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Biotech Stock Roundup: Cubist to be Acquired by Merck, Bluebird Shoots Up on ASH Data

Arpita Dutt

It was a busy week for the biotech sector with several companies presenting data at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Meanwhile, yet another acquisition agreement was announced: Cubist Pharmaceuticals (CBST) is set be acquired by Merck in the first quarter of 2015.

Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories

1. Cubist’s shares shot up 35.3% on news that the company will be acquired by pharma major, Merck, in a deal valued at about $9.5 billion. The agreement marks growing interest in companies focusing on anti-infectives (Read more: Cubist Shoots Up on $9.5 Billion Buyout Offer from Merck). Although Cubist received an unfavorable ruling in its Cubicin patent litigation against Hospira, Merck said that it remains committed to the acquisition, which is slated to go through in the first quarter of 2015.

2. Several companies like Celgene (Read more: Celgene Up on Positive Revlimid Data Presented at ASH), Amgen (Read more: Amgen Unveils Positive Results from Blood Cancer Studies), ImmunoGen (Read more: ImmunoGen Reports Encouraging Data on Cancer Drug), Agios (Read more: Agios Reports Encouraging Data on Leukemia Drug) and Pharmacyclics (Read more: Pharmacyclics Presents Imbruvica Data at the ASH Meeting) among others presented data at the annual meeting of ASH.

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Another company that stood out at ASH is bluebird bio (BLUE) -- shares shot up a whopping 72.39% on encouraging early-stage data on LentiGlobin BB305 for the treatment of subjects with beta-thalassemia major and severe sickle cell disease.

3. Amgen (AMGN) gained earlier than expected FDA approval for its leukemia drug, Blincyto. Although the label comes with a boxed warning, approval came five months ahead of schedule (Read more: Amgen's Blincyto Gets FDA Nod, Carries Boxed Warning). Amgen also successfully expanded the label of Xgeva, which can now be used for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy refractory to bisphosphonate therapy (Read more: Amgen Successfully Expands Xgeva Label in the U.S.).

4. Incyte’s (INCY) sole marketed product, Jakafi, gained approval for a rare and progressive blood cancer - polycythemia vera (PV.V) – in the U.S. This makes Jakafi the first and only FDA approved product for PV (Read more: Incyte's Jakafi Gets FDA Approval for Polycythemia Vera). The label expansion should boost Jakafi’s sales significantly. Incyte had another set of good news with the company and its partner, Eli Lilly, reporting positive late-stage results on their experimental rheumatoid arthritis treatment, baricitinib. Baricitinib is one of the most promising pipeline candidates for both Incyte and Lilly.

5. Array’s (ARRY) shares shot up 14.3% with the company set to regain rights to its late-stage MEK inhibitor, binimetinib, from Novartis. Array stands to receive up to $85 million once the deal closes (Read more: Array BioPharma Regains Binimetinib Rights from Novartis).

Performance

Over the last five trading days, Biogen (BIIB) was the highest gainer with shares increasing 5.89%. A major part of this gain was due to encouraging Alzheimer’s disease data presented by the company earlier. Alexion was the only major biotech to see a decline (down 0.50%) in share price during this period.

Vertex (VRTX) recorded the highest gain (61.24%) among major biotechs over the last six months.

Overall, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index was up 2.62% over the last five trading days (See the last biotech stock roundup here: Avanir to be Acquired by Japanese Firm, Biogen Scores in Alzheimer's Study).

Company

Last Week

Last 6 Months

AMGN

0.06%

46.79%

BIIB

5.89%

9.26%

GILD

3.64%

34.05%

CELG

3.02%

46.75%

REGN

2.71%

37.91%

ALXN

-0.50%

19.05%

VRTX

1.13%

61.24%

What's Next in the Biotech World?

A response from the FDA regarding the approval status of Cubist’s anti-infective, Zerbaxa, should be out by Dec 21.

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