Top 10 Biotech Buzz Stocks for This Year

Intermune(ITMN Quote): Investors are focused on two drugs in the company's pipeline -- ITMN-191 for hepatitis C and Pirfenidone as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease.

Last week, Intermune announced progress with ITMN-191 in a phase I monotherapy study of hepatitis C patients, and plans to soon start a trial combining ITMN-191 with standard therapy. Pirfenidone is being evaluated in a phase III study.

Allos Therapeutics(ALTH Quote): The company is developing PDX, or pralatrexate, in a pivotal phase II study for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a blood cancer. Last week, Allos announced the start of a phase II study of PDX in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Incyte(INCY Quote): It's developing a diverse pipeline of oral drugs to treat cancer, HIV, inflammation and diabetes. At the JPMorgan conference, Incyte presented proof-of-concept data on several drug candidates in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, myelofibrosis and psoriasis.

Isis: The developer of antisense drugs didn't present at JPMorgan, but last Monday, the company announced a lucrative partnership with Genzyme for its lead cholesterol-lowering compound, mipomersen.

Nektar Therapeutics(NKTR Quote): This is a drug-delivery technology firm best known these days for developing the inhaled insulin powder and device Exubera, which was yanked off the market by partner Pfizer(PFE Quote) due to poor sales.

Last week, the company provided an update on other products in its pipeline, including an oral treatment for opioid-induced bowel dysfunction and a long-acting form of the chemotherapy drug irinotecan.

Viropharma(VPHM Quote): The company provided a better-than-expected 2008 sales forecast for its antibiotic Vancocin. It's also conducting a phase III study of an antiviral drug Camvia.

Seattle Genetics(SGEN Quote): This company is a developer of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory disease. One of its pipeline drugs, SGN-40, is being developed in partnership with Genentech(DNA Quote).

Biogen Idec: The big-cap biotech provided strong 2008 guidance and a bullish update on its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri at the conference.