It's earnings season -- and here's a preview of the top storylines I'll be following on the blog.

Last quarter, investors and analysts were underwhelmed with the first numbers out from ZymoGenetics on sales of Recothrom. The company has repeatedly said that Recothrom sales will be weighted towards the second half of the year, because hospital committees have to first vote to carry the drug, a process that can take months. On Aug. 5, when ZymoGenetics reports results from its first full quarter selling Recothrom, the numbers should show whether this in fact the case. Also, during ZymoGenetics' recent conference call to discuss the company's $100 million financing deal there were repeated comments about "transactions in the works." Will management elaborate?

Northstar Neuroscience has been close-lipped in responding to an investor's offer to buy the company. In rejecting the investor's offer, the company's board issued a three paragraph letter that offered no explanation for why exactly the company did not want to deal, prompting another major shareholder to rebuke the company's board. The standard response to queries from the media has been "no comment." Will Northstar executives defend themselves during their July 31 earnings conference call?

SonoSite has projected that sales of its portable ultrasounds will increase at least 15 percent this year. Last quarter, sales jumped 23 percent. Watch to see on July 24 if the company can outperform its projections again. Also, SonoSite has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of making an acquisition. Will this be the quarter?

One number: 35. Seattle Genetics has reveled in positive clinical data on its lead antibody drug conjugate, SGN-35. At ASCO, Seattle Genetics reported that five patients taking the treatment had their tumors completely disappear and then last week, the company credited the positive data for allowing it to land a licensing deal with Daiichi Sankyo. Management has promised that it will update shareholders on its plans for SGN-35 later this year. Will that happen on July 22, the date of the company's earnings call?