EPIX Soars, OASM Turning Heads, LQDA Jumps 96% In 1 Month

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

1. ESSA Pharma Inc. (EPIX)

ESSA is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Gained 23.08% to close Tuesday's (Oct.9) trading at $4.00.

News: No news

Pipeline:

The Company has successfully completed the phase I portion of its phase I/II clinical trial of EPI-506 for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. But further clinical development of EPI-506 was discontinued last September to focus R&D resources on its next-generation Anitens targeting the AR-NTD.

The next-generation Aniten compounds are designed to improve upon a number of attributes of first-generation compound, EPI-506, and are considerably more potent than EPI-506, according to the Company.

The Company is currently in the final stages of identifying a lead Aniten compound.

2. Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB (OASM)

Oasmia Pharma is a Swedish pharmaceutical company developing new generation of drugs within the fields of human and veterinary oncology.

Gained 22.08% to close Tuesday's trading at $4.70.

News: No news

Near-term Catalyst:

-- Submission of Apealea NDA in late 2018 or early 2019.

Apealea is proposed for the treatment of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer and fallopian tube cancer in combination with carboplatin in first relapse.

-- Apealea received positive CHMP opinion in the European Union on September 21, 2018. The final decision of the European Commission is usually announced after 67 days following the CHMP opinion.

Related Reading:

Still flying under the radar...

3. Liquidia Technologies Inc. (LQDA)

Liquidia Technologies is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, currently focused on the development of two product candidates for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and local post-operative pain.

Gained 20.09% to close Tuesday's trading at $37.18.

News: No news

Recent events:

-- On July 26, 2018, the Company went public on the Nasdaq Capital Market, offering its shares at a price of $11 each. -- On September 21, 2018, the Company was added to the Russell 2000, Russell 3000 and Russell Microcap Indexes.

Pipeline:

The lead drug candidate is LIQ861 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH.

LIQ861 is under a phase III trial, dubbed INSPIRE. This trial, initiated in January of this year, is designed to enroll at least 100 patients with PAH across multiple U.S. sites. Safety data from INSPIRE are expected in the first half of 2019.

LIQ865 for the treatment of local post-operative pain, which completed a Phase 1a clinical trial in Denmark in March 2017, and a Phase 1b clinical trial in the United States in April 2018. A Phase 2-enabling toxicology studies are expected to be initiated in the second half of 2018.

4. Obalon Therapeutics Inc. (OBLN)

Obalon is the maker of the first and only FDA approved swallowable, gas-filled balloon for weight loss.

Gained 10.90% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.34.

News: Daina Schmidt has joined Obalon Therapeutics as Vice President, Marketing.

Most recently, Schmidt was Senior Director of Marketing at Syneron Candela, where she led the launch of Vbeam Prima.

5. Tocagen Inc. (TOCA)

Tocagen is a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company.

Gained 10.87% to close Tuesday's trading at $14.08.

News: No news

Pipeline:

The Company's lead investigational product candidate, Toca 511 & Toca FC, is under evaluation in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for recurrent high grade glioma, dubbed Toca 5.

Near-term Catalyst:

The second interim analysis of the Toca 5 study is expected to be conducted in the first half of 2019.