Shares of air filter, face mask and antimicrobial product developer Noveko International (TSX: T.EKO, Stock Forum) fell 10% to $2.58 Wednesday, after posting gains of 80% from Friday’s open until Tuesday’s close.
Several U.S. biotech stocks which soared earlier in the week as news of swine flu emerged also tumbled Wednesday, including Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX, Stock Forum), Ticker Trax planetary prospect BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: BCRX, Stock Forum), Hemispherx Biopharma (AMEX: HEB, Stock Forum) and Generex Biotechnology Corporation (NASDAQ: GNBT, Stock Forum).
The Noveko Bullboard was one of the most posted on Stockhouse Wednesday, as Stockhouse members continued to provide their thoughts on swine flu and the company’s share price moves.
P4rtyBoy offered the following thoughts:
We have thousands people dying of the current HA flu each year, that is right. But millions of people get infected - if not billions, and a slim percentage dies from it (like ..0.1 to 0.5%). The usual casuality of teh current flu are also usually weaker immune system (already sick, old or very young, etc. ).
The significance of the death toll right now, is that with less than 3000 cases of flu reported, if a significant number dies (ex: 5% = 150 with we almost already reached), it would mean that if this virus get out of hand, this could kill 10 to 100 times more than the normal flu. That is what the number is telling us right now. And more troubling, the one that died aren't people with weak immune system. It seems to kill even young healthy adult.
And if you think that it is under control right now, don't be fooled. You know how flu is passed easyly from one person to the other. You just need 1 person with the flu, walking around unchecked, and there we go.
It's really, really hard actually to kill a virus without having a vaccine. The WHO and all countries are stepping up effort to try to contain the virus right away, because if it spreads, it would probably become a premanent illness. It may become seasonal like the current flu we have. Just 50-500 time more lethal...[sic]
While stedas said: “profit are taken.....[sic]”
theface noted: “i think we will fill the gap back down to $1.90 before moving higher again[sic].”
And Tudorzz listed the positive aspects for Noveko:
I agree. Stay calm. There is no surprise the SP could drop for a while after such a ride. There was an obvious vulnerability with an gap up of about one third of the value. It could not stand there without momentary glitch.
The current crisis brought up numerous positive aspects for Noveko.
1.Noveko and it's patented technology is now known by way more people than it was just one week ago.
2.I read on different sources allot of confusing information about facemasks and respirators. Some people are questionning efficiency of standard face masks and respirators as a real protection against viruses. In some cases, standard one are even considerred as disease spreading vector. Disposal of standard masks is also problematic. Don't frisk in the Mexico city garbage cans these days. This is exactly where the Noveko face masks and respirators are different from standard ones. They don't accumulate viruses (log4 reduction tests are done and very conclusive), so they cannot be considerred as disease spreading vector. And they can be trown away as regular trash.
3.The filter market was seen by Noveko as a feature to prevent livestock from being infected from outside airborn diseases. Once this crisis will calm down, don't be surpise if population ask to get protected from what could happen from inside the farm house. So they would need to filter the air coming in, and the air going out. Noveko can do both[sic].”
While sumosalar replied: “You're absolutely right! The company will benefit from the recognition that it has a very effective product. One hopes that a pandemic never occurs but having an available prophylatic will go a long way to reduce the spread of flu viruses if and when they occur[sic].”
