Biotech's Longer Convalescence

If biotech does rebound, it will likely come this fall when a gaggle of investment banks will be holding biotech investor conferences in September and October, per custom. The medical meeting calendar also gets busy, including important cancer-research meetings scheduled for September and December.

But compared with years passed, the back end of 2004 is not filled with as many clinical and regulatory catalysts that so often attract the attention of investors. Still, there are some potential market-moving events expected in the coming months, which include:

Eyetech(EYET Quote) and Pfizer(PFE Quote) bringing their drug Macugen (used to treat vision loss in older people) in front of a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Aug. 27.

In late September, the FDA is expected to announce an approval decision for Gilead Sciences' (GILD Quote) new combination HIV pill.

In October, Maxim Pharmaceuticals(MAXM Quote) is expected to release results from a phase III study of its skin cancer drug Ceplene.