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: 

• Aridis Pharmaceuticals (ARDS), 774% surge in interest 
• EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (EYPT), 380% surge in interest
• Hookipa Pharma (HOOK), 149% surge in interest
• Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (AUPH), 121% surge in interest
• Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM), 107% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

Aridis Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops anti-infectives to be used as add-on treatments to standard-of-care antibiotics. The company is advancing multiple clinical stage mAbs targeting bacteria that cause life-threatening infections such as ventilator associated pneumonia and hospital acquired pneumonia, in addition to preclinical stage antiviral mAbs.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to help improve the lives of patients with serious eye disorders. The company’s pipeline leverages its proprietary Durasert technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery including EYP-1901, an investigational sustained delivery intravitreal treatment currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. The proven Durasert drug delivery platform has been “safely administered to thousands of patients’ eyes” across four U.S. FDA approved products, including Yutiq for the treatment of posterior segment uveitis, EyePoint says.

Hookipa Pharma is focused on developing novel immunotherapies, based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, which are designed to mobilize and amplify targeted T cells and thereby fight or prevent serious disease. Hookipa’s pipeline includes its wholly owned investigational arenaviral immunotherapies targeting Human Papillomavirus 16-positive cancers, prostate cancers, and other undisclosed programs.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is focused on delivering therapies to treat targeted patient populations that are impacted by serious diseases with a high unmet medical need. In January 2021, the company introduced Lupkynis, which it notes is the first FDA-approved oral therapy dedicated for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis.

Adverum Biotechnologies is a clinical-stage company that aims to establish gene therapy as a new standard of care for highly prevalent ocular diseases with the aspiration of developing functional cures to restore vision and prevent blindness. Adverum is evaluating its novel gene therapy candidate, ixoberogene soroparvovec, as a one-time, IVT injection for patients with neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration.

Recent news on these stocks:

July 12

Aridis Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product, QIDP, Designation under the Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now, GAIN, Act for AR-301, a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody currently in Phase 3 clinical development as an adjunctive therapy for pneumonia caused by gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in critically ill hospitalized patients. “To our knowledge, AR-301 is the very first antibacterial biologics to be awarded the QIDP designation, marking a significant milestone not only for Aridis but also for companies with biologic solutions to fighting antimicrobial resistance,” stated Vu Truong, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Aridis Pharmaceuticals. “Our AR-301 program will now benefit from the FDA’s priority review, in addition to previously awarded Fast-Track status, allowing for accelerated drug development and regulatory review processes. This sought-after designation positions our AR-301 program extremely well as we continue to advance it through a confirmatory Phase 3 trial and license application.”

July 10

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Jay Duker, M.D. as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Duker has transitioned from his most recent role as Chief Operating Officer, COO, and President. Dr. Duker has also been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective today. Nancy Lurker has transitioned to the role of Executive Vice Chair of the Board of Directors from the position of CEO.

June 29

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals announced that its Board of Directors has initiated an exploration of strategic alternatives. As part of this process, the Board will consider a wide range of options for the company including, but not limited to, a potential sale, merger, or other strategic transaction. There can be no assurance that this process will result in the company pursuing a particular transaction or other strategic outcome. Aurinia has not set a timetable for completion of this process, and it does not intend to disclose further developments unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary. To assist in the review process, Aurinia has retained JP Morgan as its financial advisor, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP as its US legal counsel, and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as its Canadian legal counsel.

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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.