The Week Ahead In Biotech (March 28-April 3): Acadia’s Dementia Drug Update, Clinical Readouts, Few Earnings In Holiday-Shortened Week
Biotech stocks reversed course and ended lower in the week ended March 26, drawing inspiration from the broader market weakness.
The earnings news flow was confined to micro- and small-cap companies. Five biopharma companies listed their shares on the Nasdaq through initial public offerings. These companies raised about $666.5 million in gross proceeds.
Several Food and Drug Administration approvals came through during the week. Merck‘s (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda was cleared for easophageal cancer, while Pacira BioSciences, Inc.‘s (NASDAQ: PCRX) non-opioid pain drug and Zealand Pharma A/S’ (NASDAQ: ZEAL) ready-to-use glucagon pen to treat low blood sugar levels also received clearance from the FDA.
A T-cell therapy co-developed by bluebird bio Inc (NASDAQ: BLUE) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) won the nod for a type of blood cancer.
Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODT) was among the worst performers of the week after it shelved the study of its oral chemotherapy medication in breast cancer and also decided to wind down operations.
Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FREQ) was another big loser after its shares shed about 80% of their value following the release of an adverse clinical readout.
Here are the key catalysts for the unfolding week:
Conferences
Stifel 3rd Annual CNS Day: March 31
Guggenheim Healthcare Talks: 2021 Genomic Medicines & Rare Disease: April 1
PDUFA Dates
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.‘s (NASDAQ: ACAD) regulatory application seeking expanded use of pimavanserin has a decision date of Saturday, April 3. The company is hoping to get approval for the additional indication of hallucinations and delusions associated with dementia-related psychosis.
But it looks likely there will be either a delay in approval or an outright rejection. The company announced on March 8 that the FDA has identified deficiencies that preclude discussion of labeling and post-marketing requirements or commitments.
Clinical Readouts/Presentations
Pending Readouts For March/ Q1/Early 2021
Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAGE) expects to release sometime soon topline data from a Phase 2 KINETIC study that is evaluating its SAGE-324 in patients with a nervous disorder called essential tremor. It also expects to release topline data from a Phase 2a study of SAGE-718 in patients with Parkinson’s disease cognitive dysfunction.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) will release in the first quarter full results from a Phase 3 study of MK-7110, a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of patients with severe and critical COVID-19. MK-7110 came into Merck’s stable through its acquisition of OncoImmune.
Delcath Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCTH) is scheduled to release topline results from the Phase 3 study of Hepzato kit in liver dominant ocular melanoma. Hepzato kit consists of melphalan hydrochloride for injection or hepatic delivery, and it is meant to deliver high-dose chemotherapy to the liver while minimizing systemic exposure and associated side effects.
Yumanity Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: YMTX) is due to release results from the Phase 1 multiple-ascending dose study of its investigational therapy YTX-7739 in healthy volunteers. YTX-7739 is being evaluated for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: BTAI) will release in the first quarter topline results from the Phase 1b/2 study of BXCL501 for the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.
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Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (NASDAQ: WVE) is due to release at the end of the first quarter, data from ongoing PRECISION-HD and OLE clinical trials evaluating WVE-120101 in Huntington’s disease.
Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMTX) is expected to release in the first quarter, data from the 600mg cohort of the multiple-ascending dose 2 part of the Phase 1 study of FT-4202 in sickle cell disease patients.
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDX) is scheduled to release in the first quarter Phase 1b study of CDX-0159 in chronic inducible urticaria – an allergic skin reaction.
AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZRX) will release by the end of the first quarter topline data from the Phase 2b OPTION 2 study of MS1819 in cystic fibrosis patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Humanigen, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGEN) is scheduled to release at the end of March topline data from the Phase 3 study of lenzilumab in COVID-19.
New Drug Application Filings
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNY) is scheduled to file a new drug application for vutrisiran in early 2021. The drug is a subcutaneously administered investigational RNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. ATTR amyloidosis is related to the abnormal production and buildup of a type of a protein called transthyretin, which is used to transport thyroid hormones and vitamin A throughout the body.
CTI BioPharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CTIC) expects to complete a rolling submission of its NDA for pacritinib, for use in myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia before the end of March.
Earnings
Monday
Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MTNB) (before the market open)
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) (before the market open)
F-star Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSTX) (before the market open)
Biocept, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOC) (after the close)
Tuesday
PolarityTE, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTE) (before the market open)
Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PIRS) (before the market open)
Forma Therapeutics (before the market open)
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE: PLX) (before the market open)
AngioDynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANGO) (before the market close)
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLCM) (after the close)
Daré Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: DARE) (after the close)
IGM Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: IGMS) (after the close)
Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: OSMT) (after the close)
EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP) (after the close)
Dyadic International, Inc. (NASDAQ: DYAI) (after the close)
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNX) (after the close)
Wednesday
Apyx Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: APYX) (before the market open)
Delcath Systems (before the market open)
BiomX Inc. (NYSE: PHGE) (before the market open)
Precipio, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRPO) (after the close)
Rockwell Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMTI) (after the close)
IPOs
IPO Pricing
U.K.-based Achilles Therapeutics plc has filed with the SEC to sell 9.75 million American depositary shares in an initial public offering, with each ADS representing one ordinary share of the company. The clinical stage immuno-oncology company is developing precision T-cell therapies to treat multiple types of solid tumors. The company plans to price the offering between $17 and $19. It has applied for listing its shares on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ACHL.
Related Link: A Spotlight On Israel’s Rollout Of Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine, Why Some Have Privacy Concerns
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels.
Story has been updated to reflect the type of cancer targeted by the drug under development by bluebird bio Inc and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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