5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Leads the Pack

The NASDAQ Biotechnology index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) was fairly flat last week, rising 0.73 percent to close at 2,754.39 points. 
A number of companies from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors were on the rise. Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:KERX) was the top-gaining stock for the week, and it was followed by Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN), Alphatec (NASDAQ:ATEC), Threshold Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:THLD) and Arbutus Biopharma (NASDAQ:ABUS).

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals

Shares of Keryx gained 42.31 percent last week to finish at $5.18. The company is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines to help patients with renal disease.
On February 25, Keryx released its fourth-quarter results, reporting that it is on track to release pivotal Phase 3 data for iron deficiency anemia in adults with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease in early Q2 2016. However, there was no news last week to explain the company’s rise in share price.

Agenus

Agenus aims to create products that help the human immune system target diseased cells more effectively, aiding in fighting cancer and infectious diseases. Last week, the company’s share price rose 34.27 percent to close at $3.84.
Last Thursday, Agenus reported its fourth-quarter results. As Zacks notes, the company’s fourth-quarter losses were in line with estimates, but its revenues were impressive, increasing 371.8 percent year-over-year to $7.6 million.

Alphatec

Shares of Alphatec were up 34.15 percent last week, at $0.28. Alphatec is the parent company of Alphatec Spine, a company that is targeting enhancements in spinal fusion technologies. Alphatec released its third-quarter financial results on November 3, and announced on November 17 that it would be presenting at the annual Piper Jaffray healthcare conference. However, there has been no further recent news on the company, so it’s unclear what led to Alphatec’s rise in share price last week.

Threshold Pharmaceuticals

Threshold Pharmaceuticals is focused on tumor-targeted therapies to treat cancer. Last week, the company’s share price was up 28.09 percent, at $0.31. On January 11, the company announced an agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany regarding key terms for the licensing back of all rights to evofosfamide to Threshold.
“We are pleased to have agreed to key terms for the licensing back of all rights to evofosfamide to Threshold and we will share our plans for the future development of evofosfamide once our ongoing analyses of the data from the recently unblinded clinical trials are complete,” said Barry Selick, PhD, CEO of Threshold, in a statement.
There has been no further recent news that would explain last week’s rise in share price.

Arbutus Biopharma

Finally, Arbutus Biopharma’s share price gained 26.54 percent last week to finish at $3.91. The company is focused on discovering, developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection, a disease of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus.
The company outlined a number of its 2016 milestones in a release on January 10, noting that several of its products will enter clinical development in 2016. However, there has been no further news from the company to explain last week’s share price rise.
 
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, Teresa Matich, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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