Three Biotech Companies Running Up in Advance of Tuesday Presentations

Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CTIC) closed 10% higher on Monday in anticipation of positive trial data from management at the Rodman & Renshaw Conference in NYC. The company will be presenting updates on the launch of Pixuvri, a treatment for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma that will be available in the EU under conditional marketing authorization. CTIC will be able to market the product because it may substantially benefit patients who have an unmet medical need, but will be required to complete a post-market study to confirm the clinical benefits of Paxuvri. The authorization is renewable on an annual basis, but the EMA is requiring data from the post-market study, called the PIX-R Trial, by June of 2015. CTIC does not have U.S. approval. The company will also be updating investors on the status of pacritinib, which just finished phase 2 trials. The JAK2 inhibitor is queued for a Phase 3 trial for myelofibrosis with moderate to severe thrombocytopenia and was acquired by CTIC in April of this year. Since acquiring the drug, CTIC has been re-strategizing to quickly begin further development, as pacritinib has orphan drug status in the U.S. and E.U. The webcast will be available on the company’s webpage.

Neuralstem’s (NYSEAMEX:CUR) CEO will be presenting data from ongoing trials on Tuesday, including a pivotal Phase I study on the company’s NSI-566 neural stem cells. In the trial, patients were injected with the cells as an experimental treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS). The final patient in this trial was dosed in August, and the study is ongoing, with completion expected in the first half of next year. CUR will also be giving updates on future trials, and investors hope to see timeframes for the development of its other products, which include a treatment for chronic depression. The presentation will be available through a live webcast. As of Monday’s close, CUR was up 15%. PropThink covered Neuralstem in mid-august, and you can read that article here.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD) closed Monday at $2.05, a 6% gain as investors are anticipating strategic updates at the Rodman & Renshaw Conference on Tuesday. The company has two early-stage products partnered with Allergan (NYSE:AGN) for glaucoma and chronic pain. Most anticipated, however, would be any news on the company’s lead product, pimavenserin. While ACAD is not guiding for new data until November, investors and analysts hope for developmental updates, particularly for the phase III Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis treatment – see previous coverage by PropThink, here. The presentation will be webcast live and is available on the company’s investor relations page.