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:

• Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR), 170% surge in interest
• Leap Therapeutics (LPTX), 151% surge in interest
• Gamida Cell (GMDA), 124% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

Capricor Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of transformative cell and exosome-based therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of muscular and other select diseases. Capricor’s lead candidate, CAP-1002, is an allogeneic cardiac-derived cell therapy that is currently in late-stage clinical development for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Further, Capricor has entered into a partnership for the exclusive commercialization and distribution of CAP-1002 for DMD in the United States and Japan with Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., subject to regulatory approval. Capricor is also developing its exosome technology as a next-generation therapeutic platform. The company’s proprietary StealthX exosome platform has potential for a broad range of new therapeutic applications in the field of vaccinology as well as targeted oligonucleotide, protein and small molecule therapeutics to treat or prevent a variety of diseases.

Leap Therapeutics is focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Leap’s most advanced clinical candidate, DKN-01, is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 protein. DKN-01 is being developed in patients with esophagogastric, gynecologic, and colorectal cancers. Leap has entered into a strategic collaboration with BeiGene (BGNE) for the rights to develop DKN-01 in Asia excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Gamida Cell is at work on an immunotherapy pipeline of potentially curative cell therapy candidates for patients with solid tumor and blood cancers and other serious blood diseases. These include omidubicel, an investigational product with potential as a life-saving alternative for patients in need of bone marrow transplant, and a line of modified and unmodified NAM-enabled NK cells targeted at solid tumor and hematological malignancies.

Recent news on these stocks:

August 14

Leap Therapeutics reported Q2 EPS (91c) against a consensus of (90c). Cash and cash equivalents totaled $91.4M at June 30. Research and development incentive receivables totaled $2.6M at June 30. “The company made important progress on our DKN-01 program during the second quarter. Based on Part A of the DeFianCe study exceeding our threshold of a 20% ORR, all of which are now confirmed responses, we initiated Part B, our second randomized controlled trial,” said Douglas Onsi, CEO. “We also presented new long-term follow-up data from Part A of the DisTinGuish study at ASCO, demonstrating 19.5 months median overall survival which exceeds current benchmarks. Additionally, enrollment continues to be strong in the 160 patient randomized controlled Part C of the DisTinGuish study, and we expect to complete enrollment in Q4 of this year.”

Gamida Cell reported Q2 EPS (31c) against a consensus of (19c). As of June 30 Gamida Cell had total cash and cash equivalents of $54.1M compared to $64.7M as of December 31, 2022. The decrease of $10.4M is due primarily to net cash used in operating activities of $44.3M partially offset by $34.7M net cash proceeds from the issuance of shares. “Since the approval of Omisirge in April, Gamida Cell has made excellent progress on the launch,” said CEO Abbey Jenkins. “We have rapidly confirmed significant payer coverage and are seeing high interest from transplant centers, exceeding our plans. This is a testament to the unmet needs that Omisirge has the potential to address for patients, as well as the exceptional work of our experienced cell therapy team. We continue to progress our discussions in our efforts to secure a strategic deal to fully resource our Omisirge commercial efforts. We are optimistic that between our progress on the Omisirge launch and our discussions with potential partners, we can accelerate efforts to expand patient access to Omisirge.”

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.