5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: MEI Pharma Leads the Pack

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) was on the decline again last week, dropping 2.31 percent to 3,276.90 points as of 12:34 p.m. EST on Friday (June 7).
Despite the index’s loss, a number of biotech and pharma stocks still made slight increases over the shorter trading period to end the week on a high note.
In particular, the 5 top NASDAQ biotech stocks and pharma stocks were:

• MEI Pharma (NASDAQ:MEIP)
• AVEO Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AVEO)
• Albireo Pharma (NASDAQ:ALBO)
• Athersys (NASDAQ:ATHX)
• CASI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CASI)

Here’s a closer look at those companies.

MEI Pharma

Our first top NASDAQ biotech stocks is  MEI Pharma,  oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer. The company’s main products include Pracinostat, an oral HDAC inhibitor in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of AML and MDS to name a few.
That said, MEI Pharma did not have any news during last week’s trading period. Still, it’s share price increase is worth mentioning: MEI Pharma’s stocks rose 24.69 percent last week to reach $2.98 as of 1:15 p.m. EST on Friday.

AVEO Pharmaceuticals

Next is AVEO Pharmaceuticals, a company that is working on cancer candidate treatments.
On June 27, AVEO announced that it has secured $14 million in aggregate gross proceeds through its credit facility with Hercules Capital.  That said, the company did not have any related news during last week’s trading period, although its share price did increase 24.77 percent to reach $2.73 as of 1:03 p.m. EST on Friday.

Albireo Pharma

Middle of the pack is Albireo Pharma,  a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel bile acid modulators, particularly in orphan pediatric liver diseases and other liver and gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.
Albireo’s lead product is A4250, which the company’ s website notes is close to initiation of Phase 3 clinical development in patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC).
Similar to the two companies above, Albireo did not have any related news during the trading week. Still, its share price increased 18.5 percent to $24.62 as at 1:27 p.m EST on Friday.

Athersys

Next on our top NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Athersys, a biotechnology company with a  focus in the field of regenerative medicine. The Company’s lead product is  MultiStem cell therapy, an allogeneic stem cell product, which is in later-stage clinical development.
That said, the company did not have any related news on its website that would contribute to its share price increase. Last week, shares of Athersys rose 15.23 percent to $1.74 as of 1:31 p.m. EST on Friday.

CASI Pharmaceuticals

Rounding out the list is CASI Pharmaceuticals, who is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of therapeutics for cancer.
The company’s lead products include ENMD-2076; MARQIBO, ZEVALIN and EVOMELA, and early-stage candidates in preclinical development.
Last week, shares of CASI increased 9.52 percent to reach $1.15 as of 1:06 p.m. EST on Friday.
Don’t forget to follow @INN_LifeScience for real-time updates!
Data for 5 Top NASDAQ Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday after market close using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $10 million prior to the week’s gains are included. Companies within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors are considered.
Securities Disclosure: I, Jocelyn Aspa, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

**this article is updated each week. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information**

5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Moleculin Gained 91.36 percent

By Bryan Mc Govern
The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) saw a 3.29 percent decrease over the last five trading days and traded at 3,243.81 points. The Index is up 16.99 percent year-to-date.
Last week The Investing News Network (INN) reported on the US Food and Drug Administration decision to publish a list of drugs for which their license had expired but there were few to no orphan drug applications. FierceBiotech reported Cara Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CARA) stock decrease 28 percent after the company failed to meet a primary endpoint in its CR845 trial. The US Senate failed to vote on its updated version of a healthcare replacement bill following a CBO score reveal and the lack of support from some senators.
The data and numbers for this week’s roundup were collected at 2:00 P.M. EST.

• Moleculin Biotech (NASDAQ:MBRX)
• AVEO Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AVEO)
• miRagen Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MGEN)
• Nymox Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:NYMX)
• GTx (NASDAQ:GTXI)

Moleculin Biotech

Moleculin is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of anticancer drug candidates. Last week the company announced it had developed a partnership with a physician at the Mayo Clinic to research the company’s WP1066 molecule for the treatment of a rare form of pediatric brain tumor.
Moleculin Biotech gained 91.36 percent last week and traded at $2.14 per share.

AVEO Pharmaceuticals

AVEO managed to stay near the top of the list for a second week in a row. This pharmaceutical is working on cancer candidate treatments. Last week the company announced it had secured a $14 million in aggregate gross proceeds from its credit facility.
“AVEO now has resources that we expect will take us well past the anticipated first quarter 2018 readout of the TIVO-3 trial, our U.S. pivotal trial in third-line RCC,” Michael Bailey, president and CEO of AVEO said in a statement.
AVEO Pharmaceuticals gained 74.4 percent last week and traded at $2.17 per share.

miRagen Therapeutics

On June 8, this clinical stage biopharmaceutical working on developing microRNA-targeting therapies announced the presentation of new data from its Phase 1 trial on MRG-106, at the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma. This event took place from June 14 to 17.
However, there has been no further recent news from the company to explain last week’s rise in share price. miRagen Therapeutics gained 50.35 percent last week and traded at $13.02 per share.

Nymox Pharmaceutical

This pharmaceutical has a particular emphasis on products targeted for the unmet needs of the aging population. On May 13 the company filed for marketing approval of Fexapotide Triflutate in Europe, for the treatment of treatment of the symptoms of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia; prostate enlargement).
However, there has been no further recent news from the company to explain last week’s rise in share price. Nymox Pharmaceutical gained 19.32 percent last week and traded at $4.58 per share.

GTx

GTx is a company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecules for the treatment of cancer. On June 12 the company released preliminary clinical data from their phase 2 trial of enobosarm 3 mg (GTx-024) in postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence.
However, there has been no further recent news from the company to explain last week’s rise in share price.
GTx gained 10.09 percent last week and traded at $5.30 per share.
Don’t forget to follow @INN_LifeScience for real-time updates!
Data for 5 Top NASDAQ Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday after market close using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $10 million prior to the week’s gains are included. Companies within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors are considered.
Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.