Imclone's Spot at the Podium May Be a Tip-Off It Has a Cancer Drug Hit

Imclone Systems (IMCL Quote) has landed one of several high-profile slots at an upcoming cancer meeting where it will take the wraps off promising results for a novel treatment to stop tumor growth.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting -- held next month in San Francisco -- is the Super Bowl of cancer research confabs, watched closely by the medical and investment community. And like any good sporting event, the handicapping of who will score and who will punt at ASCO has already started.

The early scouting report looks good for biotech firm Imclone. The company said this week that it has a choice spot on the first day of the conference in which to make its presentation. Competition to nab a primo spot is intense, mainly because more than 3,500 research papers will be presented in four days. Prominent positioning is seen as a blessing conferred by the research community that carries weight with investors as well. ...