Sangamo Biosciences .. Treatment for HIV?

Sangamo Biosciences (SGMO)

This is an interesting biopharmaceutical company involved in the development of drugs against HIV at the clinical stage. They have been developing and commercializing the use of zinc finger DNA binding proteins (ZFPs) and modifying them to become nucleases (cut nucleic acids).

Their pipeline revolves around ZFP therapeutics. The lead ZFP therapeutic is called SB-728-T, a ZFN-modified autologous T-cell product for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.  They have both Phase 1 and Phase I/II trials ongoing.

Today they announced data from their Phase I clinical trial relating to SB-728-T. They describe a significant increase in the pool of immune cells that persist in your body. These immune cells are called memory T cells and they remember the first time you were exposed to an antigen, so that the next time you are exposed to the same antigen your body will respond faster. Sangamo BioSciences also modified CCR5 (one of the receptors that HIV uses to enter your cells), it also protects these cells from HIV entry and hence destruction of the cells. This was a 1 year study, and seems promising. It provides your immune cells a way to become resistant to HIV infection and react faster to the viral infection.

 The stock has had a good run, but it is on the down swing now. The resistance appears to be around $5.00.  Reuters downgraded it a few days ago, Second opinion downgraded it to neutral from “long”. (see my graph below that

My own 2 Cents: I think this is a stock to watch. I think it will probably bounce between 5-6 dollars for a while, so for those that want to make a few bucks, keep your eye out for the bounce. For those long term holders- I think I would wait for it to drop closer to 5 and then buy it. It looks like an interesting treatment for those people who have HIV, it is definitely personalized medicine, since the company takes your own cells and treats them with the SB-728-T, and then puts it back into your system.  The possibility is that the treatment can be effect not just for HIV but also for other viral infections and illnesses where you memory cells have been reduced and your immune system is compromised.

Sources:

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/technical-analysis/sangamo-biosciences-has-returned-163-smartrend-recommendation-sgmo?utm_source=Early_Report&utm_medium=email&utm_term=news%20story&utm_campaign=09202012&mtcCampaign=11578&mtcEmail=16369987

Data also from COMTEX/DATAMONITOR, courtesy of Scottrade.