New York Department of Agriculture is testing Advanced ID Corporation's (OTCBB:AIDO) RFID technology in an attempt to head off the spread of disease in the state's deer population. The Company provides RFID and traceability solutions for the animal industry. Advanced ID continues to make progress with its initiatives in North America, Asia and Australia.

. . . Jumpy Defense - Mediaset SpA, one of the world's largest broadcasting groups, has deployed Critical Path's (Nasdaq:CPTH) Memova(TM) Anti-Abuse solution to protect the users of its consumer email service—Jumpy—against viruses, spam and other malicious attacks. Memova provides an anti-abuse solution at minimal costs. By stopping the bulk of abuse with traffic management alone, the number of email messages that require more costly content analysis is minimized.

From: InvestingIN Security

Smallcap Stock News - Parlux...iBasis...Sonus

2005-05-26T11:15:00.000-04:00

. . . Parisian Upgrade - Parlux Fragrances (Nasdaq: PARL) can't get enough of Paris. The company, which already markets Paris Hilton perfume, cosmetics and watches, has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement to develop and market a line of handbags, purses, wallets, and other small leather goods and accessories for the omnipresent Ms. Hilton. On May 24, Wedbush Morgan initiated coverage of Parlux with a Buy rating. . . .

Calling Best-of-Breed - A study of wholesale long distance carriers ranked iBasis (OTCBB: IBAS) as the world's best international carrier for the fourth year in a row. Conducted by ATLANTIC-ACM, an industry research firm, the study evaluated the performance of wholesale carriers based on ratings by their resale customers. iBasis placed ahead of major carriers, including AT&T, MCI, Sprint, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, and Teleglobe. The company's recent crossover into profitability has been fueled by explosive growth in consumer VoIP services, as well as other trends in international telecommunications...

. . . 911 for VoIP - Recently, the Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling requiring VoIP service providers to supply Enhanced 911 (E-911) emergency calling capabilities to their customers as a mandatory feature of the service. Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS), a voice infrastructure company, announced that it offers a solution that enables VoIP service providers to offer critical emergency services to their customers. The Sonus platform facilitates the delivery of these services to consumers through a connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

From: www.SmallcapRecap.com

Stocks from the Smallcap Recap Report - May part I

2005-05-05T10:21:00.000-04:00

. . . Launch leads to record sales - American Pharmaceutical Partners (Nasdaq: APPX) reported record first quarter net sales of $120.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, a 35% increase over net sales in the 2004 first quarter. Net income for the quarter was a quarterly record and gross margin increased to 62.4% versus 49.8% in the year ago quarter. The company attributes most of the increase to the launch of ABRAXANE for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. American Pharmaceutical Partners develops injectable pharmaceutical products, focusing on the oncology, anti-infective and critical care markets.

. . . Chinese Pickup - Pickups Plus (OTC BB: PUPS) has signed a Letter of Intent to form a joint venture in the People's Republic of China which will market and distribute its ValuGard(TM) line of car care and environmental protection products in the PRC. The objective is to capitalize on China's growing automobile industry, which is expected to be on the forefront of the country's rapid industrialization and modernization. As millions of Chinese leave their bicycles and take to automobiles, the car care sector will see rapid growth.

. . . Better Bomb Detection - HiEnergy Technologies (OTCBB:HIET) has more than doubled the safety factor of its SIEGMA(TM) 3E3 homemade bomb detector. The improvement is a result of cutting by more than half the detector's potential to make "false negative" and "false positive" identifications from a level of 5% to 2.25%. One of the most dangerous consequences of false negatives, also known as the "missing fraction," is that they lead to a false sense of security. False negative means that true bombs are mislabeled as non-explosives, and can increase the chances of fatal accidents. HiEnergy has recently demonstrated its technology in front of audiences from the DoD and the FBI. Siemens provides aftermarket maintenance and servicing for HiEnergy Products.

. . . Mobilizing against Meningitis - EndoBiologics believes it has developed a novel and promising technology to treat meningitis. And so does VaxGen (Pink Sheets: VXGN.PK), so it has formed a collaboration to pursue research of this new treatment. VaxGen will fund proof-of-concept studies and has an exclusive option to continue product development if the studies yield promising results. Currently there is no licensed vaccine that has shown protection against a wide range of Meningitis B strains, a life-threatening disease most common in young children.

. . . Healthy gain for HealtheTech - Wellness is doing very well, and by extension, so are some of the companies providing health measurement tools. 2005 first quarter revenues for HealtheTech (Pink Sheets: HETC), a maker of proprietary handheld medical devices and software for the measurement of resting metabolic rate and nutrition monitoring, increased 64% over the same period last year. The company attributes the increase to the implementation of a more targeted strategy addressing commercial fitness, medically supervised weight management and corporate wellness markets.

. . . Promising lung drug study -InterMune (ITMN:Nasdaq) announced results of a Phase II clinical that showed its experimental drug pirfenidone successfully delayed the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammatory lung disease. The disease is characterized by abnormal formation of lung tissue, causing coughing and shallow breathing after moderate exercise due to a lack of oxygen intake from the lungs. There are currently no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of IPF.

. . . More fuel for the hydrogen movement - Apollo Alternative Fuels Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apollo Resources International (OTCBB:AOOR), has completed a stock purchase agreement with Energy Ventures Organization, Inc., a pioneer in the fast growing hydrogen fuels industry. Under the agreement, Apollo Alternative Fuels owns 50% of the stock in Energy Ventures. Recent headlines as well as initiatives by the Bush administration and states such as California have fueled the momentum of the development of hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

. . . Smarter hearts - American Scientific Resources (PNK: ASFX) has launched its flagship Heart Smart System(TM), a line of nutraceutical products that assist in the successful prevention of cardiovascular disease. The Heart Smart System(TM) is a nutritional line of supplements which support and maintain a healthy heart by rejuvenating the body's supply of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). The company's product line intersects two major markets in the healthcare field, nutraceuticals and cardiovascular disease prevention.

. . . Steelmaker nearly triples profits - Ryerson Tull (NYSE: RT), a processor and distributor of steel and other metals, reported that first-quarter profits nearly tripled and revenue more than doubled. Much of the increase is attributed to company's acquisition of Integris Metals. JP Morgan has upgraded Ryerson to an Overweight rating.

. . . New obesity treatment - Manhattan Pharmaceuticals (OTCBB: MHTT) has concluded its Phase 1a trial and begun patient dosing in the Phase 1b trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of defined doses of orally administered Oleoyl estrone (OE) in obese adults. Oleoyl estrone is believed to be a signaling molecule that acts on the brain to communicate satiety. It is hypothesized that in obese individuals circulating OE levels are lower than would be expected for the level of body fat. Orally administered formulations of OE has been demonstrated, in extensive preclinical animal studies, to cause significant weight loss and reduced caloric consumption without the need for dietary modifications.

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Smallcap Recap

2005-04-28T15:52:00.000-04:00

. . . New Parent for Orphan - Orphan Medical (Nasdaq:ORPH) has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Recently, Orphan reported record revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Orphan Medical develops and markets pharmaceuticals for inadequately treated and uncommon central nervous system diseases treated by specialist physicians. The lead product for the company is Xyrem, which is the first and only approved treatment for cataplexy associated with narcolepsy.

. . . Does your medication talk to you? More and more people are benefiting from prescription pill bottles which "talk" to the patient, allowing them to distinguish what type of medication is in the bottle and to hear critical information on dosage amounts and refill parameters. But the market for Rex-The talking pill bottle, made by Wizzard Software (OTCBB:WIZD), extends well beyond the visually-impaired. As the population ages, and as directions and labeling, become denser and more complex, the ability of talking pill bottles to tell people what to do may eliminate myriad drug errors, including fatal ones. Wizzard Software develops a range of products in the speech technology application market.

. . . Bagels are big. And while they are no longer just a New York phenomenon, bagels associated with the Big Apple are perceived to be superior. BAB (OTCBB:BABB) which offers Big Apple Bagels, benefits from the NY brand halo effect, though it is based in Iowa. Now BAB is opening the first Big Apple Bagels and Cousins Subs location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The company operates, franchises, and licenses Big Apple Bagels ®, My Favorite Muffin ®, Brewster's ® Coffee and Jacob Bros. Bagels , and is looking at expanding in other locations in the Midwest.

. . . Volvo, a global leader in transportation-related products, has selected MDI (NASDAQ:MDII) in partnership with Diebold (NYSE:DBD) to manage the security operations of their global enterprise. The MDI/Diebold team will begin by constructing a state-of-the-art global security command and control center to monitor and manage Volvo's security data at its worldwide headquarters. A critical factor in Volvo's selection of the MDI solution was its ability to seamlessly integrate access control, alarm management, video assessment and systems control into a centralized management platform that is securely accessible to clients anywhere across the globe.

. . . Ultrasound to Go - SonoSite (Nasdaq:SONO) announced the launch of its MicroMaxx(TM) ultrasound system, the company's third generation hand-carried ultrasound product. At less than eight pounds and the size of a laptop computer, the MicroMaxx system delivers image resolution and performance comparable to much larger and more costly ultrasound systems. MicroMaxx provides caregivers with more flexibility and efficiency in using ultrasound in both hospital and office-based settings. Citing performance improvements of this new system, Delafield Hambrecht recently upgraded to a buy.

From: The Smallcap Recap Report - www.smallcaprecap.com

REIT Report

2005-04-28T15:41:00.000-04:00

. . . "Would you like a jet with that loan, sir?" The S.F. office leasing market, which had slumped along with Silicon Valley, is getting tight again. Now lenders are offering extravagant perks to buyers to do business with them . . . According to the Wall Street Journal, Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is expected to reach an agreement to purchase an interest in two properties in San Francisco from Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE: EOP), which will likely maintain an interest in the two buildings.

. . . More closet room - FirstService Corporation (Nasdaq: FSRV) completed the acquisition of two California Closets franchises, adding $5 million of annualized revenue to its rapidly growing Property Improvement Services division. The company now owns eight California Closets franchises, generating approximately $40 million in annual revenues. The company provides services in a number of areas, including commercial real estate; residential property management; and property improvement.

. . . Record growth in D.C. - In Q1 of 2005, regional homebuilder Comstock Homebuilding Companies (Nasdaq: CHCI) achieved record growth in every category reported. Compared to the same quarter the previous year, new orders increased 86.4%, new order rose 119.2% and backlog revenue went up 291.0%. One of Comstock's main markets is Washington D.C, which has been the nation's fastest growing job market in terms of total new jobs over the past five years..

. . . "You can't have a crash without oversupply." That was Sam Zell's take on the current real estate situation at a panel discussion at the Milken Institute in Beverly Hills. The theme of supply and demand has been an oft-stated reason why builders believe this real estate boom will continue to have legs. In a recent appearance on Jim Cramer's Mad Money on CNBC, D.R. Horton, chairman of DHI (NYSE: DHI) said that the supply of building lots in key markets such as New Jersey and California has continued to decrease. It is one of the reasons why, he stated, homebuilding was no longer cyclical for companies like his. The evidence, at least for a company like DHI, is pretty compelling. DHI is on track in fiscal 2005 to reach its 28th consecutive year of record revenues and earnings. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, rose 56% over the previous year, revenue rose 24% and sales-order backlog increased 33% to an all-time record for the company. The company was recently upgraded to Outperform by Friedman Billings and to a Strong Buy by JMP Securities...

. . . Out with the non-core. In with the core. Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE: AHT) completed the sale of three properties it has designated as noncore, including Ramada Inn Hyannis Regency in Hyannis, Massachusetts and the Ramada Inn Warner Robins. The company is currently looking to sell five remaining non-core hotels. Ashford is a REIT focused on investing in the hospitality industry, and expects to redeploy the sale proceeds to higher return investments.. . .

. . . Rental rate growth - Average Rental Rates in Q1 for apartments owned by AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB) increased year-over-year for the first time in three years and increased sequentially for the second consecutive quarter. It was largest increase in established communities rental revenue in three and a half years. AvalonBay is a REIT focusing on apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. The company was recently upgraded by Smith Barney Citigroup.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/realestate

Intellectual Property Program ... New In Vitro Fertilization Product...Safe to Continue

2005-04-28T15:32:00.000-04:00

. . . Intellectual Property Program - in its second agreement in what it calls its "LabChip Driven" program, Caliper Life Sciences (Nasdaq: CALP) will license its Microfuidics technology to Affymetrix (Nasdaq: AFFX), a leader in molecular biology research. The LabChip program is designed to broaden and accelerate the availability and application of its technologies.

. . . New In Vitro Fertilization Product - Halozyme Therapeutics (Amex: HTI) received FDA clearance to market Cumulase for certain in vitro fertilization procedures. Cumulase provides the IVF specialist with a safer, purer and more reliable alternative to bovine and ovine extracts that are currently used to prepare oocytes before IVF during sperm injection. Halozyme received approval in late 2004 to market Cumulase throughout the European Union. The company has a number of agreements in place to distribute Cumulase worldwide.

. . . Safe to Continue - Medicure (TSX:MPH; AMEX:MCU) received a recommendation to continue its Phase II/III MEND-CABG trial from an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). The Board reviewed safety data in patients who have completed 30 days of treatment following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. The MEND-CABG clinical trial is evaluating the cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects of MC-1 in patients undergoing high-risk Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. Medicure Inc. is a cardiovascular drug discovery and development company focused on developing effective therapeutics for unmet needs in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/biotech

New Contracts.New Listing ... Taking PC Portability to Another Level

2005-04-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

. . . New Contracts. New Listing. WPCS International (Nasdaq: WPCS), an engineering company that focuses on the implementation requirements of wireless technology and specialty communications systems, was awarded approximately $3.3 million in new contracts for its wireless services. New contracts include projects for U.S. Cellular, Nextel, T-Mobile, New Jersey State Police, Taj Mahal Casino-Hotel, General Electric and Lockheed Martin.The company, which had been trading on the OTC Bulletin Board, was recently approved for listing on the NASDAQ Small Cap Market.

. . . Taking PC portability to another level. You're traveling, but don't have your laptop with you. Wouldn't it be convenient to go to a cyber café and pull up and work on a copy of your PC with your Outlook Express, data files and internet favorites. And when you're done, no trace of your information is left behind and all changes will be automatically synchronized on your main PC. Now you can, using a DiskOnKey(R) device, a technology made possible by an agreement between M-Systems (NASDAQ:FLSH), a developer of USB flash drives, and PowerHouse Technologies Group (OTCBB:PWHT), a provider of mobile computing software.

Fromn: www.SmallcapRecap.com

Promising Arthritis Treatment...360-Degree Surveillance

2005-04-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

. . . Promising arthritis treatment - EntreMed (Nasdaq: ENMD) announced preclinical data that showed promising results for 2ME2 in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Oral treatment with 2ME2 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the severity of arthritic disease. A decrease in clinical symptoms with 2ME2 administration was accompanied by a marked inhibition of tissue and joint damage that are hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis. EntreMed is currently evaluating 2ME2 formulations (Panzem® Capsules and Panzem® NCD) in Phase I and II clinical oncology studies, as well as preclinical studies of 2ME2 in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/biotech

. . . 360-degree surveillance - IPIX (NASDAQ:IPIX), a supplier of 360-degree, immersive imaging cameras and technologies is teaming with new video surveillance partners to provide more panoramic threat detection. Recent partnerships include surveillance software manufacturers VistaScape Security Systems and ObjectVideo. IPIX's immersive imaging technology provides security personnel with a more complete, real-time view of a security area, offers a greater level of functionality and reduces the number of necessary cameras, infrastructure and installation costs.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/security

Editing Genes...Preclinical Promise

2005-04-04T12:38:00.000-04:00

. . . Editing Genes - It seems that the some of the human genome's "errors" may soon be able to be corrected with new gene editing technology. Sangamo BioSciences (Nasdaq: SGMO) has announced the results of a study demonstrating that its zinc finger DNA-binding protein technology achieved "highly efficient, permanent correction of a disease-causing gene in primary human cells." ZFN Technology facilitated the modification of a DNA sequence at the site of a mutation in the gene. The study also indicated that gene correction was permanent.

. . . Preclinical Promise - Pre-clinical data demonstrated that Tarvacin(TM) from Peregrine Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PPHM), and related Anti-Phospholipid Therapy agents, have anti-viral therapy which may have far reaching implications for the treatment of infectious disease. According to Dr. Philip Thorpe, professor of pharmacology at UT Southwestern, "since Tarvacin(TM) targets a basic, universal property of enveloped viruses that is host-derived and independent of the viral genome, it may be effective against a broad spectrum of enveloped viruses."

From: www.InvestingIN.com/biotech

Sweet Dreams

2005-04-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

. . . The much-anticipated launch of LUNESTA(TM), an insomnia treatment, by Sepracor (Nasdaq: SEPR) is expected in the first few weeks of April. So far, more than 40,000 retail pharmacies have already placed orders with wholesalers. Why all the anticipation? LUNESTA is the first and only sleep medication approved for long- term use. It has proven effective in long-term, continuous treatment, with a lack of significant rebound when therapy is discontinued. In addition, clinical studies showed no measurable next-day residual effects in most patients. Insomnia is an enormous market with an estimated 100 million adult Americans suffering from either chronic or occasional insomnia. In the past decade, Ambien has been the blockbuster insomnia drug, however, it is only recommended for short-term use.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/biotech

View from the Cockpit

2005-04-01T14:13:00.000-05:00

. . . Global ePoint (Nasdaq:GEPT) will supply GE Capital Aviation Service with video surveillance systems for cockpits. Global's Airworks Cockpit Door Surveillance System will be installed on eight AirBus A320 aircraft. The Airworks Cockpit Door Surveillance System provides pilots and crew members with a state-of-the-art tool to assess potential emergency situations. Global ePoint's growth strategy focuses on the design, manufacturing, sales and distribution of digital video surveillance systems for the law enforcement, military, aviation and homeland security markets.

From: www.InvestingIN.com/security