ASNS Turning Heads, SPHS To Report Data In Dec., Mark Your Calendar For COCP

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

1. Arsanis Inc. (ASNS)

Gained 255.17% to close Tuesday's (Nov.27) trading at $4.12.

News: The Company has entered into a definitive agreement with privately-held X4 Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused developing novel therapeutics for rare diseases and cancer, under which X4 Pharmaceuticals is expected to merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arsanis in an all-stock transaction.

X4 Pharma's lead product candidate is X4P-001, which is expected to move into phase III trial in WHIM syndrome in the first half of 2019.

WHIM syndrome, or Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Immunodeficiency, and Myelokathexis syndrome is a rare genetic, primary immunodeficiency disease where patients become susceptible to certain types of viral and bacterial infections due to genetic mutations in the CXCR4 receptor gene.

2. Aethlon Medical Inc. (AEMD)

Gained 25.64% to close Tuesday's trading at $1.47.

News: The Company has received a "Breakthrough Device" designation from the FDA to support the advancement of the Aethlon Hemopurifier for the treatment of cancer.

Hemopurifier is an investigational therapeutic device designed for the rapid depletion of circulating viruses and cancer promoting exosomes.

The Company concluded the U.S. human feasibility study for Hemopurifier in March 2017, and was granted the Expedited Access Pathway last September.

3. CohBar Inc. (CWBR)

Gained 16.61% to close Tuesday's trading at $3.58.

News: No news

Recent event:

On November 5, the Company temporarily suspended its phase I clinical study of CB4211, its lead mitochondria based therapeutic candidate under development as a potential treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity, in order to address mild injection site reactions that have been unexpectedly persistent. The Company has a plan to address the persistent reactions and is seeking feedback from the FDA before resuming the clinical study.

4. Cocrystal Pharma Inc. (COCP)

Gained 14.74% to close Tuesday's trading at $3.27.

News: No news

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Announce interim topline results from the U.S. Phase 2a clinical study of CC-31244 for the ultra-short treatment of HCV-infected individuals in December 2018. -- Commence Hong Kong Phase 2a open-label study of CC-31244. -- Initiate Phase 1 study evaluating CC-42344 for the treatment of influenza in 2019.

5. Sophiris Bio Inc. (SPHS)

Gained 12.97% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.09.

News: No news

Pipeline:

The lead drug candidate is Topsalysin, which is in phase II clinical development for the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer as well as phase III clinical development for the treatment of the lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Recent event:

In the third quarter, Sophiris reported top-line six-month follow-up biopsy data from the final two patients enrolled in the trial with pre-identified, clinically-significant localized prostate cancer that were treated with a single administration of Topsalysin.

Near-term Catalyst:

The Company expects to have six-month follow-up safety and biopsy data from patients who received a second administration of Topsalysin in its ongoing Phase 2b trial in localized prostate cancer patients in December 2018.