5 Top Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Innovate Leads the Pack

Over the past trading week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) decreased 4.41 percent to 3,216.02 points as of 12:30 p.m. EST on Friday (December 14).

For biotech news, the companies which landed on our weekly list weren’t the only ones with positive news. On Friday, Orchard Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ORTX) and SIRION Biotech GmbH announced a licensing agreement.

Orchard has licensed SIRION’s LentiBOOST technology to enhance manufacturing efficiency for certain of Orchard’s ex vivo autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy drug candidates.

DBV Technologies (NASDAQ:DBVT) announced positive trial results at the 3^rd Inflammatory Skin Disease Summit (ISDS) in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday (December 12). The results were given in an oral abstract evaluating differences in the immune profile of healthy human skin across different body areas.

Against that backdrop, a number of other NASDAQ biotech stocks saw significant share price increases last week. The five top gainers are as follows:

• Innovate Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INNT)
• Aridis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARDS)
• Imprimis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IMMY)
• Achaogen (NASDAQ:AKAO)
• SynthoRx (NASDAQ:THOR)

Here’s a closer look at those companies and what moved their share prices. Share prices are quoted in US dollars and are current as of 1 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.

Innovate didn’t release any news last week, but it did have a jam-packed announcement on December 4. The company entered into a new partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital and a capital update for its Celiac Disease Clinical Program and its NASH Development Strategy.

Innovate’s share price increased 35.27 percent to $3.03.

Aridis Pharmaceuticals

Aridis is developing immunotherapies to treat life-threatening infections, this company is developing a pipeline with its MabigX technology of human antibodies. The company had a 25.94 percent share price increase to $10.75.

Different from traditional antibiotics to fight bacterial infections, the company’s monoclonal antibodies stay in the body longer and have a lower risk of drug resistance. Of its six drug programs, half are preclinical and the other half are in Phase 2 development.

On Thursday (December 13), the company released it enrolled its first patient in its Phase 1/2a study. AR-501 will be tested to treatment of chronic bacterial lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals

Imprimis announcing its Q3 2018 earnings was the most recent news for the company; it dates back to mid-November. The results highlighted a 66 percent increase in revenue year-over-year to $10.7 million. Ophthalmology revenue specifically increased 81 percent to $8.9 million.

The company develops therapies through its own sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding services. Focuses on these therapies consist of ophthalmology, urology, otolaryngology and infectious diseases. Imprimis’ share price increased 18.22 percent over the trading period to $5.84, landing middle on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list.

Achaogen

Achaogen has had a rocky road since its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval of ZEMDRI over the summer. This was followed by numerous business restricting plans. However, last week the company announced FDA Clearance and launch of the Thermo Scientific QMS Plazomicin Immunoassay.

Results of the assay will be used to assist in the management of patients receiving plazomicin (ZEMDRI) therapy. The company’s share price increased 17.63 percent to $1.64. Achaogen specializes in antibacterial treatment for MDR gram-negative infections.

SynthoRx

The last company to land on our top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list SynthoRx. The company is using a unique Expanded Genetic Alphabet platform technology to discover and develop optimized biologics for cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Last week the company closed its initial public offering (IPO) which is likely what grabbed investors attention. SynthoRx’s share price increased 13.88 percent to $14.36.

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

Data for 5 Top weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST using TradingView’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, Gabrielle Lakusta, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

***This article is published weekly. Scroll to the top for the most recent information.***

5 Top Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Intec Pharma on Top

By Gabrielle Lakusta, December 9, 2018

Over the past trading week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) decreased 2.86 percent to 3,282.70 points as of 12:30 p.m. EST on Friday (December 7).

As always, last week was full of eventful company news. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:RARE) celebrated a Health Canada approval with its partner Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Kyowa Kirin International on Thursday (December 6). The approval was for Crysvita, an injection treatment for X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in adult and pediatric patients.

On Wednesday (December 5), Mereo BioPharma (LSE:MPH) and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:OMED) announced plans to merge. The transaction has been unanimously approved by each respective company’s board of directors and awaits further condition approvals.

Against that backdrop, a number of other NASDAQ biotech stocks saw significant share price increases last week. The five top gainers are as follows:

• Intec Pharma (NASDAQ:NTEC)
• PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PHAS)
• Immune Design (NASDAQ:IMDZ)
• Bellerophon Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BLPH)
• Iterum Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ITRM)

Here’s a closer look at those companies and what moved their share prices. Share prices are quoted in US dollars and are current as of 1 p.m. EST on Friday.

Intec Pharma

Intec Pharma lands first on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list with a 31.13 percent share price increase to $7.75. This Israel-based development stage company is working on formulations for its proprietary gastric retention technology, the Accordion Pill.

What may have contributed to this share price gain was the company announcing an update for its technology. The company developed a proprietary Novartis (NYSE:NVS,SWX:NOVN) compound, which will continue into a clinical PK study in 2019. This will remain under the previous agreement with Novartis.

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals

Phasebio released its Q3 2018 financial results last week, which may have maintained investor attention. The company said its recent initial public offering funds will go towards the advancement of its clinical programs.

The company’s weekly share price gain was 29.76 percent to $3.75, landing second on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list. PhaseBio has two drug candidates, one in Phase 1 development for major bleeding and the other in Phase 2b for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Immune Design

Middle on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list Immune Design. The company’s name alludes to its focus, which is immuno-oncology, with an in vivo approach. Its pipeline is developed with its technologies to activate cytotoxic T cells.

Immun Design had a 26.35 percent share price increase over last week’s trading period to $1.87. Investors are likely showing interest in the company’s clinical trial news released Sunday (December 2). Results for the follicular lymphoma treatment had a longer progression free survival rate and a 92 percent disease control rate, combined with the chemotherapy pembrolizumab.

Bellerophon Therapeutics

Bellerophon specializes in biotherapeutics and is developing products to treat cardiopulmonary and cardiac diseases. In its pipeline are three product candidates featuring the company’s INOpulsetechnology. The company’s share price increased 20.44 percent to $1.12.

Bellerophon didn’t relase any news over the past trading week. The most recent news was its Q3 2018 financial results released in early November.

Iterum Therapeutics

The last company to land on our top weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list Iterum Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company based in Ireland. Itreum’s focus is on developing drugs to combat multi-drug resistant pathogens with anti-infectives.

Its Q3 2018 earnings results represents the most recent news for the company, released mid-November. The results showed the company met its plan to initiated all three planned Phase 3 trials for its drug sulopenem for urinary tract infections. Iterum’s share price increased 19.63 percent to $7.67.

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

Data for 5 Top weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks articles is retrieved each Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST using TradingView’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, Gabrielle Lakusta, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.