5 Top Gainers In Healthcare Sector (ALLK, IMGN, LXRX...)

(RTTNews) - The following are some of today's top gainers in the pharma/biotech sector.

1. Allakos Inc. (ALLK)

Allakos is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of various eosinophil and mast cell-related diseases.

Gained 110.52% to close Monday's (Aug.5) trading at $65.26.

News: The Company's phase II placebo-controlled trial of AK002 in patients with eosinophilic gastritis and/or eosinophilic gastroenteritis, dubbed ENIGMA, has met all prespecified primary and secondary endpoints.

According to the trial results, there was a 95% reduction in gastrointestinal tissue eosinophils in the patients treated with AK002 compared to a 10% increase on placebo. Based on the results from the phase II study, Allakos will request an end of phase II meeting to discuss the design of the planned phase III study in eosinophilic gastritis and/or eosinophilic gastroenteritis and phase II/III study in eosinophilic esophagitis.

The Company also announced that it intends to sell $200 million of shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering.

2. KemPharm Inc. (KMPH)

KemPharm is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs to treat serious medical conditions.

Gained 20.95% to close Monday's trading at $1.27.

News: No news

Pipeline:

KemPharm's co-lead clinical development candidates include KP415 and KP484 for the treatment of ADHD. The Company's FDA-approved drug is APADAZ, an immediate-release combination product containing benzhydrocodone, a prodrug of hydrocodone, and acetaminophen, for the short-term management of acute pain.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- The New Drug Application for KP415, being developed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is expected to be submitted in early third quarter of 2019.

3. MediWound Ltd. (MDWD)

MediWound is focused on developing innovative therapies to address unmet needs in severe burn and wound management.

Gained 11.58% to close Monday's trading at $2.89.

News: No news

Marketed Product:

The Company's lead biopharmaceutical product is NexoBrid, which has received approval from the European Medicines Agency as well as the Israeli, Argentinian, Peruvian, South Korean and Russian Ministries of Health, for removal of dead or damaged tissue, known as eschar, in adults with deep partial and full-thickness thermal burns.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- The Company may report second-quarter 2019 financial results this week. (In 2018, the second-quarter results were reported on August 7, 2018). -- Submission of the Biological License Application for NexoBrid in the U.S. is expected in the fourth quarter of 2019.

4. ImmunoGen Inc. (IMGN)

ImmunoGen is focused on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer.

Gained 11.61% to close Monday's trading at $2.50.

News: No news

Recent event:

On August 2, 2019, the Company reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Net loss was $43.4 million or $0.29 per share for the second quarter of 2019, compared with a net loss of $41.6 million or $0.31 per share for the same quarter last year. Revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, jumped to $15.5 million from $9.3 million in the comparable year-ago period. Revenue includes non-cash royalty revenues and license and milestone fees.

Looking ahead, the Company expects full-year 2019 revenues to be between $40 million and $45 million. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018, were $53.8 million.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Meet with the FDA and European Medicines Agency in the second half of this year to review the design of the next phase III study of Mirvetuximab soravtansine, a potential new treatment for patients with folate receptor alpha (FRa)-positive cancer. -- Complete enrollment in the *FORWARD II Mirvetuximab plus Avastin combination cohort in the third quarter.

* FORWARD II is a phase I/II study of Mirvetuximab in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab), carboplatin or Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with FRa-positive platinum-resistant or platinum-agnostic ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube tumors, as well as a triplet combination of Mirvetuximab plus Carboplatin and Avastin in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

-- Present initial FORWARD II triplet data (poster presentation) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in late September. -- Initiate the Phase 3 registration study of Mirvetuximab as a monotherapy for women with FRa-high, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer by the end of this year. -- Enrollment in phase II trial of IMGN632 in combination with Vidaza and Venclexta in relapsed/refractory AML patients cohort and single-agent MRD+ patients following frontline induction therapy cohort is expected to commence this year.

5. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LXRX)

Gained 10.83% to close Monday's trading at $1.33.

News: No news

Recent event:

On July 31, 2019, the Company reported Q2 financial results.

Although total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2019, decreased to $9.7 million from $13.8 million for the corresponding period in 2018, primarily due to lower revenues recognized from our collaboration and license agreement with Sanofi, there was an increase in net product revenues.

Net product revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2019, included $7.4 million from net sales of XERMELO in the U.S. and $1.3 million from the sales of bulk XERMELO tablets to Ipsen, cumulatively up 19% from the prior-year quarter.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Topline results from a Phase 1b trial of LX9211 for the treatment of neuropathic pain are anticipated in the second half of 2019. -- Topline results from core Phase 3 studies for Zynquista in type 2 diabetes are expected in the second half of 2019. -- Completion of patient enrollment of the initial safety cohort in the Phase 2 study of Telotristat ethyl in biliary tract cancer is expected in the second half of 2019.