Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2015

With shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) trading around $85, is JNJ an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Johnson & Johnson�engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide.�The company operates in three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. The company�offers a range of products used in the general care, women�s health fields, as well as nutritional and anti-infective, contraceptive, gastrointestinal, oncology, pain management, and vaccines. It also�offers products to treat cardiovascular disease, orthopaedic and neurological products, blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery products, and general surgery products. Through its wide variety of healthcare products, Johnson & Johnson is able to support consumers and medical businesses around the world who continue to demand for improved products. As consumers become increasingly health aware, Johnson & Johnson stands to see profits well into the future.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2015: Epizyme Inc (EPZM)

Epizyme, Inc., incorporated on November 1, 2007, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and plans to commercialize personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers. The Company systematically identify the genetic alterations that create cancer causing genes, called oncogenes, select patients in whom the identified genetic alteration is found and then design small molecule therapeutics to inhibit the oncogene. The clinical development plan for each of its product candidates is directed towards patients with a particular genetically defined cancer.The Company is conducting a Phase I clinical trial of its advanced product candidate, EPZ-5676, an inhibitor targeting the DOT1L HMT, for the treatment of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL-r). The Company has identified its two lead product candidates using its product platform.

EPZ-5676-DOT1L Inhibitor

EPZ-5676 is an intravenously administered small molecule inhibitor of DOT1L. The Company is developing EPZ-5676 for the treatment of MLL-r, an aggressive subtype of the two most common forms of acute leukemia, ALL and AML. Patients with MLL-r are routinely diagnosed with existing technologies that are commonly used in clinical setting. The Company�� Phase 1 clinical trial of EPZ-5676 is an open label, multicenter trial that has two phases.

EPZ-6438-EZH2 Inhibitor

The Company is developing EPZ-6438 as an orally available small molecule inhibitor of EZH2 for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who have an oncogenic point mutation in EZH2. EZH2 is an HMT that can become oncogenic and cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a range of other solid tumors. Two types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal-center origin, or DLBCL, and follicular lymphoma, or FL, are particularly associated with an EZH2 point mutation. There are no therapies approved specifically for the treatment of cancer associated with an EZH2 point mutation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Outside the Dow, there were a few winners. Guess? (NYSE: GES  ) climbed 8% after a better-than-expected earnings performance, despite the fact that profits fell from year-ago levels. The retailer repeated what we've heard from its peers about bad weather conditions having a negative impact on the company, and its European operations also struggled. Meanwhile, biotech IPO Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM  ) soared more than 50% after coming public at $15 this morning. The company has a promising technology in treating cancer caused by carcinogenic genes, and it has collaborations with several major drug companies that should help it push some of its potential treatments through the pipeline.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM) shares rose 66.84% to $34.20. The volume of Epizyme shares traded was 1683% higher than normal. Epizyme reported two major milestone achievements. It announced the achievement of a proof of concept milestone in the EPZ-5676 DOT1L inhibitor clinical program.

• [By John Udovich]

  It�� a new year and the first one and a half trading weeks of 2014 has not disappointed biotech investors as the sector and mid cap or small cap biotech or�pharma stocks like Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT), Epizyme Inc (NASDAQ: EPZM), Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (NASDAQ: TNXP) and TNI BioTech Inc (OTCQB: TNIB) either surging or producing some news plus there have been IPO filings for future listings for�Flexion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FLXN), Aldexa Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ALDX), Retrophin (NASDAQ:�RTRX) and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: DRNA). Consider the following news so far this year:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Epizyme (NASDAQ: EPZM) shot up 54.63 percent to $31.70 after the company reported two major milestone achievements. It announced the achievement of a proof of concept milestone in the EPZ-5676 DOT1L inhibitor clinical program.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2015: MedeFile International Inc (MDFI)

Medefile International, Inc.(Medefile), incorporated on July 16, 1997, through its MedeFile, Inc. subsidiary, has developed a patient-centric, Internet-enabled Personal Health Record (iPHR) system for gathering, digitizing, maintaining, accessing and sharing an individual's actual medical records. MedeFile's products and services are designed to provide healthcare providers with the ability to reference their patient's actual past medical records.

MedeFile iPHR

MedeFile is a Business-to-Business and a Business-to-Consumer subscription service. MedeFile is designed to create a cradle to grave longitudinal record for each of its members by retrieving and consolidating copies of their medical records. When the records are received, the MedeFile system consolidates them into a single medically correct format. The records are then stored in Medefile's MedeVault, a secure repository that can be accessed by MedeFile members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

MedeFile's Emergency Medical Information (EMI) Card

Upon becoming a MedeFile member, each individual will receive a Membership / Emergency Medical Information (EMI) Card. It contains instructions on how to contact MedeFile in order to retrieve the member's medical records.

The Digital Health Profile (DHP)

A part of a member's MedeFile is their Digital Health Profile (DHP). This form is completed by the patient in order to provide a summary of the patient's healthcare history which assists healthcare providers in understanding the patient's course of medical treatment.

MedeDrive

The MedeDrive is an external universal serial bus (USB) drive, which stores all of a patient's Emergency Medical Information and their MedeFile which can be viewed on a personal computer. MedeDrive self loads its own viewer, so no special program or software is required.

MedeVault

The MedeVault is designed to serve as an electronic data and document repo! sitory that incorporates state-of-the-art security features in order to prevent unauthorized access to a patient's records. Access to the MedeVault is provided through an encrypted connection to a Web service run by MedeFile. This connection is provided by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.

MedeMinder

MedeMinder is MedeFile's reminder service. The member tells the Company when and where to call, and the Company automatically contacts the member day or night with an appropriate reminder, spoken by real people.

MedePro

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company introduced MedePro. MedePro is a medical record retrieval and document management solution created specifically by MedeFile for legal and insurance professionals.

SecurMed

SecurMed is designed to serve as an authentication process. SecurMed protects against any information being viewed by unauthorized persons.

The Company competes with GE Healthcare, Bio-Imaging Technologies, and Cyber Records.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap healthcare and lifestyle stocks Axxess Pharma Inc (OTCMKTS: AXXE), Medefile International Inc (OTCMKTS: MDFI) and Intelligent Living Inc (OTCMKTS: ILIV) have all been getting some extra attention lately thanks in part to a few disclosed paid promotions or investor relations type of activities. But just how healthy are these small cap stocks for investors and traders alike? Here is a quick reality check:

Top 5 Regional Bank Stocks To Watch Right Now: CEL-SCI Corp (CVM)

CEL-SCI Corporation (CEL-SCI), incorporated on March 22, 1983, is engaged in the business of Multikine cancer therapy; New cold fill manufacturing service to the pharmaceutical industry, and ligand epitope antigen presentation System (LEAPS) technology, with two products, hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1 (H1N1) swine flu treatment for H1N1 hospitalized patients and CEL-2000, a rheumatoid arthritis treatment vaccine.

Multikine

CEL-SCI's Multikine, is being developed for the treatment of cancer. It is a cancer immunotherapy drugs called Combination Immunotherapy because it combines active and passive immunity in one product. It is the only cancer immunotherapy that both kills cancer cells and activates the general immune system to destroy the cancer. Multikine target the tumor micro-metastases for treatment failure. Multikine is also applicable in many other solid tumors.

New Manufacturing Facility

CEL-SCI's facility manufactures Multikine for CEL-SCI's Phase III clinical trial. CEL-SCI offers the use of the facility as a service to pharmaceutical companies and others, particularly those that need to fill and finish their drugs in a cold environment. Fill and finish is the process of filling injectable drugs in a sterile manner.

LEAPS

CEL-SCI's patented T-cell Modulation Process uses heteroconjugates to direct the body to choose a specific immune response. The heteroconjugate technology, referred to as LEAPS, is intended to stimulate the human immune system to fight bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, as well as autoimmune, allergies, transplantation rejection and cancer. Administered like vaccines, LEAPS combines T-cell binding ligands with small, disease associated and peptide antigens.

Using the LEAPS technology, CEL-SCI has created a peptide treatment for H1N1 (swine flu) hospitalized patients. This LEAPS flu treatment is designed to focus on the conserved, non-changing epitopes of the di! fferent strains of Type A Influenza viruses, including swine, avian or bird, and Spanish Influenza. CEL-SCI's LEAPS flu treatment contains epitopes.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It may not have blazed a trail into the young, immunology segment of the biotech industry the way Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ:DNDN) did back in 2010 with the debut of Provenge. It may not have the same immunology pipeline (and company size) that ImmunoGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMGN) boasts. One thing is pretty certain about cancer-immunotherapy developer CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEMKT:CVM) right now, however - its stock may be poised to dole out a much bigger foreseeable-future reward than DNDN or IMGN are.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Names like Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) and CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEMKT:CVM) may have pioneered and even mainstreamed the idea of cancer immunology, but the nature of the branch of biotechnology means any company could send CEL-SCI or Amgen back-pedaling. See, it's not about size or deep pockets in the world of biotech anymore. It's about know-how and an idea, which can just as easily be discovered and developed by a small company as they can be a large company. That's why AMGN and CVM at least need to keep a close eye on budding immunology competitor TNI Biotech Inc. (OTCMKTS:TNIB).

Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2015: DiaMedica Inc (DMA)

DiaMedica Inc. (DiaMedica) is a development-stage company. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and related diseases. DiaMedica's compound, DM-199, is a recombinant human protein for the treatment of both Type I and Type II diabetes and their complications. DiaMedica is starting a Phase I/II clinical trial for DM-199. DM-199 is a recombinant human protein, which improves glucose control, protects beta cells through the expansion of a population of antigen-specific immunosuppressive cells (Tregs), and proliferates insulin producing beta cells through the activation of certain growth factors. The Company�� DM-204 is a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist (GPCR) monoclonal antibody to treat Type II diabetes and some of the associated complication's. activating a receptor resulted in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and vasodilation. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Rhodes]

  Given this economic backdrop, and developing pressure on corporate revenues, margins, and earnings, we feel that risk is being misplaced at current levels.

  The 14-day and 40-day models are now overbought. Now, the 14-day and 40-day are peaking, which would certainly indicate a correction stands as the highest probability.
  
  The % of stocks above their 10-day moving average (dma) is at the 70%-level; still a major divergence with prices.
  
  The % of stocks above their 200-dma stands at 77%. The 87% level marked previous highs. The 50-dma/150-dma cross breakdown now confirms a larger correction. Bottoms form between 30%-40%.
  
  Overall, the risk-reward remains skewed to the downside, regardless of whether prices remain above trendline resistance, as our model group suggests a correction to the 110-day moving average, currently at S&P 1711.
  
  

  A clear breakdown at that level would accelerate the decline towards the wide 200-dma and 380-dma range, between 1657-1571.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2015: Redhill Biopharma Ltd (RDHL)

Redhill Biopharma Ltd. is an Israel-based biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on the development and acquisition of therapeutic candidates. The Company�� pipeline consists of six late clinical development therapeutic candidates, two of which have completed bioequivalence clinical trials subject to review and approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and, in some cases, regulatory authorities in other countries. The Company�� six clinical stage therapeutic candidates include RHB-101, RHB-102, RHB-103, RHB-104, RHB-105 and RHB-106.

RHB-101

RHB-101 is a treatment of hypertension, heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction (following myocardial infraction) by means of controlled release of an active ingredient known as carvedilol, which is designed to be administered to patients on a once-daily basis. RHB-101 is based on a patented technology for the controlled release of drugs administered orally.

RHB-102

RHB-102 is a once-daily controlled release oral formulation of ondansetron. RHB-102 utilizes a technology called CDT that uses salts to provide a controlled release of ondansetron.

RHB-103

RHB-103 is an oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan intended for the treatment of acute migraine headaches. Migraine is a neurovascular disorder (related to nerves and blood vessels) characterized by recurrent headaches in one side or both sides of the head.

The product is based on a technology called VersaFilm.

RHB-104

RHB-104 is an antibiotic combination therapy for the treatment of Crohn's disease (with a PIII clinical study underway), as well as Multiple Sclerosis (with an ongoing PIIa clinical study) and Rheumatoid Arthritis. RHB-104 is a combination of clarithromycin, clofazimine and rifabutin, three generic antibiotic ingredients, in a single capsule.

RHB-105

RHB-105, an antibiotics and proton pump inhibitor drug targeting Helico! bacter Pylori infection. RHB-105 is a combination of three approved drug products omeprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor (the natural body pump that produces the gastric acids used for digesting the food in the stomach), and amoxicillin and rifabutin which are antibiotics. Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori irritates the mucosal lining of the stomach and small intestine.

RHB-106

RHB-106, is a tablet for the preparation and cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract prior to the performance of abdominal procedures. Its abdominal procedures include diagnostic tests, such as colonoscopy, barium enema or virtual colonoscopy, as well as surgical interventions, such as laparotomy.

The company competes with GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, Merck and Co., Inc, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Breaking news

  Vitran Corporation (NASDAQ: VTNC) announced today that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with TransForce pursuant to which TransForce has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Vitran not already owned by TransForce for US$6.50 in cash per share, in accordance with TransForce's prior proposal. To read the full news, click here. ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) today announced it signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to sell three utility-scale projects in Western China, with a total capacity of 60MW, to Jiangsu Akcome Solar Science & Technology Co on December 30, 2013. To read the full news, click here. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced it has terminated the merger agreement with Apollo Tyres (NSE:ApolloTYRE). To read the full news, click here. RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ: RDHL) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with leading healthcare investor OrbiMed Israel Partners Limited Partnership, an affiliate of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, for the sale of RedHill's American Depository Shares and warrants in a private placement transactionor a total sum of $6.0 million. To read the full news, click here.

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