biotech stocks

One of Thursday's hardest-hit stocks was Dendreon, maker of the prostate cancer vaccine Provenge, which plunged 67% after reporting disappointing results. But, weirdly, Debdreon's disease seemed to infect the entire sector, dragging down companies with proven drugs. Are biotechs bargains right now?

Pharmaceuticals are facing big patent cliff problems this year, but several biotechnology stocks have been doing quite well: Their biologic drugs command high prices, tend become blockbusters, and they are in far less danger from generic competition. Here are the big winners so far this year.

A secluded sector of biotechnology -- DNA sequencing and genetic analysis -- is hot once again on Wall Street. Leaders in the sector, like Ilumina, Life Technologies, and Human Genome Sciences, outscored most other biotechs last year.

Stem cell research is still too hot for most investors, but NeoStem is starting to change that, thanks to some unexpected events. Among them are the Catholic Church's surprising embrace of NeoStem's research and NeoStem's foothold in China's vast health care market.

French drug company Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) has finally made a deal to buy biotech company Genzyme (GENZ) for $20.1 billion, about $74 a share. Genzyme shareholders will get a contingent value right that represents potential future payments if Lemtrada, the company's multiple sclerosis drug, is a...

From October 2010 to February 2011, biotech Clinical Data's stock doubled, mostly thanks to FDA approval of its novel antidepressant. But also pushing the stock up -- and making it likely to perhaps double again -- is speculation that a Big Pharma will buy Clinical Data.

Just after Genzyme announced that it signed a confidentiality agreement with Sanofi Aventis to allow the French drugmaker to examine its books, leaks about the potential deal started pouring out. The numbers and details vary, so this long battle may not be over yet.

Lpath focuses on developing therapeutics that target bioactive lipids for treating a range of human diseases, including cancer and diseases that cause blindness. Its promising drugs have attracted attention -- and lots of money -- from Pfizer. More of both could be coming.

The path to profits for most of Corporate America lately has been cutting costs rather than raising revenue. But a careful look reveals a few companies that are poised to deliver real revenue growth. We've found six with a plus: Their stocks look like bargains.

From Jan. 10 to 13, thousands of investment pros and corporate chiefs flocked to the St. Francis Hotel for standing-room-only annual health care conference hosted by JPMorgan Chase. But two other, smaller but just as interesting conferences occur at the same time.