5 Top NASDAQ Biotech Stocks: CTI BioPharma, Atossa Genetics Up Over 80 Percent

Last week, the NASDAQ Biotechnology index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) closed up 0.91 percent, or 24.76 points, compared to the previous week’s close.
With the biotech sector caught in a downward tailspin, it can be difficult to see hope for a rebound. However, given that fears about the biotech sector largely stem from the US presidential election, political rhetoric and macro conditions, there is at least a rough timeline that biotech investors can look to in the short term. 
And even now, some companies are still managing to generate investor interest. Last week’s top gainer in the biotech and pharmaceutical space was CTI BioPharma (NASDAQ:CTIC). Trailing behind CTI was Atossa Genetics (NASDAQ:ATOS), and it was followed by Pluristem Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PSTI), Rosetta Genomics (NASDAQ:ROSG) and Athersys (NASDAQ:ATHX).

CTI BioPharma

CTI BioPharma’s goal is to bring to market less toxic, more effective therapies to treat and cure cancer. To meet this goal, the company is targeting therapies that cover a spectrum of blood-related cancers.

Last week, the company announced its Q4 and full-year 2015 financial results, gaining 85.31 percent on the back of the news. The company posted a net loss for Q4 of $28.8 million, or $0.13 per share; that compares to a net loss of $44.2 million, or $0.27 per share, in the year-ago period. For the full year, CTI posted a net loss of $122.6 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to a net loss of $96 million, or $0.65 per share, for the same period in 2014.
Total revenues for Q4 and the full 2015 year were $11.3 million and $16.1 million, respectively. CTI closed up on Friday at $0.63.

Atossa Genetics

Breast cancer-focused pharmaceutical company Atossa Genetics is currently in Phase II clinical development with its Afimoxifen topical gel, as well as its patented intraductal microcatheters.
The company saw some impressive share price activity last week, climbing 83.87 percent on news of insider buying and optimism about its clinical trials. On Friday, Atossa ended the day up 15.74 percent to close at $0.57.

Pluristem Therapeutics

Pluristem Therapeutics endeavors to leverage its position as a global leader in placenta-based cell science to develop and manufacture safe and effective cell therapy products.
Buoying the company’s share price last week was news that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and part of the US National Institutes of Health will commence studies in large animals to evaluate dosing for the company’s PLX-R18 as a counter measure in the treatment of the hematologic components of acute radiation syndrome.

PLX-R18 is the company’s second cell therapy product in development. It is designed to treat bone marrow that is unable to produce enough blood cells due to a variety of causes, including ARS, certain cancers or cancer treatments or immune-mediated bone marrow failure.
Last week, the company’s share price increased by 54.36 percent. Pluristem ended the week at $1.25.

Rosetta Genomics

Rosetta Genomics is focused on the development and commercialization of a full range of microRNA-based and molecular diagnostics. Last week, the company received conditional approval status for RosettaGX Reveal, its novel MicroRNA classifier for the diagnosis of intermediate thyroid fine needle aspirate smears in New York state. RosettaGX Reveal is the only molecular test in the thyroid market that has been validated in a multicenter, international, blinded study using convenient, routinely prepared cytology slides.
The news buoyed Rosetta Genomics’ share price by 33.75 percent. The company closed down slightly on Friday at $1.07.

Athersys

Last Wednesday, Athersys released one-year results from its Phase II stroke study of its MultiStem® cell therapy, which is aimed at treating patients who have suffered ischemic stokes. The positive study demonstrates that subjects on average continued to improve compared to placebo subjects at one year. The company notes that the relative improvement in excellent outcomes was even more pronounced in patients who received MultiStem treatment within 36 hours of having a stroke.
For the week, Athersys climbed 29.03 percent, closing at $1.60 on Friday.

 
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, Vivien Diniz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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