5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Viking Therapeutics Leads the Week

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) saw a minor increase this past week. NBI went down 0.67 percent over the last five trading days and traded at 3,338.70 points. The Index is up 20.41 percent year-to-date.
Last week an explosive report rocked the biotech world when STAT News published the accusations against Sam Islay, the founder of investing giant OrbiMed Advisors. Islay build his name by picking some of the top gaining biotech stocks. On Thursday OrbiMed announced Islay would step down from his role atop the company. No mention of the accusations were made by OrbiMed’s statement. This past week Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) announced the acquisition of Cell Design Labs and in doing so deepening their bench on their approach with cancer cell therapies.
“Cell Design Labs is only in the pre-clinical stage, but has developed two technology platforms… that Gilead believes could improve the safety and selectivity of CAR-T treatment,” BioPharma DIVE wrote.
Here’s a look at the week’s top gainers:

• Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX)
• Second Sight Medical Products (NASDAQ:EYES)
• Ekso Bionics Holdings (NASDAQ:EKSO)
• Ohr Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:OHRP)
• Cardiome Pharma (NASDAQ:CRME)

Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Last week the company announced its new public offering of 5,130,435 shares of its common stock will sell at a price to the public of $2.50 per share.
Viking Therapeutics gained 35.10 percent last week and closed the week at $2.59 per share.

Second Sight Medical Products

This company develops implantable visual prosthetics intended to create an artificial form of useful vision to blind patients. Last week the company announced its market entry into Iran through their exclusive distribution partner Arshia Gostar Darman.
Second Sight Medical Products gained 35.10 percent last week and closed the week at $4.08 per share.

Ekso Bionics Holdings

Ekso, a developer of exoskeleton technology for medical and industrial use, most recently on Nov. 28 announced the publication of a new data set from a study examining their wearable exoskeleton EksoGT, in a representative spinal cord injury (SCI) population. However, there have been no other recent news to explain the increase.
Ekso Bionics Holdings gained 28.68 percent last week and closed the week at $1.75 per share.

Ohr Pharmaceutical

Ohr Pharmaceutical is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies for ophthalmic diseases. Most recently, on Oct. 11 the company announced its CEO Jason Slakter provided a corporate overview presentation  at the Dawson James Annual Small Cap Growth Conference. However, there have been no other recent news to explain the increase.
Ohr Pharmaceutical gained 17.02 percent last week and closed the week at $2.75 per share.

Cardiome Pharma

Cardiome Pharma gained 16.45 percent last week and closed the week at $1.49 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.

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

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) went up this past week. NBI went down 1.31 percent over the last five trading days and traded at 3,316.34 points. The Index is up 19.61 percent year-to-date.
Last week the Investing News Network (INN) reported on a recently approved device set to alleviate the withdrawal process for patients of opioid addiction. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the device with the intention to be prescribed by doctors and help in the fight to opioid damage across the US. Brian Carrico president of Innovative Health Solutions (IHS), the company behind the device, told INN Health Canada has also reached out the company.
Here’s a look at the week’s top gainers:

• Ohr Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:OHRP)
• Bellerophon Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BLPH)
• Catalyst Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:CPRX)
• Sierra Oncology (NASDAQ:SRRA)
• Aradigm (NASDAQ:ARDM)

Ohr Pharmaceutical

Ohr Pharmaceutical is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for ophthalmic diseases. Most recently on Oct. 11 the company announced its presentation of a corporate overview at the Dawson James Annual Small Cap Growth Conference, which took place on Oct. 19. However, there has been no other new developments to explain this week’s increase.
Ohr Pharmaceutical gained 68.42 percent last week and closed the week at $1.28 per share.

Bellerophon Therapeutics

Bellerophon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing therapies for unmet needs in the treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. Last week the company appointed Dr. Ted Wang, the chief investment officer of Puissance Capital Management, to its Board of Directors.
Bellerophon Therapeutics gained 29.94 percent last week and closed the week at $2.04 per share.

Catalyst Pharmaceutical

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for people with rare debilitating, chronic neuromuscular and neurological diseases. Last week the company closed its offering of 16,428,572 shares of public common stock.
Catalyst Pharmaceutical gained 25.71 percent last week and closed the week at $4.40 per share.

Sierra Oncology

Sierra Oncology is a clinical stage drug development company advancing DNA Damage Response (DDR) therapeutics for the treatment of cancer patients. On Nov. 8 the company released its third quarter financial results, in which it highlighted its clinical development.
“During the quarter, we continued to aggressively drive the clinical program for SRA737, expanding the number of sites recruiting patients into our Monotherapy trial from three to eight leading centers across the United Kingdom,” Dr. Nick Glover, President and CEO of Sierra Oncology said.
Sierra Oncology gained 22.87 percent last week and closed the week at $3.17 per share.

Aradigm

Aradigm is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs for the prevention and treatment of severe respiratory diseases. Most recently, on Dec. 1, the company announced the Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will meet in January next year to review their NDA application for Linhaliq treating non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE) patients with chronic lung infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Aradigm gained 17.96 percent last week and closed the week at $4.27 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.