Hier etwas zu Biochem Pharma!!!
worldlyinvestor.com Sector of the Day
Biotech Could Bring Home the Canadian Bacon
By William L. Valentine, Columnist
BioChem Pharma, known for discovering a key ingredient for the `HIV
cocktail,` is looking cheap.
If the term ``cheap biotech stock`` strikes you as an oxymoron, let
me introduce you to BioChem Pharma (Nasdaq:BCHE - news), a Canadian
biopharmaceutical company that`s a give-away at these valuations.
BioChem, best known for discovering 3TC, the world`s leading
anti-HIV drug, is hitching its wagon to three rising stars:
anti-infective, anti-cancer and vaccine medicines.
Laval, Quebec-based BioChem is an international biopharmaceutical
company focused on the research, development and commercialization
of medical products for the prevention and treatment of human
diseases. BioChem relies heavily on marketing partnerships, most
notably with Glaxo Wellcome (NYSE:GLX - news), for the distribution
of its products. Thus, its major revenue source is royalties, as
opposed to outright sales.
Recognizable competitors include Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN - news),
Genentech (NYSE

NA -
news), Immunex (Nasdaq:IMNX - news), Medimmune (Nasdaq:MEDI -
news), Biogen (Nasdaq:BGEN - news) and Chiron (Nasdaq:CHIR -
news).
Mixing Cocktails
BioChem is most known for its anti-infective therapies. Its late
founder Dr. Bernard Belleau discovered 3TC -- a compound known
clinically as lamivudine, which is the world`s leading anti-HIV
treatment -- now commonly used as part of the ``AIDS cocktail.``
3TC, also marketed as Epivir or Combivir, is distributed by Glaxo
worldwide, except in Canada where BioChem sells it directly.
The drug is currently being used by 80% of HIV patients on therapy
and should reach $1 billion in sales in 2000. The annual growth for
the drug in this market is expected to be around 8% and BioChem`s
royalties tend to run in the range of 12% to 15% of sales. While
3TC is the current tail that wags the revenue dog of this company,
the most exciting prospect for the company lies in a different use
of the same compound, lamivudine.
Under the brand names Zeffix, Epivir-HBV, and Heptovir, lamivudine
is being used to treat Hepatitis B, the chronic liver disease
that`s far more reaching than AIDS or HIV. Hepatitis B is the ninth
most common cause of death in the world, responsible for two
million fatalities each year, and there are nearly 400 million
carriers of the virus worldwide.
Hepatitis B Treatment
Zeffix is the first, and only, oral treatment for Hepatitis B, and
is two years ahead of any competition in this market. In the coming
years, this will easily top C$1 billion in sales. Of that, nearly
half is expected to come from China, where Hepatitis B is an
epidemic. Zeffix received approval for distribution from Chinese
health authorities in January of last year, and BioChem and Glaxo
locked up an exclusive manufacturing arrangement for eight years in
the country. BioChem`s revenue from Zeffix should more than double
in each of the next several years.
In the anti-cancer arena, BioChem manufactures PACIS, a treatment
for bladder cancer. PACIS is an antineoplastic agent in the
treatment of superficial cancers and acts through the promotion of
local inflammatory reactions of the urinary bladder. It will be
distributed in the US by UroCor (Nasdaq:UCOR - news), an
Oklahoma-based company with a focus on urological disorders.
The company recently began Phase II trials of troxacitabine for use
in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors and in leukemia. In
the vaccine area, most remarkably, is Fluviral, the only
Canadian-made flu vaccine required for annual vaccination programs.
It has also been working on protections against meningitis and
pneumonia. Its efforts in vaccine medicine was recently bolstered
by the announcement of a joint effort with the Canadian
government`s Technology Partnerships Canada that includes an
infusion of C$80 million from the government over six years.
Pegged as a Cheap Stock
Overall, the company is in great financial shape. Revenues grew by
30% last year to C$290 million, earnings grew by the same amount on
a 51% net margin, and the company`s long-term-debt-to-assets ratio
is 20%. This company is firing on all three of its cylinders,
critical to a thriving biotech. BioChem`s got established and
growing revenue, a strong pipeline and a strong balance sheet.
Amazingly, it trades at a fraction of the valuations of its peers,
many of whom can`t claim the three aforementioned characteristics.
BioChem stock trades at 21 times next year`s expected earnings, and
has a conservative, long-term projected earnings growth rate of
26%. That means its P/E to Growth (PEG) is an unbelievably low 0.8.
When you compare that with richly priced Amgen`s PEG of 3.3 or
Genentech`s 3.4, you`ll see what I mean by cheap biotech stock.
Ich glaube, daß wirft ein gutes Bild auf Biochem Pharma.
Mein Favorit für die nächsten Jahre.
Hätte gerne einige Meinungen zu dieser Aktie, da ich sehr wenig
Leute kenne, die hier investiert sind und die Aktie kennen.
MFG
ROCKIN