Biotech Stock Mailbag: My Say on Sequenom

It's Friday, which means it's time for the Biotech Mailbag.

Travis T. wasn't happy with Wednesday night's article on Sequenom(SQNM Quote) and the company's prenatal genetic test for Down syndrome. He particularly hated the headline, "Sequenom Very Good, Just No Longer Perfect":

"I didn't like your article on Sequenom. It was not in line with other articles that were all upbeat and positive. The data was basically perfect and you didn't give credit to that until late in the article. You didn't serve the shareholders fairly. I doubt [Jim] Cramer would approve of this either. I would suggest you re-title it. The test is as accurate as anything on the market, including amniocentesis, except it's non-invasive. What more are you looking for?"

I don't coordinate my article and columns to ensure that they're in accordance with my competitors.

I don't write articles and columns to serve shareholders.

I really liked the headline to my Sequenom story because it summed up the news precisely. Sequenom is using some very interesting prenatal genetics technology to develop what could be an effective and widely used screening tool for Down syndrome. But this nascent test is not perfect, which is certainly what many hoped for and expected.

And I didn't write the headline, anyway. That's the responsibility of my editor, so he gets the credit.

As for Sequenom, don't get the mistaken impression that I'm some raging bear. I think the Down syndrome test works. I do wonder how well it works in the real world. The data we have seen so far are well controlled by the company. The results we see from the independent studies currently under way will be key. And there's still a debate worth having about the commercial potential and the regulatory environment for the test.

Just because you don't see me stamping on a table for Sequenom a la Peter Kolchinsky of RA Capital doesn't mean I dislike the company or the stock.

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