Sequenom (SQNM) adds 4 cents to $3.96 and today’s volume of 6,805 calls/1,030 puts is 2.5X the daily average for the stock. June 4 calls, which are four cents OTM, are the most actives. 3,050 traded against 2,327 in open (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Intermune (ITMN) rallies $1.62 to $16.42 on heavy volume of 4.7 milliion shares after a German agency said Esbriet shows benefits in treating pulmonary fibrosis. Typical volume in the first hour is less than 350K shares. The stock is now (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Amarin Corp (AMRN) is rallying and implied volatility in the options on the biotech is up sharply amid heavy call activity on the stock today. AMRN was recently up $1 to $8.15 on volume of 4.1 milloin shares, which is (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Dendreon (DNDN) is down and implied volatility in the options on the Seattle, WA biotech is up today after J&J’s Zytiga showed effectiveness in wider use as prostate cancer drug. Concerns about competition to DNDN’s Provenge sent the stock to (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Vivus Pharmaceuticals (VVUS), which surged 77.5 percent Thursday on positive FDA news related to the company’s obesity drug, is up another $2.02 to $24.15 in active trading of 18 million shares, which is 5X the typical volume. Trading in the (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Dendreon (DNDN) Mar 15 calls are among the most actives early-Monday after shares fell $2.73 to $12.13 on disappointing earnings results. 5,650 Mar 15 calls traded on the stock and probably seeing some liquidating trades. The contract is falling 22.7 (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) is flat at $8.35 and one strategist sells Jul 8 – 13 call spreads on the biotech at $1.12, 5000X, to open. Collins Stewart downgraded the stock to Neutral from Buy today. Shares are in the (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

The top equity options trade so far today is in Pfizer (PFE). Shares are down 34 cents to $21.24 and one of 22 Dow stocks trading lower after the pharmaceutical giant posted better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings and revs, but then (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) is up 77 cents to $9.90 and options volume on the biotech is elevated, with 35,000 calls and 8,430 puts traded in the name so far. The top trades surfaced early when one strategist sold 1,900 (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Idenix Pharmarceuticals (IDIX) adds $2.80 to $9.85 on positive trial results from a Hepititis C drug and one player seized the strength to write 10,000 Jan $10 calls on the biotech for an average of 52.5 cents per contract to (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....