5 Biotechs Quietly Hitting Unusual Volumes Right Now

5 Biotechs Quietly Hitting Unusual Volumes Right Now June 23, 2017
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff

Although it’s not always clear why, five biopharma stocks are trading at unusually high volumes. Roberto Pedone, writing for TheStreet, takes a look.

1. Sanofi

Everybody’s wondering if Paris-based Sanofi will make a big acquisition this year, thinking that three times might be the charm. In August 2016, Sanofi was beaten out by Pfizer in a bid to buy Medivation . Then in January of this year, Johnson & Johnson closed on Actelion, making a complicated end-run around Sanofi for the Swiss company.

Just last week, Sanofi’s executive vice president of global industrial affairs said the company was planning to invest $673 million annually over the next two to three years in biologics production.

Pedone writes, “From a technical perspective, Sanofi spiked notably higher back above its 20-day at $48.66 with large upside volume flows. This stock has been uptrending strong over the past six months, with shares moving higher off its low of $38.55 to its recent high of $50.24.”

Sanofi is currently trading for $49.61.

2. CRISPR Therapeutics AG

CRISPR Therapeutics AG, based in Switzerland and Cambridge, Mass., is presenting data on its lead program this weekend at the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Madrid, Spain. The poster presented describes the ability to recreate specific HPFH gene variant in the intended target tissue. Basically they have used CRISPR gene editing technology to recreate the natural condition of fetal hemoglobin that is protective in sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

Pedone writes, “From a technical perspective, CRISPR Therapeutics ripped higher and broke out above some key near-term resistance levels at $15.14 to $15.99, and back above its 50-day at $16.14 with above-average volume flows.”

CRISPR Therapeutics stock is currently trading for $16.14.

3. Gilead Sciences

Recently dubbed the most profitable big pharma company this year, Gilead Sciences reported $29.1 billion in revenue over the last 12 months, with earnings of $12.6 billion. That results in a net margin of 43.4 percent. Although the company’s hepatitis C franchise is being battered by competition, its HIV franchise is still dominant.

Pedone writes, “From a technical perspective, Gilead Sciences gapped-up sharply higher and broke out above a key downtrend line that dates to February with monster upside volume. This high-volume breakout is now starting to push this stock within range of triggering another big breakout trade.”

Gilead is currently trading for $70.48.

4. Theravance Biopharma

Headquartered in South San Francisco, Theravance Biopharma ’s first commercial produce is Vibativ, an antibiotic for hard-to-treat infections. It is also developing Revefenacin (TD-4208) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a neprilysin (NEP) inhibitor program for a number of conditions, including acute and chronic heart failure, hypertension and chronic kidney diseases like diabetic nephropathy.

Pedone writes, “Theravance Biopharma ripped sharply higher and broke out above its previous all-time high of $41.48 with monster upside volume flows. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if this stock manages to push into new all-time-high territory with strong volume.”

Theravance is currently trading for $42.56.

5. Bellicum Pharmaceuticals

Based in Houston, Texas, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals is presenting at the European Hematology Association today regarding BPX-501, its lead product. BPX-501 is an adjunct T-cell therapy being studied in children with leukemias, lymphomas and genetic blood diseases receiving T-depleted, haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. There are rumors they’re presenting data, but since the abstracts have already been published, it’s not expected to be much of a market mover.

As Benzinga notes, “Bellicum Pharmaceuticals shares were sharply higher on about four times their average volume Monday, seeing bleed-through into Tuesday’s pre-market session, where shares were up 4.65 percent at $13.50. The move comes amid a lack of any meaningful news release from the company.”

Bellicum is currently trading for $13.98.

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