3 Biotech Stocks With Major Incoming Catalysts
Motley Fool
Cory Renauer, The Motley Fool
,Motley Fool•October 9, 2018
This is an exciting time to own shares of Galapagos NV (NASDAQ: GLPG), TG Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: TGTX), or Mirati Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX). All three of these biotechs are presenting clinical trial results that could send their stock prices soaring, or sinking, in the weeks ahead.
Galapagos NV: Did Falcon soar?
When Galapagos NV began the two-part Falcon study in April, the biotech was expecting top-line results from the first half of the cystic fibrosis (CF) trial during the third quarter. Now that we're well into October, investors are getting worried the company is dragging its feet.
Smiling scientist in a lab.
Smiling scientist in a lab.
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Image source: Getty Images.
Phase one of the Falcon study enrolled just eight cystic fibrosis patients with two copies of the most common mutation in the CFTR gene. The group was treated with GLPG2451 plus GLPG2222 for two weeks before adding GLPG2737 during the last weeks of the trial. Galapagos will measure for signs the triple combo can safely help patients breathe well enough to give Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) some competition.
At the moment, Vertex Pharmaceuticals markets the only CF treatments that get at the root cause of the genetic breathing disorder. Based on second-quarter sales, Vertex's CF franchise is on pace to generate $2.1 billion in sales this year. If Galapagos can show us its triple combo has what it takes to gain a share of this space, the stock could soar.