Here’s a look at recent major developments and share moves in biotech stocks:
Affymax (NASDAQ:AFFY): Affymax announced Tuesday that it planned to fire 75% of its workers as it slides closer to an inevitable sale or bankruptcy. Shares plunged in half after the announcement, and finished down 54% for the week. Affymax still is suffering fallout from the recall of Omontys, its only product on the market, in late February.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD): Acadia reported postive results for its Phase 3 drug Pimavanserin on Tuesday, boosting shares by 21% by week’s end. The drug, a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, “showed a robust and consistent efficacy,” according a report from Jeffrey Cummings, director of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The stock is sitting at roughly four-year highs around $7.50.
Omeros (NASDAQ:OMER): Omeros slid more than 14% last week after reporting Q4 and full-year financials on Monday. The company reported a loss of 30 cents per share for the quarter, just slightly beating analyst expectations for a 34-cent loss. The company also is expected to lose more than 30 cents per share for each of the next two quarters. Omeros has two “PharmacoSurgery” products — OMS103HP and OMS302 — in clinical development.
Progenics (NASDAQ:PGNX): Progenics reported a fourth quarter loss of just 1 cent, a huge improvement from the year-ago period’s loss of 32 cents and easily above analyst estimates for a 31-cent loss. The maker of PSMA ADC, an antibody-drug conjugate, saw revenues quadruple year-over-year. compared to the same quarter in 2011. Shares finished the week up more than 16%, and they’ve gained more than 85% in the past month.
Obagi Medical Products (NASDAQ:OMPI): OMPI stock soared Wednesday on the announcement that it would be acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:VRX). Valeant valued Obagi at $19.75 per share, or a 32% premium to Tuesday’s closing price. OMPI produces a variety of skin care products, including the Nu-Derm line. VRX focuses on branded generic pharmaceutical.
Adam Benjamin is Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
