The Daily Biotech Pulse: Novartis Blood Disorder Drug Improves Patient Outcomes, Audentes To Offer Shares

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

Scaling the Peaks

(Biotech stocks hitting 52-week highs on Oct. 9)

• BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. BDSI
• BioNano Genomics Inc BNGO
• Kezar Life Sciences Inc KZR
• Merck & Co., Inc. MRK
• Pfizer Inc. PFE(announced executive leadership team which is to work under the incoming CEO Albert Bourla, who would assume responsibility, effective Jan. 1, 2019)

Down In The Dumps

(Biotech stocks hitting 52-week lows on Oct. 9)

• Aerpio Pharmaceuticals Inc ARPO
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY
• Alpine Immune Sciences Inc ALPN
• Assembly Biosciences Inc ASMB
• Aytu Bioscience Inc AYTU
• Cue Biopharma Inc CUE
• DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc XRAY
• Erytech Pharma SA ERYP
• Gritstone Oncology, Inc. GRTS
• LeMaitre Vascular Inc LMAT
• MORPHOSYS AG/S ADR MOR
• Mustang Bio Inc MBIO
• Neos Therapeutics Inc NEOS
• Novelion Therapeutics Inc NVLN
• Oncolytics Biotech, Inc. ONCY
• Provention Bio Inc PRVB
• Pulse Biosciences Inc PLSE
• Replimune Group Inc REPL
• Reshape Lifesciences Inc RSLS
• Seres Therapeutics Inc MCRB
• Trevena Inc TRVN(briefing documents released ahead of the Adcom meeting showed concerns over its pain medication)
• Trillium Therapeutics Inc TRIL

See Also: Attention Biotech Investors: Mark Your Calendar For These October PDUFA Dates

Stocks In Focus

Eli Lilly Presents Positive Data For Dual-action Diabetes Drug

Eli Lilly And Co LLY announced results from a Phase 2b clinical trial of its dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that showed strong and clinically meaningful blood sugar reduction and weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes.

The company said six-month data showed average HbA1c reductions of up to 2.4 percentage points and an average weight reduction of up to 11.3 kg.

The data was presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Berlin and also published in the Lancet.

Novartis Sickle Cell Disease Candidate Increased Number of Patients Free Of Pain Crises

Novartis AG NVS published results of a post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 SUSTAIN study of crizanlizumab, a humanized anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody being evaluated for sickle cell disease, which showed that more patients treated with the candidate did not experience a vaso-occlusive crisis, or VOC, compared to those treated with placebo.

VOCs are painful complications of sickle cell disease.

The analysis was based on 52-week results from 132 patients, with 67 of them treated with crizanlizumab 5mg/kg. All evaluated patients had a history of at least 2 VOCs in the year prior to the study. Novartis said it expects FDA filing in 2019.

The stock rose 0.87 percent to $86.01 in after-hours.

Audentes To Offer $150 Million Worth Of Shares

Audentes Therapeutics Inc BOLD said it intends to offer $150 million of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. All the shares are to be sold by the company.

The stock rose 1.02 percent to $36.70 in after-hours trading.

Early Treatment With Roche's MS Drug Reduced Disability Progression

Roche Holdings AG Basel ADR RHHBY said new Ocrevus data to be presented at the 34th Congress of the European Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Germany showed patients treated early with Ocrevus had superior disability progression outcomes compared with relapsing MS patients who switched from interferon beta-1a or people with primary progressive MS who switched from placebo.

The results are based on five-year data from the Phase 3 open-label extension studies of OPERA I, OPERA II and ORATORIO.