6 Top Gainers In Healthcare Sector (SMMT, HTBX, NTGN...)

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

1. Summit Therapeutics plc (SMMT)

Gained 28.97% to close Tuesday's (Feb.26) trading at $1.87.

News: The Company announced that preclinical data on SMT-571, which is in development for the treatment of gonorrhoea, shows that the compound is potent against diverse, global Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains from actual patient cases, including numerous multi- and extensively-drug resistant strains.

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

Two phase III trials of Ridinilazole for C. difficile infection, dubbed Ri-CoDIFy 1 and Ri-CoDIFy 2, are underway, with top-line data expected to be reported in the second half of 2021.

2. Heat Biologics Inc. (HTBX)

Gained 17.04% to close Tuesday's trading at $1.58.

News: No news

Pipeline & Near-term Catalyst:

The Company's lead drug candidate is HS-110, which is being evaluated in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s (BMY) Opdivo, for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in a phase II trial.

New interim data from the phase II study of HS-110 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer is scheduled to be presented at the 2019 ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium on February 28.

3. BIOLASE Inc. (BIOL)

BIOLASE is a biomedical company developing dental lasers and dental imaging equipment.

Gained 16.81% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.71.

News: No news

Near-term Catalyst:

-- The Company is scheduled to release fourth quarter 2018 financial and operating results on March 5, 2019.

4. Neon Therapeutics Inc. (NTGN)

Neon is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing neoantigen-targeted therapies.

Gained 16.76% to close Tuesday's trading at $5.99.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

The Company's most advanced product candidate is NEO-PV-01, a personal neoantigen vaccine, under phase Ib trials, dubbed NT-001, NT-002, NT-003, and NT-004.

-- NT-001 is exploring the combination of NEO-PV-01 and Bristol Myers' Opdivo in patients with metastatic or advanced melanoma, lung, or bladder cancer. 52-week data are expected in the first half of 2019. -- NT-002 is testing the combination of NEO-PV-01 and Merck's Keytruda in patients with advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung carcinoma. 52-week data is expected in the second half of 2019. -- NT-003 is evaluating NEO-PV-01 vaccine, either with APX005M or ipilimumab, and nivolumab in patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma. Immune monitoring data is expected in the first half of 2020.

The Company is scheduled to make a presentation at the 8th Annual Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

5. Aileron Therapeutics Inc. (ALRN)

Aileron is a clinical-stage company developing therapies to treat cancer and other diseases.

Gained 14.97% to close Tuesday's trading at $1.69.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

-- A phase IIa expansion of ALRN-6924 as monotherapy in cohorts of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma is underway. Interim data reported last December were promising. -- A phase IIa expansion cohort of ALRN-6924 in combination with Pfizer's IBRANCE in cancer patients with MDM2-amplified solid tumors is ongoing. Preliminary data from this trial is expected in the second half of 2019. -- A phase I and phase Ib open-label, multi-center dose-escalation trials of ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy and in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who failed hypomethylating agents are ongoing. Interim data reported last December were promising.

6. Magenta Therapeutics (MGTA)

Magenta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplant to more patients.

Gained 15.78% to close Tuesday's trading at $12.18.

News: The Company announced that C200 development candidate showed potent and selective stem cell depletion and immune system preservation in non-human primates and was well tolerated.

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

The most advanced product candidate is MGTA-456, under a phase II trial in inherited metabolic disorders, and a phase II study in blood cancers.

Next up in the pipeline is MGTA-145, a novel stem cell mobilization product candidate intended to achieve mobilization of high numbers of stem cells in a single day to replace granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or G-CSF, the current standard of care. MGTA-145 is expected to enter into clinical testing in the first half of 2019.