Biotech Alert: Searches spiking for these stocks today

These names in the biotech sector are seeing a substantial increase in search activity today, as determined by InvestingChannel. They include: 

• G1 Therapeutics (GTHX), 274% surge in interest
• Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO), 273% surge in interest
• Tracon Pharma (TCON), 269% surge in interest
• Aravive (ARAV), 255% surge in interest
• Bio-Path Holdings (BPTH), 204% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

G1 Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company whose first commercial product is Cosela, or trilaciclib. G1 is executing a tumor-agnostic development plan evaluating trilaciclib in a variety of solid tumors, including colorectal, breast, lung, and bladder cancers.

Aptevo Therapeutics is focused on developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. APVO436 is a bispecific CD3xCD123 ADAPTIR currently in Phase 1b development in a multi-center, multi-cohort trial designed to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy in combination therapy and monotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial, evaluating APVO436 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine in patients with AML who are venetoclax treatment naive, in 2H23.

Tracon is advancing a pipeline of novel targeted cancer therapeutics and seeks to partner with other life science companies. The company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes: Envafolimab, a PD-L1 single-domain antibody given by rapid subcutaneous injection that is being studied in the pivotal ENVASARC trial for sarcoma; YH001, a potential best-in-class CTLA-4 antibody in Phase 1 development; TRC102, a Phase 2 small molecule drug candidate for the treatment of lung cancer; and TJ004309, a CD73 antibody in Phase 1 development for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Tracon has said it believes it “can serve as a solution for companies without clinical and commercial capabilities in the United States or who wish to become CRO-independent.”

Aravive is developing targeted therapeutics to treat metastatic disease. The company’s lead product candidate, batiraxcept, formerly AVB-500, is an ultra-high affinity decoy protein that binds to GAS6, the sole ligand that activates AXL, inhibiting metastasis, tumor growth, and restoring sensitivity to anti-cancer agents. Batiraxcept has been granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA and Orphan Drug Designation by European Commission in PROC. Batiraxcept is in an active registrational Phase 3 trial in platinum resistant ovarian cancer, a Phase 1b/2 trial in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and a Phase 1b/2 trial in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Bio-Path is developing DNAbilize, a technology that has yielded a pipeline of RNAi nanoparticle drugs that can be administered with an intravenous transfusion. Bio-Path’s lead product candidate, prexigebersen , or BP1001, is in a Phase 2 study for blood cancers and BP1001-A, a drug product modification of prexigebersen, has been cleared by the FDA and Phase 1 studies in solid tumors will commence in 2022. The company’s second product, BP1002, is being evaluated for the treatment of blood cancers and solid tumors, including lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, an IND is expected to be filed for BP1003, a novel liposome-incorporated STAT3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide developed by Bio-Path as a specific inhibitor of STAT3, in 2022 or Q1 of 2023.

Recent news on these stocks:

August 3

Bio-Path Holdings announced the pricing of a public offering of 3.5M shares of common stock, together with accompanying common stock purchase warrants, at a price to the public of 60c per share and accompanying common stock purchase warrant, for aggregate gross proceeds to the company of approximately $2.M, before deducting the fees and estimated offering expenses payable by the company. Bio-Path currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close on or about August 7, subject to customary closing conditions. Roth Capital Partners acted as the sole placement agent for the offering.

August 2

G1 Therapeutics reported Q2 EPS of 14c against a consensus of (22c), and reported Q2 revenue of $42.4M against a consensus of $28.9M. “We know the impact that trilaciclib can have on the lives of people battling cancer; we see it every day in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer who receive COSELA prior to their chemotherapy. And, we’ve made good progress in further developing the potential of the drug in clinical trials for additional indications,” said Jack Bailey, CEO of G1 Therapeutics. “As such, our focus remains on driving depth of COSELA usage and adoption in our top accounts, despite a national platinum-based chemotherapy shortage. We are also preparing for multiple important data readouts expected early next year, and ensuring our continued financial strength.”

Aravive announced that its Phase 3 AXLerate-OC trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of batiraxcept in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival in the pre-specified subset of patients naive to prior bevacizumab treatment. The trial did not show any difference between the two arms in the overall populatio . The Company will continue to evaluate the complete dataset and determine next steps in the development of batiraxcept. “We are conducting additional analyses on the AXLerate-OC Phase 3 trial to further evaluate the results of this study and determine the best path forward with our two other planned indications in renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer,” said Gail McIntyre, Ph.D., DABT, Aravive’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We want to thank the patients who participated in this trial, the clinical investigators, and the Aravive team for their hard work, as we continue to pursue our goal of finding innovative cancer treatments for patients in need.”

Hear more from InvestingChannel by signing up for The Spill.

About “Biotech Alert”

The Fly will report on a selection of biotech stocks seeing a surge in interest from retail and financial professional investors, based on data from InvestingChannel.

This Fly exclusive recap reveals the biotech stocks that are seeing a spike in searches among the 20-plus million retail and financial professional investors through InvestingChannel’s online financial news media ecosystem.

This increased attention from the investors may be in response to, or advance of, outsized moves for stocks in the biotech sector, which tend to be volatile and prone to sharp swings in share price around binary events such as clinical study results and FDA approvals.