Nano Stocks

Elan’s (NYSE: ELN) NanoCrystal^® technology has been approved for use in Japan. The approval comes as part of the approval for EMEND^® a drug treatment for chemotherapy induced nausea. EMEND^® is the first NanoCrystal® based drug to be approved in Japan. The stock traded up over 4.5% on the news today.

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The US Army Corps of Engineers placed an order for samples of Applied Nanotechnology’s carbon nanotubes. The order is for a sample amount worth $25,000 and will be used to research the ballistic properties of the material. The Army Corps of Engineers is extensively researching carbon nanotubes for possible uses in a variety of defense applications.

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Janssen-Cilag a division of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has submitted a marketing application for paliperidone palmitate (marketed as Invega Sustenna in the US) a once-montly schizophrenia treatment that utilizes Elan’s (NYSE: ELN) Nanocrystal drug delievery system. The treatment was granted approval by the FDA in August. The monthly injection is seen as having certian advantages over oral drug treatments. Specifically, paliperidone palmitate avoids the potential for relapse as result of individual’s failing to take their medication (a common outcome of oral-based schezophrenia treatments).

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J&J partnered with Elan following a $1 billion investment by the New Jersey health care giant earlier this year. In return for the investment J&J recieved an 18.34% stake in the Dublin based biotech company and rights to teh biotech’s Immunotherapy Program.

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Nanometrics (NASDAQ: NANO) was up over 12% on news that the company received a follow-on order for its Atlas XP metrology system. The order comes from “a leading memory producer” and is to be delivered to multiple factories as customer re-tools to manufacture the latest in DRAM and Flash memory. The Atlas system is used for quality control in the manufacturing of semiconductors, advanced wafer-scale packaging, solar photovoltaics and high-brightness LEDs as well as data storage.

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Vecco (NASDAQ: VECO) has introduced a series of new nanotools today. First, the company introduced the MultiMode 8 Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) a follow-up to the most widely used SPM on the market today. Second, Vecco announced the release of two new Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)  scanning modes. The new scanning modes will allow increased accuracy in analysis of nanomaterials.

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Full story on new AFM scanning modes: Here

Industrial Nanotech has entered into an agreement with the Indian company Angstrom Technology a division of A.L. Batra Group of Industries in order to gain access to the Indian market. Industrial Nanotech through this agreement will gain a distribution channel for its Nansulate coating product.

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A123 Systems (NASDAQ:AONE) is up over 14% in midday trading. The move comes on news that A123 along with Detroit Edison will recieve a $5M Department of Energy research grant. The grant is meant to support research examining the potential for Lithium-ion electric car batterys to store emergency energy for the power grid. The grant is part of the government’s $620M R&D stimulus program.

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Goldman Sachs began its coverage of battery maker A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE) last week. Goldman placed a $14 price target on the company along with a neutral rating. A123 produces a range of lithium-ion batteries. The stock last traded at $14.53 and has traded down for most of the last month as it has slid from a high of $28.20 in the days after its IPO.

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In a recent NASA space mission the survivability of nanotube-based NRAM memory was demonstrated. NRAM is developed jointly by Nantero and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). Harris & Harris (NASDAQ: TINY) is one of the primary investors in Nantero.

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Disclaimer: Kevin Rippey owns shares in TINY

Biogen and Elan’s (NASDAQ: ELN) multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri has been a subject of serious concern as a rare brain infection PML has been a known side effect of the drug. However, more recent reports have shown that the frequency as well as the severity of the side effect is not as grave as originally thought. In fact, initial estimates of the frequency of PML as a side effect was 1/1000. However, data collected over the past 4 years has shown that the frequency is closer to 1/2500.

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