Insider Buying and a teased “295% pop” to come?

by Travis Johnson, Stock Gumshoe | October 3, 2012 4:15 pm

Sleuthing out the teaser for Money Map's Private Briefing biotech stock

“I Have Access to Financial Strategies That You Don’t Have…

“And They Could Be Worth a Fortune

“Starting with the Next 295% Extravaganza…

“I just discovered a large, sudden and concentrated block of insider buying[1].

“Please… pay attention to this…

“I’m talking about 7 insiders, including the CEO and CFO. They just spent $353,000 on the purchase of nearly 215,000 shares of their company’s stock.

“And when they buy en masse like this, they aren’t doing it to pick off a point or two of gains – they see big upside ahead.

“I’m talking about an estimated 295% pop in the quick action – with the potential to rise as high as 895% if you’re patient and willing to ride the upside. It’s up to you.”

That’s the opening spiel from Bill Patalon[2] from Money Map Press[3], and he’s trying to sell subscriptions to their Private Briefing[4] monthly letter, which is one of those “not all that expensive” monthly fee letters that most of the big publishers are experimenting with, seeing how many folks will pay between $5-10 a month on a month-to-month basis for their stock picking ideas and analysis (these are tests to see if this works better than charging $50-100/year, which is the typical “entry level” newsletter that they use to bring in new customers, folks who will hopefully eventually buy their more expensive letters, they’ve been around for a year or so so I guess they must be working on some level).

Most of these types of services offer a “best of the best” approach — with the editor picking out a favorite pick from one of the publisher’s other newsletters each month for these monthly payers — this one has been around for at least a little while and I’ve seen it pitched as a $5 a month service, but apparently in this ad they’re asking for $7.99/month. It’s hard to keep track of the “real” price of any of these services, frankly.

But you don’t want to know the marketing strategy of the publisher — you want to know the name of the stock they’re teasing, right? Well, don’t worry — we can help you there, too. All we need to do is sniff out a few of the clues from the ad so we can toss ’em into the ol’ Thinkolator …

So what does this company do? Why are they excited? More from the ad:

“You might be excited too if you just brought in one of the country’s top liver specialists from the Mayo Clinic. His assignment: To use his contracts, knowledge and reputation to grease the wheels for a potentially lifesaving new medical device that treats liver cancer.

“Did I mention that this little company is selling for around $1.70 a share right now?

“This company’s breakthrough is amazing…

“It’s developed a proprietary system for something called “chemosaturation.” More than a drug, it’s a device. It’s a means of administering a high dose of chemotherapy directly into a diseased organ.”

And a few more clues:

“For millions of suffering people, this system stands to be a miracle – sheltering them from highly invasive surgery[5] and debilitating and painful side effects… while giving them a better chance to survive.

“Now here’s the thing: This company’s device is already a big hit in Europe, and the company is making good money there.

“Right now it’s well on its way, moving through approval here in the U.S. Remember, this is more of a device than a drug.

“Moreover, as the CEO of this amazing company says: ‘We believe we qualify hands down, because there really isn’t anything available for these patients today and that is the main criteria.'”

Medical devices are generally easier to get approved by the FDA[6] than are drugs, so that’s appealing. So what is this particular device?

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The product is the Hepatic CHEMOSAT Delivery System, and it’s owned by Delcath Systems (DCTH).

Which is indeed a small company, with recent insider buying, and a product that is approved in Europe and under review by the FDA — they submitted it for FDA approval on August 15, and they asked for “fast track” review to get an answer in six months. They should find out in mid-October whether or not they get the “fast track.”

Their system is basically designed to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into the liver and then filter them out of the blood before much of the toxins get into the rest of the body, and their approval for a single drug delivery system/procedure in Europe earlier this year had them generating their first operating revenue in the second quarter — it will be a while before it becomes profitable, partly because it’s a new system that has to be introduced, taught, and sold to cancer treatment facilities and doctors, and partly because it is targeted at a fairly precise form of otherwise-hard-to-treat liver cancer.

That’s about all I understand of the technicals — there’s a limit to how much of an expert on the business you get to be when you look at several companies a day, and my last biology class was almost three decades ago — but the company believes their current addressable market is about $500 million with FDA approval. They are losing money, of course, and will be quite a while in ramping up to profitability — this isn’t a drug they can just start selling to an unmet need, it’s a device and a system that they have to publicize, train, educate, market and distribute, so the ramp-up should, I presume, be quite slow even if they can address most of that $500 million market or expand beyond it, as they hope to, with targeting other challenging cancers.

The financials are not horrible, they don’t have a lot of debt or anything like that, but I’d give you good odds if you’d take my bet that they’ll be raising money by the time the FDA response is due next year. They raised $21 million last quarter, and apparently have a $20 million line of credit they can tap, and that gets them to roughly $50 million in available cash and liquidity the way I read it. That’s of the end of the quarter (June 30), and they said that after the FDA submission they expect their cash burn rate (they don’t call it that) to be between $3-4 million/month. So if we assume the high end — and biotech companies don’t often spend less than they say they will — that’s roughly 10 months of available money, which gets them to … February. So if they do get the fast track, then they’ve got enough liquidity, probably, to get through to an FDA answer — since a bad answer or a request for more data would clobber the share price, I presume they’d be conservative and want to raise some more cash before they hear back on their application.

I don’t know of any reason why the FDA might reject their system — it is approved in Europe, which isn’t a guarantee of FDA approval but it can’t hurt, and it doesn’t use a new drug, so it seems unlikely that there would be catastrophic side effects, and it does target a group of people who are not well-served by existing therapies (in this case, I gather that if you need chemo targeted more specifically at your liver right now in the US, the procedure is more invasive and surgical).

And the insider buying is real and fairly widespread, with no recent insider selling to offset it, so that’s promising but also opportunistic — that buying was all done at the end of May by a variety of officers and directors, after the announcement of that last $20 million(ish) fundraising crushed the shares from $2.38 to $1.50 overnight. So that’s also a note that watching Delcath’s fundraising has been an important thing for investors to do in recent years, as the extremely long development time of their product has brought several near-crises of liquidity along the way — though certainly if they can generate good news from the FDA early next year, the fundraising would be unlikely to hamper the shares as much. Things seem to look pretty good now, but I don’t have a crystal ball that tells me what the FDA will do or, if approved, how long it will take to ramp up to meaningful sales in addressing that potential $500 million market. Analysts think they’ll hit $10 million in sales next year, though the range of guesses is very wide, and they expect meaningful losses next year, too (the company last about $50 million last year).

Oh, and there are tons of outstanding stock options[7] — but they’re well underwater, on average, so the cynic in me expects that they might get re-set or have lots of new options granted at the end of this year, before the expected approval. We’ll see.

There is a positive note here from the Motley Fool[8] that goes into some of the product details, and a Seeking Alpha[9] contributor interviewed the CEO recently here. Will it go up 200-300% in the months to come? Well, that I dunno — it’s hard to guess what the ramp-up of sales might be either in Europe or the US, or even what level of sales they might need to achieve profitability. On the positive side, they’ve booked losses (sorry, “investments”) approaching $200 million now over the life of the company, so I doubt they’ll have to pay much in taxes anytime soon.

Sound like the kind of thing that interests you? A potential FDA approval within six months and a somewhat beaten-down stock? Or do you have qualms? I’m not buying this one because I’ve largely lost my stomach for one-product biotech bets, but I may be too much of a baby and it’s your money — let us know what you think with a comment below.

Endnotes:
  1. insider buying: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/insider-buying/
  2. Bill Patalon: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/bill-patalon/
  3. Money Map Press: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/money-map-press/
  4. Private Briefing: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/private-briefing/
  5. surgery: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/surgery/
  6. FDA: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/fda/
  7. options: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/tag/options/
  8. positive note here from the Motley Fool: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/09/19/3-things-to-watch-with-delcath-systems.aspx
  9. Seeking Alpha: http://seekingalpha.com/article/901761-interview-delcath-s-ceo-provides-details-about-the-resubmission-of-the-fda-s-new-drug-application-for-chemosat?source=yahoo

Source URL: https://www.stockgumshoe.com/reviews/private-briefing/insider-buying-and-a-teased-295-pop-to-come/


29 responses to “Insider Buying and a teased “295% pop” to come?”

  1. very informative thank you

    jim

  2. Larry says:

    I bought three shares of stock and will hold it until the sun don’t shine any more. When I get really rich, I will tell you “I told you so!”

  3. alanjenkins2 says:

    At least it’s something the ethical funds might go for.

  4. Strange One says:

    Just buy Berkshire Hathaaway stocks and sell it at 9 cents…. The promo ads now are getting ridiculus if you ever read them anymore.

  5. Ed Morgan says:

    Any chance of a buyout? Several of the largest pharmaceuticals are openly looking to buy rather than create from scratch.

  6. francois says:

    The device is a hit in Europe, so they say.Why isn’t the company better off, then?
    I may be wrong, but the Europe and US market sizes should be equivalent.
    Why would simply doubling their customer base radically turn the company into a cash cow?
    Am I missing something?

  7. Venture Shadow says:

    Treating cancer metastases generally does not remove all the cancer from the body, that is, it does not cure the cancer. It prolongs life and lengthens the duration of the terminal disease. Nevertheless this can be very lucrative. There is an analogy to the cancer vaccine Provenge here. The amount of individual service for each individual patient with both this treatment and Provenge is high, unlike simple drug therapy. I can’t bring myself to cheer about this as a cancer cure, it is a desperate measure for a desperate condition. Still the idea of this device is understandable, it makes sense, and if done right it is less speculative than many biomedical enterprises. It could be done right, and the insider buys say that it is being done right.

  8. Harrison says:

    I like ” private briefing” a whole lot, as much as Gumshoe…

  9. John says:

    Thanks Travis. This is the first time I have commented. I have been reading your investigations for a year or more..Great work and a big thanks. Maybe you want to take a look at Scancell Hldgs (SCLP) on UK AIM. looks to me lik a winner in the Cancer therapy area.Best wishes

  10. fatboy228 says:

    I bought 700 shares of DCTH about (what seems to be) 6 years ago for $3.60.
    It seemed to make sense that if you can overdose the cancer with Chemo and not effect the rest of the body (designed to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into the liver and then filter them out of the blood before much of the toxins get into the rest of the body) you probably had a great cancer treatment.
    I watched as it went through the trials (Phases) and it seemed to me that they passed with flying colors. The stock jumped into the $14 + range as one of your readers mentioned above. I did not sell, expecting the stock to get into the $30’s (at least).
    The stock declined over time to around $4 and I woke up one day to find it at $1.75. No time to bail out, “I’ll just hold it until it flames out”!
    Imagine my surprise to read Gummie’s somewhat positive take on the Delcath tease!!!
    I thought the DCTH system had passed all the tests and was approved years ago. Now, my 700 shares still have a chance.
    On another stock in my “doomed but I’m holding on because I was greedy folder”…… I think it was a freebie from The M.Fool, “The One Stock to Buy and Hold Forever” Sigma Designs -SIGM. I bought about 5 or 6 years ago, maybe $7, went into the $70’s. 2008 hit and the decline started. Every symbol was falling at that time so no time to panic. I’m looking at $6 for the last year or so. WHAT Happened????
    I Love the Gumshoe!
    Chuck

  11. wayne says:

    It may be that the European “free medical ” boards don’t allow so freely the use of expensive therapies. In the current US medicine climate if your doctor recommends something it may be tried. Hence a far bigger market than state medicine.

  12. Gail says:

    These $5 a month newsletters are pretty enticing for newsletter junkies. I have been getting Private Briefing for a few months and Delcath is the only thing I have bought on their recommendation. I am down 10.34% on 100 shares. Way worse is that my 3 Dec. $2 calls are down 50.91%!!

  13. Tom Walsh says:

    Definetly a stock to watch. Just jumped 13+% last Friday. I am waiting for the opening Bell on Monday and will watch where DCTH is heading. I cannot find any particular news as to why the stock jumped and hoping that it is because of some positive news and not a short buy/sell stock.

  14. chiro85 says:

    I’ve been following DCTH for several months now. After the big dilution that brought the stock from 2.30s to about 1.60, I bougt shares then sold in the 1.90 range. About 1 week ago sold at 1.9, will buy back around 1.70 and do the whole thing again. (It has worked 3 times so far.) This is a trading stock, do not buy and hold. There is some major competition for this market (including Thermodot technology) and some big pharma is also developing competing systems. IMO FWIW PS Should work until late January.

  15. bdowbiggin says:

    Hi Travis,
    There is a Toronto stock named spectral Diagnostics [T.SDI] that has a similar idea for Sepsis. A much smaller company [& share price] but a much bigger market potential. Have you any info one or researched this one?

  16. SL says:

    They had a
    pretty good record with pharma companies…I had missed out at MIcromet and PCYC which returned more than 100% so I decided to give Delcath a chance.Bought 350@ 1.72,soared to 2.34 at some point,I sold at 2.17 when it started falling.Good call,because following FDA approval today,it crashed 20%.Why is that?

  17. Thanks Travis for the update that they were not approved for the Fast Track with FDA, and thanks to the post explaining the complexity for the use of the devise. The price point will be an issue for insurance companies to agree to pay for it, but as we all know, ALL cancer treatment is expensive! (I am a survivor). So….any ideas on what is next? When is their next chance to get FDA approval- any time lines on how long that will take? Thanks!

  18. Burt Shane says:

    Dear Mr David Murphy,
    Ref your post of 5 Oct. Thanks so much for opening our eyes and helping us to focus better.
    Equally to Mr Travis my heartfelt appreciation for one of the most unusual, stimulating and positive services I have come across! May thy tribe increase…!
    Sincerley,
    Burt

  19. misterht01 says:

    I think Cancer won in this case. DCTH is flat-lining.

  20. baygreen says:

    Flat lining for a few months is a given but as time gets closer you will have your dice throwers chasing those bones hoping a seven doesn’t come up, how many passes around the table even it it passes in June they will get a push and then it will be back to life. Sometimes just the thrill will make players play, and the under $2 and over $5 will keep the players keep throwing the dice. It will pass get pumped and come down some and maybe a big boy might want a new toy in there ammunition pile, otherwise it will take time to really make a splash weather it has good results in Asia or Europe this is still USA and FDA, they might forget to cross a T in there paperwork and will they get funded for another year I doubt it , June or Bust. Nice video if you have that horrible disease but it is more complicated of a procedure as the movie ad on there web I have to agree with Dave M. but that is medicine and the volume will take a while to pay off unless a big boy pulls the trigger which DCTH would take just for the time and pressure alone it is not a lock on a cure but an extension of time that does not pass the Obama new rule so half the crowd who can’t pay unless uncle SAM helps are out and then the insurance carriers will be dragging there approval if they can’t get that Medicare half approved, that 15 person panel will have the switch who gets to live longer maybe or just let them watch because they don’t have the cash. Socialism in Europe is a positive if they are really socializing. Give them more time with the procedure or just let them ? Not just an out patient procedure and come back in a week or two to see the results and I really hope it works but will the cost of the procedure let it work for all, get your money back and keep a little and hope for the best.

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