Some Biotech companies seek US approvals during the first quarter of 2013 – (IPXL, IMGN, BIIB, MNKD, VVUS, QCOR, HEB, PFE, BMY)

Some biotech and drug companies are expected to gain US approvals for potential blockbuster treatments during the starting three months of the next year. The Food and Drug Administration will make a number of decisions in the first quarter regarding market clearance for experimental medicines.

Impax Laboratories (NASDAQ:IPXL) will seek approval Rytary for Parkinson’s disease in late January.

Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) is expected to win FDA approval for its multiple myeloma drug pomalidomide in first half of February to be used as a treatment for patients who were previously treated with other drugs.

On February 26, ImmunoGen (NASDAQ:IMGN) and Roche (PINK:RHHBY) will be seeking approval for the breast cancer treatment trastuzumab emtansine, or T-DM1.

Big drug makers Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) will seek approval of Eliquis on March 17 for the prevention of stroke and a clotting blockage known as systemic embolism.

Biotech giant Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:BIIB) is expected to hear about its experimental multiple sclerosis pill on March 28.

In trading on Thursday, biotechnology shares showed relative strength with MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) and VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) gaining the most.

MannKind (MNKD) has last 12-month performance down at -11.52%. Its price, by the end of recent trade, was up 51.59% compared with the 52 week low and was -31.61% below the 52 week high after Brinson Patrick initiated coverage on share of MNKD with a Market Outperform rating and $6.00 price target. When compared with the average-price of 200 days, that closing price was up +5.82% while keeping its distance from the SMA 50 at +14.88% and +10.36% compared with the SMA 20.

VIVUS, Inc. (VVUS) has been showing an uptrend of 40.21% this year with a monthly performance floating around 19.81% and 3-month performance down -25.26%. Its most recent closing price was -34.12% down from an average-price of 200 days while it was -0.70% away from the SMA 50 and +13.92% compared with the SMA 20. The stock, after the close of business on Thursday, was at a premium of 51.22% versus the 52 week low and was trading at -56.20% below the 52 week high.

On the flip side, both Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:QCOR) and Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc(NYSEAMEX:HEB) lost more than 7% on Thursday.

The year-to-date performance of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:QCOR) hovers around -32.18%, up 46.21% for the last three months and -34.12% up tracking the trailing twelve months. Its price closed 63.43% up when compared with the 52 week low and was -52.14% below the 52 week high. That price was -23.81% down from an average-price of 200 days at a distance of +6.13% from the SMA 50.

Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc(NYSEAMEX:HEB) so far in 2012 moved up 30.60% and its three-month performance stands at -70.98%. The stock gained 37.47% since it hit 52 week low and is now -76.25% below the 52 week high. Its latest closing price was -47.51% down as compared to an average-price of 200 days while it is currently keeping its distance from the SMA 50 at -62.00% and -57.39% compared with the SMA 20.