Sign Up NowThis Month's Tiny Gems - May 2011

Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (ECTE)
Great Panther Silver Ltd. (GPL)
Vantage Drilling Company (VTG)

 

 

 

Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (ECTE)

 

Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (ECTE) is developing the Symphony tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring system for patients with diabetes and for use in hospital critical care units. Echo is also developing its needle-free Prelude SkinPrep System as a platform technology for enhanced skin permeation for delivery of topical pharmaceuticals.

 

All existing FDA-approved continuous glucose monitoring systems are needle-based, requiring insertion of a glucose sensor into the patient's skin. Not only does this cause discomfort, but it also gives rise to risks of infection, inflammation or bleeding at the insertion site. Echo Therapeutics' Symphony tCGM does not require insertion of its glucose sensor, eliminating the risks and discomfort associated with needle-based CGM systems.

 

The Prelude SkinPrep System incorporates Echo Therapeutics' patented skin permeation control technology into a comfortable, hand-held device that increases the permeability of the skin allowing for analyte extraction and drug delivery. The key feature of the company's skin permeation technology is its feedback control algorithm used to achieve optimal and pain-free skin preparation for transdermal sensing technologies.

 

In recent news, Echo Therapeutics announced it has received a notice of allowance for U.S. Patent Application No.11/275,038, "System and Method for Continuous Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring," for the Symphony tCGM System. The patent is said to be critical to the company's intellectual property strategy for protecting its leading position in non-invasive, tCGM markets worldwide.

 

 

 

Great Panther Silver Ltd. (GPL)

 

Great Panther Silver Ltd. (GPL) is one of the fastest growing primary silver producers in Mexico. Focused on acquiring, developing and profitably mining precious and base metals in Latin America, the company owns two operating mines in Mexico, employs over 900 people and has strong leverage to capitalize on future rises in the price of silver.

 

The Guanajuato Mine Complex, which consists of 28 claims totaling 1,107 hectares, is Great Panther's flagship operation. During the first quarter of this year, gold production increased to 2,217 oz, up 21% compared to Q4 2010 and 53% compared to the same period a year earlier, while silver production, at 273,421 oz, was higher by 7% and 22%, respectively.

 

Topia, on the other hand, is a high-grade silver-lead-zinc mine in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Durango State, where silver has been mined intermittently since the 1500's. As with Guanajuato, Great Panther owns 100% of the concessions, which comprise 6,500 hectares and are accessible by road and air. Topia includes 13 small mining operations all feeding a central plant.

 

Great Panther's current emphasis is on growing production and earnings from existing mining operations while actively pursuing new exploration and development opportunities. The company's three-year organic growth strategy includes lowering operating costs, delineating and maintaining a 10-year mine life for both operations, and realizing opportunities for further production increases.

 

 

 

Vantage Drilling Company (VTG)

 

Vantage Drilling Company (VTG), an offshore drilling contractor, provides drilling services internationally with a focus on deep water and other high-specification drilling solutions. The company has built one of the most dynamic teams in the industry with an unsurpassed safety program, premier offshore drilling performance, and a track record of outstanding results achieved by exceeding expectations.

 

The company's fleet of high specification state-of-the-art drilling units is well suited to meet the requirements of customers for efficiently drilling through deep and complex geological formations. Vantage's high specification drilling units generally provide faster drilling and moving times, and are generally preferred by customers for their improved safety features and less frequent downtime for maintenance.

 

In recent years, there has been increased emphasis on exploration in deeper waters as technological developments have made such exploration more feasible and cost-effective. Vantage Drilling is using this headwind to expand relationships with major, national and independent oil and natural gas companies for the purpose of obtaining longer-term contracts and building a growing backlog of business.

 

Analysts are very supportive of the company with four analysts rating the stock a "Strong Buy", three analysts saying it's a "Buy" and four others calling it a "Hold." Average current estimates are that Vantage will generate revenues of approximately $481 million this year and $530 million in 2012. Projected earnings per share on the other hand vary greatly by opinion from -$0.12 to $0.16 for the current year and $0.02 to $0.25 next year.