5 Top Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Index Up During JPM Week

Over the past trading week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) increased 11 percent to reach 3,412.43 points as of 12:45 p.m. EST on Friday (January 11).

This past week, the Investing News Network (INN) was on location at the Biotech Showcase in San Francisco. The city was home to many other biotech-focused events during the period, including the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference.

Big topics discussed at the Biotech Showcase included drug pricing, financing for early stage companies and partnering opportunities.

Many CEOs of young biotech companies attend the event specifically to meet with investors and network in the hopes of gaining more capital. Another topic in focus was the prospect of smaller companies being acquired by Big Pharma firms — brought into the spotlight by Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) acquisition of Loxo Oncology (NASDAQ:LOXO) earlier in the week.

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

• Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AXSM)
• Checkpoint Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CKPT)
• Bellerophon Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BLPH)
• Enochian Bioscience (NASDAQ:ENOB)
• Equillium (NASDAQ:EQ)

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

Axsome Therapeutics

Taking the top spot on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list, Axsome Therapeutics’ share price increased 194.68 percent to hit $7.75. This clinical-stage company is focused on central nervous system disorders such as resistant depression, Alzheimer’s disease, major depressive disorder and more. The first indication mentioned is the company’s most advanced drug in Phase 3 development.

On Monday (January 7), Axsome raised an additional $23.3 million under an existing ATM facility. This was through the sale of additional shares with Leerink Partners.

Checkpoint Therapeutics

Next up is Checkpoint Therapeutics, which is focused on immuno-oncology drugs through the acquisition, development and commercialization of non-chemotherapies of solid tumors. Over the trading period, Checkpoint’s share price increased 44.23 percent to reach $3.

The company released news on Monday about initiating registration development programs for its drug CK-301. The trial has expanded to enroll patients in three groups for various cohorts in the trial with solid tumors. These will support the company’s requests for accelerated approval and a Biologics License Application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bellerophon Therapeutics

Bellerophon Therapeutics landed in the middle of our NASDAQ biotech stocks list with a 33.72-percent share price increase to $1.15. Similar to the other companies on this list, Bellerophon released news on Monday about its Phase 2b clinical trial. The trial with INOpulse was treating pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. Subjects on pulsed inhaled nitric oxide demonstrated an increase of 8 percent in moderate activity vs. a 26-percent decrease for subjects on the placebo.

The company is focused on therapies in cardiopulmonary diseases with its INOpulse program, which is a pulsatile nitric oxide delivery system.

Enochian Bioscience

Focused on developing therapies for HIV/AIDS and cancer, Enochian Biosciences’ lead candidate, ENO-1001, is in preclinical development to treat HIV/AIDS as a vaccine. Another compound Enochian is working on is ENO-4001 to prevent the relapse of colon cancer.

On Monday, the company appointed a new CEO with over 30 years experience in the company’s focused areas. Over the trading period, Enochian’s share price increased 33.43 percent to $9.34.

Equillium

Landing last on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Equillium with a 32.18-percent share price increase to $10.66. The company is developing products for severe autoimmune and inflammatory or immuno-inflammatory disorders. EQ001 is an immune checkpoint receptor for CD6 — which plays an important role in T cells — in development for multiple indications.

The company’s most recent news came in mid-December and was for FDA fast-track designation for EQ001 to treat acute graft-versus-host disease. A Phase 1b/2 clinical study is set to begin in early 2019 for the drug in this indication.

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 updated weekly. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

5 Top Weekly NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Synergy Up 250 Percent

By Gabrielle Lakusta, January 6, 2019 

Over the past trading week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) increased eight percent to reach 3,228.93 points as of 1 p.m. EST on Friday (January 4).

Throughout the week, Cocrystal Pharma (NASDAQ:COCP) and Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced a new partnership to license and collaborate for Cocrystal’s influenza A/B antiviral agents.

Merck will pay Cocrystal an undisclosed upfront sum and also fund research and development for the program. This includes clinical development and worldwide commercialization of any products derived from the collaboration.

Adamis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ADMP) also announced it submitted its New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration. This application is for Adamis’ naloxone pre-filled single dose syringe product candidate, as a treatment for opioid overdose.

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

• Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SGYP)
• vTv Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VTVT)
• CTI BioPharma (NASDAQ:CTIC)
• Marker Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MRKR)
• Conatus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CNAT)

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

Synergy Pharmaceuticals

Making the top spot on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list is Synergy Pharmaceuticals. The company’s share price increased 250.36 percent over the trading period to $0.29.

The company didn’t have news over the past week with its most recent news coming in mid-December about an agreement with Bausch Health. The agreement pertained to Bausch acquiring all of Synergy’s assets for approximately $200 million in cash.

vTv Therapeutics

Next on the list is VTV Therapeutics with a 152.43 percent share price increase to $2.60. Similar to Synergy, vTv didn’t have any news over the past trading week. The most recent news was an announcement to present at the Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference in late November.

vTv is a clinical-stage company working on small molecules drug candidates for Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. The company is also working on inflammatory disorders and the prevention of muscle weakness.

CTI BioPharma

Landing middle on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list last week is CTI BioPharma. Gaining investor attention was likely due to the company releasing its Phase 2 trial, PAC203, has completed enrollment. The trial is testing the optimal dose of pacritinib for myelofibrosis. Topline efficacy and safety data from this trial are expected in Q3 2019.

Aside from this trial, CTI is working on approving pacritinib for two other myelofibrosis indications based, which have already gone through Phase 3 clinical trials. CTI has one approved drug, Pixuvri for relapsed aggressive B-cell non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. The company’s share price increased 52.18 percent to $1.28.

Marker Therapeutics

Marker Therapeutics is an immuno-oncology focused company working on peptide and gene-based immunotherapeutics in addition to cancer vaccines. Breast cancer and ovarian cancer are two of the Marker’s most advanced drug with TPIV200; both are in Phase 2 studies. Marker’s share price increased 51.39 percent to $6.53.

This past week, Marker announced an update to its lead clinical programs. It was reported that TPIV200 Phase 2 study has completed enrollment for ovarian cancer. The breast cancer Phase 2 trial reported interim immunogenicity findings for the same drug.

Conatus Pharmaceuticals

Conatus Pharmaceuticals lands last on our weekly NASDAQ biotech stocks list with a 51.16 percent share price increase to $1.95. This is another company that hasn’t announced any news recently. In early December, Conatus announced Phase 2b results from its NASH cirrhosis. The trial, ENCORE-PH had clinically meaningful improvements in trial objectives.

As with the NASH trial, Conatus is focused on developing and commercializing liver disease treatments. Other drug candidates are for lung and gastrointestinal indications.

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.