Ventrus Biosciences Inc. (VTUS)

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The Best-Performing Biotech Stocks So Far This Year

May. 12 2011 - 12:55 pm | 679 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments

By MATTHEW HERPER

Because, I was wondering, and I thought you might be curious, too. Here is a screen, via FactSet, of the best-performing biotech and drug stocks over the year so far. I’ve taken some, but not many, efforts to screen out penny stocks.

Company
Ticker
Total Return, Year-To-Date
Price, 5/09/11

Genetic Technologies Ltd. ADS
GENE
668.7
8.11

Accelr8 Technology Corp.
AXK
284.8
3.81

Ventrus Biosciences Inc.
VTUS
205.9
20.25

Dynatronics Corp.
DYNT
177.8
1.75

Novogen Ltd. ADS
NVGN
174.5
1.40

Biolase Technology Inc.
BLTI
172.4
4.72

Pharmasset Inc.
VRUS
146.1
107.20

DUSA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
DUSA
136.7
5.80

TranS1 Inc.
TSON
120.7
4.59

NeoProbe Corp.
NEOP
118.4
4.50

S&P 500
SP50
7.0
1,346.29


Several of these really catch my attention. Ventrus, one of the most successful IPOs of the year, is developing a treatment for hemorrhoids. Pharmasset, maker of experimental Hep C drugs, has just been on fire, stock-wise. BioLase has been around a long time — I profiled them years ago. I don’t know why the stock is up so much. DUSA is a dermatology company.

Why are these stocks up? Which ones are buys and which ones have run up too far? What does this list have to tell us about the state of the drug business? I’d be curious what readers have to say.