5 Biotech Stocks on the TSX

The Biotech sector offers investors plenty of opportunities to look at a wider spectrum of life science therapies and recent developments, from tried and true pharmaceutical products to novel developments like immunotherapy, oncology, and even the use cannabinoids.
A report from research firm EY this year indicated the biotech market is on the rise thanks to a seemingly broader market available and a consolidation of technologies and research standards. Glen Giovannetti, Global Biotechnology leader with EY, said the industry had shown resilience to have survived the notoriously damaging 2016 trading year and even bounce back this so far this year.
With this in mind, the Investing News Network (INN) has put together a list of biotech companies listed on the TSX with the help thanks to a list of biotech companies provided by the exchange. The companies listed below have market caps of less than $700 million. Here’s a closer look at those companies.

Aptose Biosciences (TSX:APS)

Market cap: $42.64 million; current share price: $1.78
Aptose is a biotech working on treatments for some of the most serious diseases like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), for which multiple companies in the sector are racing to develop drugs and novel therapies.
As part of their most recent quarterly release, Aptose reported the development of their hematology candidates CG’806 and APTO-253 have seen major growth so far this year.
“Importantly, we’ve developed a scalable manufacturing process and have selected the formulation that we intend to advance into clinical trials in 2018,” Dr. William Rice, chairman, president and CEO of the Aptose said in a press release.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (TSX:AUP)

Market cap: $633.35 million; current share price: $7.57
Aurinia develops biopharmaceutical products targeting rare diseases where patients have had limited resources in the past. Their lead candidate is an investigational drug treatment of Lupus Nephritis (LN), currently involved in a trial called AURORA.
According to CEO Richard Glickman, the company is currently enrolling patients for the phase III stage of AURORA.

Fennec Pharmaceuticals (TSX:FRX)

Market cap: $136.41 million; current share price: $8.74
Despite the company’s name, Fennec is a biotech company working on preventing hearing loss in pediatric patients with the development of Sodium Thiosulfate (STS), a therapy that according to the company, has received an orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration.
As part of their second quarter report, Fennec announced it’s eagerly awaiting the results of the SIOPEL 6 trial in the fourth quarter of 2017, which would lead their way to prepare for submissions of their candidate.

Oncolytics Biotech (TSX:ONC)

Market cap: $71.11 million; current share price: $0.51
Oncolytics is all focused on the peculiar emerging field of immuno-oncology therapies with the development of Reolysin a viral agent the company hopes to treat tumors with.
Oncolytics received a fast track designation from the FDA as it gears for their lead candidate end of a trial meeting with the agency. As part of this meeting Dr. Matt Coffey, president and CEO said the company will obtain the guidance it needs for the basis of its now Phase III trial.
The company plans to partner for multiple collaborations in the study of the potential use of Reolysin with other I/O therapies available.

ProMIS Neurosciences (TSX:PMN)

Market cap: $48.11 million; current share price: $0.24
ProMIS is a development stage biotech company working on the discovery and development of therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In the fight against Alzheimer’s, ProMIS has put forth two candidates involved in different trial stages, PMN310 and PMN350.
The company recently raised a little under $5 million for the continued development of their pipeline.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.