StemCells Inc.: Time to play the election

StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ:STEM) shares over the last 5 days have charged up 20%, fell 14%, and now are up 8% after hours.  The only reason? The 2008 Presidential Election. 

Time to jump on the band wagon and play the stem cell stocks, including Neuralstem, Inc. (AMEX:CUR), Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR), Invitrogen Corp. (NASDAQ: IVGN), NeoStem Inc. (AMEX: NBS), and Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM).  Put those bad boys along with StemCells Inc. in a Google Portfolio and start shopping.

Those Tickers again alone for you to cut & paste: STEM, CUR GERN, OSIR, IVGN, NBS, ASTM.

Despite this recent 5 day roller coaster, STEM shares are down 21% in the last 3 months.  Shares are now in the $1.50 to $1.75 range, the same price for a 16 oz. Coke from your local vending machine. 

StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEM) is engaged in the discovery and development of adult stem cells to treat diseases of, or injury to, the central nervous system (CNS), liver and pancreas. They claim to be among the most advanced in pursuing stem cell therapies, and they use a proven search methodology to isolate rare stem and progenitor cells from human tissues. To date, StemCells has found the human neural stem cell, a candidate human liver stem cell and a candidate pancreas stem cell.

Good for them right, I'm saying the same thing.  All investors care about, more importantly day traders playing StemCells' stock is who will win in 2008.  If the Democrats win, Stem cell companies will take off, if Republicans win, the stocks get trashed.  However, John McCain has angered social conservatives by voting for federal funding of stem-cell research that involved the harvesting of human embryos.  Regardless of who wins, Stem cells are a big item on this year's election ticket, and some of these companies could greatly benefit.   

Investing in Stem Cells Inc. has proven to be dangerous.  Back on Jan 18th shares of Stem Cells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) slipped to a new 52 week low in pre-market after the biopharmaceutical company reported that a patient participating in its trial for purified human neural stem cells (Huns-SC) died.

The trial was to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of Huns-SC cells as a potential treatment for infantile and late infantile neuronal carotid lipofuscinosis (NCL), which is often referred to as Batten disease.

Fellow Masters, following Stem Cell stocks and buying shares now is a very tough call.  But for the price of a Coke or Pepsi? Even this Stockmaster may throw down a few bucks and let it ride.

Article by Frank Lara Jr. Contributor at TheStockMasters.com and to the Master Picks Newsletter
Disclaimer: The Author does not hold any positions or shares in the securities mentioned in this publication.

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