Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR) reported a net loss of a cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a net income of 23 cents per share. However, net loss in the year ago period was higher at 37 cents, mainly due to lower revenues and higher clinical trial expenses.   Revenues in the reported quarter increased to $10.8 million compared to $6.2 million for the same period of the prior year. Osiris generates revenues from collaborative agreements, research licenses, and government contracts.   For 2009, the company reported a loss of 72 cents, well below the loss of $2.18 reported in 2008. Revenues jumped to $44.5 million, significantly above $10 million reported in 2008.   Revenues in the reported quarter included the recognition of $10 million in revenues under the company’s agreement with Genzyme Corporation (GENZ) for the development and commercialization of

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We are disappointed with the failure of Osiris Therapeutics’ (OSIR) Prochymal, a drug derived from human stem cell for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), the most common complication of bone marrow transplants. Currently, there is no approved treatment available for this life-threatening disease.

Based on the preliminary results of two phase III trials conducted by the company, Prochymal was found to be ineffective compared to placebo. Following the setback, Osiris shares fell by 34% to $8.03, their greatest single day decline since August 2006.

In the first trial, where the drug was used along with steroids, 45% of patients responded to the combination compared to 46% who responded to steroid along with a placebo. In the second trial, when Prochymal was used on patients not benefiting from steroids, it did not show statistically significant improvement. However, the drug did have a positive impact on patients with GvHD-affected

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We highlight Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (OSIR) and Genzyme Corp. (GENZ).Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (OSIR) reported financial results for the first quarter 2009 on May 7, 2009. Total revenues in the quarter were $12.7 million, up from $0.4 million for the same period for 2008, and slightly above our forecasts of $11.8 million.Revenues include the recognition of $10.0 million in amortized license fees from Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) and $2.6 million related to the contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. The company reported net income of $14.8 million, or $0.45 per share for the quarter. This figure is comprised of losses from continuing operations of $7.9 million, or $0.24 per share, and income from discontinued operations of $22.7 million, or $0.69 per share.Osiris exited the first quarter with $55.0 million in cash and $79.7 million in accounts receivable. Working capital totaled $123.5 ...

div style="text-align: justify;"Piper is out pumping span style="font-weight: bold;"Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:OSIR)/span as their favourite Stem Cell play this AM after speculation over the weekend President Obama is expected to lift the ban on the use of federal money for funding medical research with human embryonic stem cells at a White House ceremony at 11:45AM ET. The move reverses a 2001 policy enacted by former President Bush limiting federal funding to existing cell lines.br /br /Piper notes they do not believe lifting the ban will have any immediate benefit for the majority of publicly traded stem cell companies since most federal research funding is directed at earlier stage projects carried out primarily in academic settings.br /br /They further point out that the ban only applied to research on cells isolated from human embryos. A majority of publicly traded stem cell companies access stem cells from other sources.br /br /That said, they ...