The Week Ahead in Biotech (Jan 31-Feb 5)

The Week Ahead in Biotech (Jan 31-Feb 5)
A laboratory test at the Transgene biotech firm, which is working to develop a neoantigen cancer vaccine, in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, eastern France, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images)
Benzinga
1/31/2022
Updated:
1/31/2022

The broader market weakness spread into the biotech sector in the week ending Jan. 28, sending stocks lower.

Johnson & Johnson got the ball rolling on large-cap biopharma earnings, with mixed results. The positive forward outlook, however, lent support to the stock. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation came under pressure following an earnings miss.

Among other noteworthy developments, the Pfizer-BioNTech SE alliance and Moderna Inc. separately commenced their omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine studies.

Gilead Sciences Inc. faced a setback after the Food and Drug Administration placed its clinical trials involving magrolimab on hold. Magrolimab, an anti-CD47 antibody, was acquired as part of the company’s $4.9 billion deal to buy Forty Seven Inc. The antibody treatment is being evaluated with azacytidine in five blood cancer studies, including three Phase 3 studies.
Here are the key catalysts that could impact stocks in the unfolding week.

Clinical Readouts/Presentations

Athersys Inc. is scheduled to host a webcast on Wednesday, at 10 a.m. EST, wherein it will make a presentation on its MultiStem clinical programs. The company is due to present an outlook of its ischemic stroke program, including perspectives on the upcoming Phase 2/3 TREASURE data readout. The study is evaluating over 200 stroke patients.
Athersys will also present clinical data from the MultiStem acute respiratory distress syndrome program, including data from both the MUST-ARDS and the ONE-BRIDGE clinical trials. Reflecting on the combined clinical data and supporting information, the company’s management will provide its outlook for MultiStem for the treatment of ARDS and its plans for moving the program forward.

Earnings

Tuesday

Catalent Inc. (before the market open)

Wednesday

Novartis AG (before the market open) AbbVie Inc. (before the market open) Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. (after the market close) Hologic Inc. (after the market close)

Thursday

Roche Holding AG (before the market open) Abiomed Inc. (before the market open) Biogen Inc. (before the market open) Merck & Co. Inc. (before the market open) Eli Lilly and Company (before the market open) Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (after the market close)

Friday

Sanofi (before the market open) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (before the market open) IRadimed Corporation (before the market open) Meridian Bioscience Inc. (before the market open) Twist Bioscience Corporation (before the market open) Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (before the market open)

IPO Quiet Period Expiry

Vigil Neuroscience Inc. CinCor Pharma Inc. Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.
By Shanthi Rexaline
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