AspenBio?

AspenBio is in prime position for a big year, at least according to Seeking Alpha. This small biotech company is developing a new diagnostic test for appendicitis that allegedly can give a result in 15 minutes. A diagnostic kit that could diagnose the potentially fatal condition without the use of expensive CT scans or ultrasounds would really be a boon for all sectors of the healthcare industry. AspenBio benefits because their product would likely be used everywhere, Insurance companies would benefit because they wouldn't have to foot the bill for CT scans when a small, local lab kit would do the trick, Patients would benefit because they wouldn't have to pony up a percentage of the CT scan for the same reason as mentioned previously. Basically put, it's a win-win situation for all parties. The only issue is whether the data presented by AspenBio are enough for the FDA to approve this new device...we should have an answer sometime next month. In the meantime, why not get a piece of the company...it's only running about 3 bucks/share.

AspenBio's website for more

...and Seeking Alpha's take on the new diagnostic test

If at first you don't succeed....Depomed is taking that to heart by rolling out another phase III trial of it's hotflash drug, Serada. In the fall of last year, Depomed announced disappointing results from 2 different late stage trials that missed about 75% of their primary endpoints after 3 months of treatment. This next study is slated to start in April and Depomed is hopeful that it will finally yield results that lead to an FDA nod of approval for Serada. I just wonder how much tweaking study designs will really beget a meaningful result. It's great that this has potential to be first non-hormone treatment for hot flashes (a real unmet need for women), but where should Depomed draw the line? What happens if this trial is no more successful than the previous two? Only time will tell, I suppose...

See the Depomed press release here