Here's a roundup of top developments in the biotech space over the last 24 hours:
Scaling The Peaks
(Biotech Stocks Hitting 52-week Highs May 11)
- Acceleron Pharma Inc XLRN
- Akebia Therapeutics Inc AKBA
- Allogene Therapeutics Inc ALLO
- Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd ARCT
- AtriCure Inc. ATRC
- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock BIO
- BioSig Technologies Inc BSGM
- BIO-TECHNE Corp TECH (announced the release of the GMP Cloudz Human T Cell Activation Kit)
- Cellect Biotechnology Ltd – ADR APOP (announced progress with respect to its ApoGraft technology and initiation of Phase 1/2 study)
- ChemoCentryx Inc CCXI
- Cue Biopharma Inc CUE
- Cytokinetics, Inc. CYTK (announced FDA Fast Track designation for its lead drug candidate, omecamtiv mecarbil, which is being developed as a potential treatment for chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction)
- CytomX Therapeutics Inc CTMX
- DexCom, Inc. DXCM
- Emergent Biosolutions Inc EBS
- GENMAB A/S/S ADR GMAB
- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. HALO
- Horizon Therapeutics PLC HZNP
- Immunomedics, Inc. IMMU
- Immunovant Inc IMVT
- Insulet Corporation PODD (reacted to first-quarter results)
- Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Ltd KNSA (announced positive results for its mavrilimumab in treating COVID-19 pneumonia and encouraging Phase 2 efficacy results for vixarelimab in diseases characterized by chronic pruritus)
- MacroGenics Inc MGNX
- Masimo Corporation MASI
- Meridian Bioscience, Inc. VIVO
- Minerva Neurosciences Inc NERV
- Moderna Inc MRNA
- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MNTA
- Natera Inc NTRA (announced positive Medicare coverage for the Prospera donor-derived cell-free DNA test)
- Neubase Therapeutics Inc NBSE
- OraSure Technologies, Inc. OSUR
- ORIC Pharmaceuticals Inc ORIC
- Qiagen NV QGEN
- Quidel Corporation QDEL (FDA issued emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 antigen test)
- Repligen Corporation RGEN
- Seres Therapeutics Inc MCRB
- Tandem Diabetes Care Inc TNDM
- TG Therapeutics Inc common stock TGTX
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX - Vertex, along with Crispr Therapeutics AG CRSP, announced the receipt of the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation for CTX001
- West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. WST
- Zai Lab Ltd ZLAB
- Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Inc ZNTL
- Zynex Inc. ZYXI
Down In The Dumps
(Biotech Stocks Hitting 52-week Lows May 11)
- Recro Pharma Inc REPH (reacted to first-quarter results)
Stocks In Focus
CymaBay Says Independent Expert Panel Recommends Lifting Of Clinical Hold On NASH Drug
CymaBay Therapeutics Inc CBAY said an independent expert panel that analyzed findings from its Phase 2b study of seladelpar in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, concluded that there was no clinical, biochemical or histological evidence of seladelpar-induced liver injury in the study. The committee unanimously supported the lifting of the clinical hold imposed by the FDA and re-initiation of clinical development.
The company also reported a narrower loss for its first quarter.
The stock was trading 144.57% higher to $4.50 in Tuesday's premarket session.
NovaVax Announces CEPI Grant Of Up To $384M For Coronavirus Vaccine Program
Novavax, Inc. NVAX announced a grant of up to $384 million in funding by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to help advance the clinical development of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and scale-up manufacturing.
Separately, the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter revenue and a narrower-than-expected loss per share.
The stock was jumping 48.12% to $36.29 in the premarket session.
Genfit's NASH Drug Fails To Meet Primary, Secondary Endpoints In Late-Stage NASH Study
Genfit SA GNFT said interim analysis of the RESOLVE-IT Phase 3 trial that evaluated once-daily, 120mg of elafibranor in adults with NASH did not meet the redefined primary endpoint of NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis in the ITT population of 1,070 patients. The study also did not achieve statistical significance in the key secondary endpoints, including fibrosis improvement of at least one stage and changes in metabolic parameters.
The stock was falling by 66.31% to $7.31 in Tuesday's premarket session.
See also: The Week Ahead In Biotech: Virtual Conference Presentations, Clovis PDUFA Date In The Spotlight
Acer To Work On COVID-19 Treatment
Acer Therapeutics Inc ACER said it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to develop emetine hydrochloride as a potential treatment for patients with COVID-19 caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The company expects to initiate an adaptive Phase 2/3 trial in the third quarter, contingent on IND submission and clearance.
The stock was rallying by 27.39% to $4 in Tuesday's premarket session.
Neurocrine Exercises Option To License Idorsia's Rare Pediatric Epilepsy Drug
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. NBIX said following the FDA's acceptance of its IND application, it has exercised the option to license the global rights to Idorsia's ACT-709478. Neurocrine said it plans to initiate a Phase 2 study of the T-type calcium channel blocker for the treatment of a rare pediatric epilepsy in the second half of 2020.
In premarket trading Tuesday, Neurocrine shares were up 3.9% to $118.
Sanofi's Multiple Myeloma Drug Aces Late-Stage Study
Sanofi SA SNY said its Phase 3 IKEMA trial that evaluated its sarclisa in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma met the primary endpoint. The company said the results were released early based on recommendation of an Independent Data Monitoring Committee.
Adamis To Re-Acquire US Commercialization Rights To Epinephrine Injection Products
Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp ADMP said it is reacquiring from Novartis AG's NVS Sandoz unit the rights to its Symjepi — epinephrine injection 0.3mg — and epinephrine Injection 0.15mg, products that are currently marketed in the U.S. The company also said it has simultaneously entered into an exclusive distribution and commercialization agreement with US WorldMeds, LLC for the U.S. commercial rights for the Symjepi products, as well as its Zimhi, naloxone HCI Injection, USP, 5mg/0.5mL product candidate, for an upfront payment and potential regulatory and commercial milestones totaling up to $26 million.
Adamis shares were rising by 9.57% to 56 cents at the time of publication Tuesday.
Earnings
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC- ADR GWPH reported first-quarter revenues of $120.6 million, with $116.1 million in Epidiolex sales. Analysts had estimated revenues of $108.36 million. The loss narrowed from 14 cents per share to 2 cents per share.
The stock was up 9.93% at $120 at the time of publication Tuesday.
Pulse Biosciences Inc PLSE reported a wider loss of 57 cents per share compared to the consensus estimate of 47 cents per share.
The stock was up 1.36% at $11.90 at the time of publication.
Offerings
Protagonist Therapeutics Inc PTGX priced its upsized underwritten public offering of 7 million shares at $14 per share for generating gross proceeds of $98 million. The offering is expected to close on or about May 14.
In premarket trading, the stock was up 3.21% at $15.10.
Akebia Therapeutics Inc AKBA priced its underwritten public offering of 11 million shares at $12 per share for generating gross proceeds of $132 million. The offering is expected to close on or about May 14.
The stock was up 2.33% at $13.15 at the time of publication Tuesday.
Myokardia Inc MYOK said it has commenced a proposed underwritten public offering to sell $450 million in shares of its common stock.
The stock gained 1.65% to $98.50 in the premarket session.
AtriCure priced its underwritten offering of 3.98 million shares at $44 per share for generating gross proceeds of $175 million. The offering is expected to close on or about May 14. The stock was down 1.15% at $45.50 at the time of publication.
Quest Diagnostics Inc DGX said it has priced a public offering with a $550 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.8% senior notes due 2031 under Quest Diagnostics' shelf registration statement.
The stock was up 0.33% to $111.30 in the premarket session.
Bausch Health Companies Inc BHC said it has priced and upsized its previously announced offering of $1.5 billion, the aggregate principal amount of 6.25% senior notes due 2029. The size of the offering was increased by $250 million.
The stock was up 0.71% at $17 in Tuesday's premarket session.
Sutro Biopharma Inc STRO announced a proposed underwritten public offering in which it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock. Separately, the company reported first-quarter results, showing a decline in its revenue from $8.6 million in 2019 to $7.2 million in 2020. The loss widened from 62 cents per share to 84 cents per share. The results trailed expectations.
The stock plunged 15.92% to $8.50 in after-hours trading.
On The Radar
Earnings
- BioXcel Therapeutics Inc BTAI (before the market open)
- DarioHealth Corp DRIO (before the market open)
- Palatin Technologies, Inc. PT (before the market open)
- InspireMD Inc NSPR (before the market open)
- STRATA Skin Sciences Inc SSKN (before the market open)
- BioNTech SE – ADR BNTX (before the market open)
- aTyr Pharma Inc LIFE (after the close)
- Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp ADPT (after the close)
- Gossamer Bio Inc GOSS (after the close)
- Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc CATB (after the close)
- Curis, Inc. CRIS (after the close)
- Clearpoint Neuro Inc CLPT (after the close)
- OncoCyte Corp OCX (after the close)
- Shockwave Medical Inc SWAV (after the close)
- Turning Point Therapeutics Inc TPTX (after the close)
- Opiant Pharmaceuticals Inc OPNT (after the close)
- TapImmune Inc. common stock MRKR (after the close)
- Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc CYCC (after the close)
- KemPharm Inc KMPH (after the close)
- Osmotica Pharmaceuticals PLC OSMT (after the close)
Clinical Readouts
Genocea Biosciences Inc GNCA will host a KOL symposium with a live Q&A for analysts and investors to reflect on the progress of the T cell therapy landscape and provide an in-depth profile of GEN-011 – Genocea's neoantigen cell therapy.
Related Link: 5 Biopharmas Where BofA Would Put Its Money To Work
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