Benzinga's Daily Biotech Pulse: Clinical Hold For Crispr, Gilead Study Meets Endpoint, Akers Gets Grace Time

Here's a roundup of top developments in the biotech space over the last 24 hours.

Scaling the Peaks

(Stocks hitting 52-week highs on May 30)

• AngioDynamics, Inc. ANGO
• Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc ARWR (Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated its Buy rating on shares)
• ASLAN PHARMACEUTICALS ADR REP 5 ORD ASLN
• BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. BCRX
• BioLife Solutions Inc BLFS
• CareDx Inc CDNA
• Foundation Medicine Inc FMI
• Genomic Health, Inc. GHDX
• Globus Medical Inc GMED
• Haemonetics Corporation HAE
• Qiagen NV QGEN
• Horizon Pharma PLC HZNP
• ICU Medical, Incorporated ICUI (U.K.'s Smiths Group confirmed talks to merge the healthcare operations of both companies)
• Masimo Corporation MASI
• Merit Medical Systems, Inc. MMSI
• Neogen Corporation NEOG
• Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. NBIX
• Neurotrope Inc NTRP
• Novocure Ltd NVCR
• Regenxbio Inc RGNX (announced the appointment of biotech industry veteran Alexandra Glucksmann to its board)
• Sanofi SA (ADR) SNY
• Sophiris Bio Inc SPHS
• STAAR Surgical Company STAA
• SurModics, Inc. SRDX
• TapImmune Inc. TPIV
• Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc RARE

Down In The Dumps

(Stocks hitting 52-week lows on May 30)

• Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. CLDX
• Checkpoint Therapeutics Inc CKPT
• TESARO Inc TSRO

Stocks In Focus

Crispr's Gene Therapy For Sickle Cell Disease Placed On Clinical Hold

Crispr Therapeutics AG CRSP and partner Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX announced that the investigational new drug application for their CTX001 for treating sickle cell disease was placed on clinical hold. The IND was submitted to the FDA in April to support the proposed initiation of a Phase 1/2 trial in the U.S.

The companies, however, said the timeline for initiation of the Phase 1/2 trial in Europe in adult patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia remains unchanged.

Crispr slumped 14.39 percent to $63 in after-hours trading, while Vertex fell 1.74 percent to $154.

Syndax Inks Immuno-oncology Clinical Trial Collaboration Deal With Nektar

Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc SNDX announced a non-exclusive, clinical collaboration with Nektar Therapeutics NKTR for evaluating the safety and efficacy of the latter's CD122-biased agonist NKTR-214, in combination with entinostat, former's oral, small molecule Class 1 specific HDAC inhibitor. The combo is to be tested in patients with metastatic melanoma, who have previously progressed on treatment with an anti-PD-1 agent.

The companies did not disclose the financial details and other terms of the deal.

See Also: 'Right To Try' Law Signed By Trump Increases Patient Access To Experimental Drugs

Five Prime To Collaborate With Roche

Five Prime Therapeutics Inc FPRX said it has entered into a collaboration with Roche RHHBY to develop immunohistochemistry companion diagnostic assays for use with investigational drug candidates bemarituzumab and FPA150.

Gilead's Mid-stage Study of Psoriatic Arthritic Drug Meets Primary Endpoint

Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD and GALAPAGOS NV/S ADR GLPG announced that the Phase 2 EQUATOR study of filgotinib, a selective JAK1 inhibitor, achieved its primary endpoint of improvement in signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis at Week 16.

The companies also announced that an independent data monitoring committee has recommended the study of filgotinib for ulcerative colitis proceed into Phase 3 trials, following interim futility analysis of the Phase 2b/3 study.

Ascendis Reports Wider Q1 Loss

Ascendis Pharma ASND reported Q1 results that showed a wider loss and a decline in revenues.

The stock rose 2.27 percent to $74.89 in after-hours trading.

Vericel Announces Common Stock Offering

Vericel Corp VCEL announced plans to offer 3.75 million shares in an underwritten public offering. The company said it intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes as well as expanding its business by in-licensing or acquiring product candidates, technologies, other assets, commercial products or businesses.

The stock fell 5.38 percent to $13.20 in after-hours trading.

Akers Gets Time to Adhere to Listing Norms

Akers Biosciences Inc AKER announced that the Nasdaq stock market has granted it a 180-day extension to meet the requirement of a minimum of $1 per share closing bid price for 10 consecutive business days for continued inclusion on the exchange.

The stock soared 23.89 percent to $0.405 in after-hours trading. In the regular session, the stock had slumped 16.51 percent.

On The Radar

The FDA is set to announce its verdict on KITOV PHARMA KTOV's osteoarthritis and hypertension treatment candidate KIT-302 on May 31

FDA Tidbits

The FDA announced Wednesday it has approved the first standalone prosthetic iris in the U.S., which is a surgically implanted device to treat people whose iris is completely missing or damaged due to a congenital condition called aniridia or other damage to eye.

The CustomFlex Artificial Iris is developed by HumanOptics AG.

Separately, commissioner Scott Gottlieb issued a statement, outlining federal preparedness and the agency's response efforts to Ebola virus outbreak in Congo.