Gainers & Losers Of Mar.22: MBRX, IDRA, GEMP, XENE, VBLT...

(RTTNews) - The following are some of the biotech stocks that made their way onto the Day's Gainers & Losers' list of March 22, 2017.

GAINERS

1. Moleculin Biotech Inc. (MBRX)

Gained 24.30% to close Wednesday's (Mar.22) trading at $1.33.

News: The Company's lead candidate, Annamycin, has been granted received Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

A phase II trial evaluating Annamycin as a potential treatment for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia is underway - with top line data expected to be reported by the second half of 2017.

2. Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IDRA)

Gained 19.14% to close Wednesday's trading at $2.49.

News: JMP Securities has initiated coverage on Idera and has set a rating of "Market Outperform", according to reports.

The company's lead product candidates are IMO-2125, which is under phase I/2 study in refractory melanoma, and IMO-8400, under phase II testing in patients with dermatomyositis.

Near-term catalysts:

-- All the objectives in the phase 1 portion of the phase I/2 study of IMO-2125 in refractory melanoma trial have been achieved, and the phase 2 portion of the trial is planned to be taken up by the end of Q2, 2017. -- Complete enrollment in phase II of IMO-8400 by the end of 2017 and have clinical data available in 2018.

3. Albireo Pharma Inc. (ALBO)

Gained 17.14% to close Wednesday's trading at $23.78.

News: No news

Near-term catalysts:

-- The most-advanced product in Albireo's pipeline is Elobixibat for chronic idiopathic constipation. Elobixibat is being developed in Japan by licensee EA Pharma Co., Ltd. A New Drug Application for Elobixibat for the treatment of chronic constipation was submitted to the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency by EA Pharma last month. -- A phase II clinical trial of A4250 in children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is ongoing. The Company expects to initiate its planned phase 3 trial of A4250 in patients with PFIC in the second half of 2017.

4. XOMA Corp. (XOMA)

Gained 12.99% to close Wednesday's trading at $6.05.

News: The Company announced the full repayment of Hercules Technology Growth Capital debt obligation.

Xoma has fully prepaid the outstanding balance of approximately $6.5 million under the Company's term loan with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc., in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement.

5. Gemphire Therapeutics Inc. (GEMP)

Gained 12.12% to close Wednesday's trading at $11.66.

News: The Company reported encouraging results from a phase II trial that investigated insulin sensitization and LDL-C lowering by Gemcabene in non-diabetic, obese patients.

The study demonstrated that Gemcabene was associated with a doubling of 13% mean increase in glucose disposal rate (GDR) compared to a 6.8% increase for placebo. GDR is a measure of how well insulin is able to remove glucose from the circulation, before administration of study drug on Day 1 and again 1 hour following the last dose of Gemcabene at the end of the fourth week of treatment.

In addition, Gemcabene 900 mg lowered LDL-C by 40% and Total Cholesterol by 27% consistent with past results in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

6. Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (XENE)

Gained 11.31% to close Wednesday's trading at $9.35.

News: No news

Near-term catalyst:

-- Top line data from a phase II trial of XEN801, being developed for the treatment of moderate to severe acne, is expected this month.

LOSERS

1. Vascular Biogenics Ltd. (VBLT)

Lost 21.05% to close Wednesday's trading at $4.50.

News: No news

Anticipated event:

The Company will be reporting Q4 and full year 2016 financial results on March 27.

Near-term catalyst:

-- Interim analysis from a phase III trial of its lead candidate VB-111 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma is expected mid-2017.

2. Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. (TNDM)

Lost 8.82% to close Wednesday's trading at $1.55, falling for the third straight day

News: No news

Recent event:

On March 9th, the Company announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed follow-on public offering of approximately $50 million of its common stock.