5 Top Gainers In Healthcare Sector (OPGN, MRNS, ONTX…)

(RTTNews) - The following are some of today's top gainers in the healthcare sector.

1. OpGen Inc. (OPGN)

OpGen is a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and informatics to help combat infectious disease.

Gained 23.01% to close Wednesday's (Sep.4) trading at $8.02.

News: OpGen and Curetis N.V., a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their businesses, subject to approval by both companies' respective shareholders and Curetis' debt financing providers.

2. Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MRNS)

Marinus is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics to treat epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorder. Its lead drug candidate is Ganaxolone, which is being developed in three different dose forms, IV, capsule and liquid.

Gained 22.83% to close Wednesday's trading at $1.56.

News: No news

Near-term Catalysts:

-- A phase II study evaluating IV Ganaxolone in patients with refractory status epilepticus is underway, with topline data expected this quarter. -- A phase III study evaluating the use of oral Ganaxolone in children and young adults with CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, dubbed Marigold Study, is ongoing. The Company remains on-track to report top-line data from this study in the third quarter of 2020. -- A single pivotal phase III study evaluating oral Ganaxolone in children with PCDH19-Related Epilepsy, known as Violet Study, is ongoing, with top-line data anticipated in 2021.

3. Onconova Therapeutics Inc. (ONTX)

Onconova is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products to treat cancer.

Gained 19.57% to close Wednesday's trading at $2.75.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

-- A phase III pivotal trial with intravenous Rigosertib for high-risk second-line patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes, dubbed INSPIRE, is underway. Enrollment in the trial is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, with top-line data anticipated in the first half of 2020 following full enrollment and 288 death events. -- In December 2018, Onconova applied to the FDA for a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for a phase III trial of oral Rigosertib in combination with Azacitidine for treatment of first-line higher-risk Myelodysplastic syndrome patients. The Company expects completion of the FDA's SPA decision before the end of 2019.

4. Mereo BioPharma Group plc (MREO)

Mereo BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases.

Gained 16.25% to close Wednesday's trading at $3.72.

News: The Company announced that the 6-month interim data from the open-label arm of its phase 2b dose-ranging study of Setrusumab (BPS-804) in adults with Type I, III or IV osteogenesis imperfecta, dubbed ASTEROID, has been selected for a late-breaking oral presentation on September 20, 2019, at the upcoming American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2019 Annual Meeting.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare genetic disorder that is characterized by fragile bones and reduced bone mass resulting in bones that break easily, loose joints and weakened teeth.

The 6-month interim data were reported in May of this year, and it demonstrated clear and encouraging percentage changes over baseline in trabecular volumetric bone mineral density.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- The 12-month data on all patients enrolled in the ASTEROID study are expected in the fourth quarter of this year.

5. electroCore LLC (ECOR)

electroCore is a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company.

Gained 14.43% to close Wednesday's trading at $2.22.

News: No news

Recent event:

On August 18, 2019, the Company announced second quarter 2019 financial results.

Net sales in the second quarter of 2019 were approximately $623,000 compared to $393,000 in the year-ago quarter.

The Company's marketed product is GammaCore, which was given clearance in the U.S. for the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in April 2017, for acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adult patients in January 2018, and for adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients in November 2018.

GammaCore is a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator (nVNS) therapy.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- PREMIUM II, a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study of GammaCore for the preventive treatment of migraine in the U.S. is underway. Enrollment in the study is expected to be completed in the first half of 2020.