5 Top Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: resTORbio Leads the Pack

Last week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) had a tumultuous week, opening the trading session on Monday (July 23) at 3,712.30 points and reaching a week-high of 3,771.15 points on Tuesday (July 24). By Friday (July 27), however, the index had dipped to 3,619.25 points as of 1:28 p.m. EST.

Over the course of the week, a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies announced significant achievements, including Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX). On Wednesday (July 25), the company said it had received CE mark approval from the European Union (EU) for its tuberculosis test kit, called Logix Smart MTB Test.

Leap Therapeutics (NASDAQ:LPTX) meanwhile announced on Monday that it had entered into a collaboration with big pharmas like Merck KGaA (OTCP:MKGAY) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) to evaluate its TRX518 product together with avelumab, which is a human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody and chemotherapy.

While those announcements may not have moved the needle much on their stock prices, a number of other NASDAQ biotech companies saw significant share price gains last week, including:

• resTORbio (NASDAQ:TORC)
• ADMA Biologics (NASDAQ:ADMA)
• Misonix (NASDAQ:MSON)
• Novus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NVUS)
• Innovate Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INNT)

Here’s a closer look at those companies and to see what moved their share prices last week.

resTORbio

First on last week’s five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is resTORbio. resTORbio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company working in developing and commercializing treatments for age-related diseases.

Its lead product has a focus on mTOR, which regulates aging, and gives selective inhibition of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). resTORbio is working on developing RTB101, which is orally administered and is a small molecule, potent TORC1 inhibitor that can be taken alone or with other mTOR inhibitors.

On Wednesday the company released positive topline results in phase 2 trial of RTB101, which no doubt resulted in resTORbio’s share price movement throughout the week.  Over the course of the five-day period, shares of the company increased 50.54 percent to reach US$13.17 as of 2:05 p.m. EST on Friday.

ADMA Biologics

ADMA Biologics is a late-stage biohparmaceutical company that manufactures, markets and develops specialty plasma-based biologics to treat Primary Immune Deficiency Disease (PIDD) in addition to treating select infectious diseases.

The company is currently developing its lead candidate, RI-002 to treat PIDD which has completed a Phase III clinical study. The product is obtained from human plasma blended from normal donors and donors tested to have had high levels of neutralizing antibody titers to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

ADMA Biologics had two pivotal announcements on Thursday (July 26). The first one being that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had acknowledged receipt of ADMA’s PAS filing for review that is looking to amend the FDA approved BLA for BIVIGAM. When PAS is approved, ADAM will relaunch BIVIGAM in the US.

Thursday’s other announcement was that the company had received notice from the FDA of the close-out for the April 2018 compliance inspection of its Boca Raton production facility.

As a result, it’s no surprise ADAM Biologics lands second spot on last week’s five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks. Shares of the company rose 25.41 percent last week to reach US$6.09 as of 2:35 p.m. EST on Friday.

Misonix

Middle of the pack on last week’s five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Misonix.  The company develops and commercializes ultrasonic surgical devices for neurosurgical, spinal, advanced wound care and general surgery procedures.

Misonix’s primary products include BoneScalpel, Bonescalpel M.I.S., SonicOne O.R., and SonaStar.

That being said, Misonix didn’t have any news that would relate to its rising share price over the week. Still-its movement over the week is worth noting. Over the five-day period, shares of Misonix rose 25.19 percent to reach US$16.95 as of 2:34 p.m. EST on Friday.

Novus Therapeutics

Novus Therapeutics is focused on developing products for disorders related to the ears, nose and throat (ENT). Its lead product, OP-02, is a surfactant-based combination drug currently being developed as a treatment option for patients who are at risk or who already have otitis media (OM) infection.

Similar to Misonix, Novus Therapeutics didn’t have any news over last week’s trading period that could explain its share price movement. Over the course of the week, shares of Novus increased 14.75 percent to reach US$7.47 as of 1:17 p.m. EST on Friday.

Innovate Biopharmaceuticals

Closing out last week’s five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Innovate Biopharmaceuticals. The company is in clinical stage focused on developing medicines for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with unmet needs.

The company has a number of products in its pipeline, including drug candidates for celiac disease, NASH, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis.

That being said, Innovate didn’t have any news during last week’s trading period to relate to its share price increase. Still, over the five-day trading period shares of the company increased 14.08 percent to settle at an even US$7 as of 2:50 p.m. EST on Friday.

Don’t forget to follow us at @INN_LifeScience for real-time updates!

Data for 5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST using Trading View’s Stock Screener . Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $50 million and lower than $500 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 Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: MiMedx Group Leads

By Jocelyn Aspa, July 22, 2018

Last week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) was on a slight rise again last week, increasing from 3,724.24 points on Monday (July 16) to 3,725.65 points as of 1:26 p.m. EST on Friday (July 20), representing a minimal 0.02 percent increase during the five-day trading period.

That being said, there was a bevy of news in the biotech and pharmaceuticals’ sector last week, with Cellectar Biosciences (NASDAQ:CLRB) releasing two significant milestones: on Tuesday (July 17), the company announced that it had reported a 94 percent reduction in overall tumor volume in a patient with waldenstrom macroglobulinemia in a phase 2 CLR 131 clinical study.  Shares of the company jumped 69 percent in the news’ aftermath.

On Wednesday (July 18), Cellectar Biosciences then announced positive interim results for its phase 2 clinical trial for lead product candidate CLR 131 in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but by the end of the week the company’s shares had settled back under its Monday open at US$6.51 as of 2:45 p.m. EST on Friday.

While Cellectar’s news was no doubt pivotal last week, a number of other micro-cap companies made significant increases during the five-day trading period, including:

• MiMedx Group (NASDAQ:MDXG)
• Avid Bioservices (NASDAQ:CDMO)
• Lifevantage (NASDAQ:LFVN)
• EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:EYPT)
• BioLife Solutions (NASDAQ:BLFS)

Here’s a closer look at those companies.

MiMedx Group

First on last week’s five top NASDAQ biotech stocks is MiMedx Group. The company is a biopharmaceutical company currently developing, manufacturing and marketing regenerative biologics using human placental allografts to be used in various life science sectors.

Its amniotic membrane products include AmnioFx and EpiFix, while its ubilical cord products are AmnioCord and Epicord. MiMedx has one product under its placental ECM umbrella, which is AmnioFill, and in its amniotic fluid product includes OrthoFlo.

On Wednesday the company announced it had appointed Mark P. Graves as chief compliance officer, which may have moved the needle on MiMedx’s share price. Over the five-day trading period shares of the company increased an even 20 percent to US$3.81 as of 2:05 p.m. EST on Friday.

Avid Bioservices

Next is Avid Bioservices, a company working on development and cGMP manufacturing of biopharmaceutical products made from mammalian cell culture. Avid Bioservices provides a comprehensive range of process development cGMP clinical and commercial manufacturing services with a focus on the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries.

The company announced on Tuesday its financial results for Q4 and year fiscal year ended April 30, highlighting the revenue backlog increased by 48.2 percent to US$57.8 million up from US$39 million at the end of the third quarter. Tuesday’s announcement likely contributed to Avid’s rising share price for the one-week trading period, which was a 19.37 percent jump to US$5.98 as of 2:22 p.m. EST on Friday.

Lifevantage

Middle of the pack on our five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Lifevantage, a company enveloped in the identification, research, development and distribution of nutraceutical dietary supplements and skin care products such as Protandim and TruScience.

The company announced on Monday that it had continued “momentum” at the Elite Academy event, which may have had an impact on its share price last week. Shares of Lifevantage increased 19.34 percent to reach US$10.43 as of 2:30 p.m. EST on Friday.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is a specialty biopharmaceutical company working on developing and commercializing innovative opthalmic products for patients with eye disorders.

The company uses its Durasert bioerodible technology platform in connection with other pharmaceutical companies to develop sustained-release products to treat retinal diseases as well as other ocular conditions.

Last week the company didn’t release any news that could be attributed to its rising share price, although it is still worth noting. Over the five-day trading period shares of EyePoint increased 12.73 percent to reach US$2.48 as of 2:37 p.m. EST on Friday.

BioLife Solutions

Closing out last week’s five top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is BioLife Solutions.  The company is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade biopreservation media for cells and tissues. Its products include HypoThermosol, CryoStor, BloodStor and Cell Thawing Media.

Last week the company didn’t have any news during the five-day trading period that would relate to its rising share price. Over the week shares of BioLife Solutions increased 11.16 percent to reach US$21.12 as of 2:55 p.m. EST on Friday.

Don’t forget to follow us at @INN_LifeScience for real-time updates!

Data for 5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday at 10:00 a.m. PST using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $50 million and lower than $500 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.