XBIO Turns Heads, HRTX Hits New High, RYTM In Good Rhythm, SBOT On Watch

(RTTNews) - The following are some of the stocks that lost the largest percentage in price today in the pharma/biotech sector.

1. Xenetic Biosciences Inc. (XBIO)

Gained 50.63% to close Thursday's (June 21) trading at $3.60. The stock touched a high of $7.36 in intraday trading. This is the second straight day of gain for the stock.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

A phase II clinical study of XBIO-101 for the treatment of progesterone resistant endometrial cancer is underway. Interim data from this trial is expected to be announced before the end of 2018.

The Company has an agreement with Baxalta Inc., Baxalta US Inc., and Baxalta GmbH - the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Shire plc (SHPG) - related to its PolyXen technology.

PolyXen technology is Xenetic's proprietary drug development platform.

2. Fibrocell Science Inc. (FCSC)

Gained 33.47% to close Thursday's trading at $3.31.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term catalysts:

-- Complete enrollment of patients in the Phase 2 portion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of FCX-007 for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in the third quarter of 2018. -- Initiate enrollment for a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of FCX-013 for the treatment of moderate to severe localized scleroderma in the third quarter of 2018.

3. Heron Therapeutics Inc. (HRTX)

Gained 30.13% to close Thursday's trading at $39.95.

News: The Company announced positive top line results from two completed Phase 2b studies of HTX-011 - Study 209 and Study 211.

Study 209 was a randomized, placebo- and active-controlled, double-blind, Phase 2b clinical study of HTX-011 in patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Study 211 was a randomized, placebo- and active-controlled, double-blind, Phase 2b dose-finding study of HTX-011 in patients undergoing breast augmentation.

HTX-011 achieved the primary endpoints in both studies.

4. Stellar Biotechnologies Inc. (SBOT)

Gained 26.67% to close Thursday's trading at $2.09.

News: The Company announced the successful completion of a research study focused on the molecular composition of its KLH products.

Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) is an important immune-stimulating protein used in wide-ranging therapeutic and diagnostic markets. KLH is both a key pharmaceutical ingredient in many new immunotherapies targeting cancer, immune disorders, Alzheimer's and inflammatory diseases as well as a finished product for measuring immune status.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- A number of therapeutic vaccines that utilize the Company's KLH protein as a carrier molecule are currently in clinical studies by third parties. Results from the first of these trials are anticipated to be announced during the summer of 2018.

5. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RYTM)

Gained 24.56% to close Thursday's trading at $32.91.

News: No news

Pipeline:

The Company's lead drug candidate is Setmelanotide, under two phase III clinical trials in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency obesity. It is also being evaluated in four additional rare genetic disorders of obesity - Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, Alström Syndrome, POMC epigenetic disorders and POMC heterozygous deficiency obesity.

Recent event:

On June 18, 2018, the Company announced new top line clinical data from its ongoing Phase 2 basket studies of Setmelanotide, including updated data in patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), initial proof-of-concept data in Alström Syndrome, and promising, preliminary data in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and other MC4 pathway heterozygous deficiency obesities, as well as in POMC epigenetic disorders.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- The initial data from the two phase III trials of both POMC and LEPR deficiency obesity are expected in the third quarter of 2019. -- A combined pivotal phase III trial of Setmelanotide in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Alström Syndrome are expected to be initiated by the end of 2018. -- Updated data from its ongoing phase II basket studies of Setmelanotide from a larger number of patients with POMC and other MC4 pathway heterozygous deficiency obesities, as well as POMC epigenetic disorders are expected in the first quarter of 2019.

6. Solid Biosciences Inc. (SLDB)

Gained 18.70% to close Thursday's trading at $42.34.

News: No news

Recent event:

On June 18, 2018, the FDA lifted the clinical hold on IGNITE DMD, the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial of its lead product candidate SGT-001 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

We had alerted our premium subscribers to this stock on May 14, 2018, (Report titled "Will it walk the talk?") when it was trading around $22.

7. Aileron Therapeutics Inc. (ALRN)

Gained 14.02% to close Thursday's trading at $6.02.

News: No news

Pipeline:

The Company's lead product candidate is ALRN-6924. Multiple clinical studies of ALRN-6924 are underway, including a Phase 1 All-comers trial in advanced solid tumors or lymphomas, a Phase 2a trial in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), a Phase 1 trial in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) as a monotherapy, and a Phase 1b trial in AML/MDS in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C).

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Additional interim data from the Phase 2a trial of ALRN-6924 for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma are expected to be reported in the second half of 2018. -- Interim data from Phase 1 and 1b open-label, multi-center clinical trials of ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy and in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are expected in the second half of this year.