GALT Vaults As NASH Research Sparks Interest, MDGL Abuzz, MACK Awaits Data

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

1. Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (GALT)

Gained 23.54% to close Wednesday's (June 13) trading at $7.82.

News: Harold Shlevin, currently the Company's Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed CEO and President to succeed Peter Traber, who has tendered his resignation as President, CEO and Chief Medical Officer. The transition will be effective July 6, 2018.

Near-term Catalyst:

The Company is proceeding with plans for a Phase 3 clinical trial program with its investigational drug GR-MD-02 in NASH cirrhosis.

NASH cirrhosis is the final stage in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease of the liver.

2. Allied Healthcare Products Inc. (AHPI)

Gained 15.08% to close Wednesday's trading at $2.90.

Allied Healthcare is a manufacturer of medical gas construction equipment, respiratory therapy equipment, home healthcare products, and emergency medical supplies.

News: No news

3. Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MDGL)

Gained 10.80% to close Wednesday's trading at $313.24.

Madrigal Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for NASH and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

News: The Company has received takeover interest, reports Bloomberg.

Recent event:

On May 31, 2018, the Company reported positive top-line, 36-week results from its phase II study of MGL-3196 in patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, sending the stock soaring over 140% to $265.61 that day.

4. Calithera Biosciences Inc. (CALA)

Gained 10.05% to close Wednesday's trading at $5.20.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

The lead drug candidate is CB-839, under phase II development in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

-- A phase II trial of CB-839 in combination with Cabometyx for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma, dubbed CANTATA, and a phase II trial of CB-839 in combination with Everolimus in late stage renal cell carcinoma patients, dubbed ENTRATA, are underway.

-- A phase II study of CB-839 in combination with Paclitaxel in patients with advanced triple negative breast cancer including patients of African ancestry and non-African ancestry is ongoing. An update of this study is expected to be reported by this year-end.

-- The phase II portion of phase I/II study of CB-839 in combination with Capecitabine in treatment refractory advanced colorectal cancer is ongoing.

-- Also in the pipeline is INCB001158, which is being evaluated in multiple phase I clinical trials for the treatment of patients with solid tumors both as a monotherapy, and in combination with immunotherapies and chemotherapy. INCB001158 is being developed as part of a collaboration and license agreement with Incyte.

5. Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MACK)

Gained 10.01% to close Wednesday's trading at $9.67.

News: No news

Clinical Trials & Near-term Catalysts:

-- Top-line results from the CARRIE study, an event-driven, randomized Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating istiratumab (MM-141) added to standard of care in patients with front-line metastatic pancreatic cancer who have high serum levels of free IGF-1, expected in the first half of 2018.

-- Top-line results from the SHERLOC study, an event-driven, randomized Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating seribantumab (MM-121) added to standard of care in patients with heregulin positive non-small cell lung cancer, anticipated in the second half of 2018.

-- Safety data and maximum tolerated dose from a Phase 1 clinical study of MM-310 in patients with solid tumors expected in the second half of 2018.

6. TapImmune Inc. (TPIV)

Gained 10% to close Wednesday's trading at $8.47.

News: No news

Recent events:

-- On May 15, 2018, the Company announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Marker Therapeutics Inc., a privately-held clinical-stage developer of a transformative, non-genetically engineered, multi-antigen T cell therapy platform. -- On June 8, 2018, the Company announced pricing of $70 million private placement. The closing of the transaction, which is subject to the closing of the merger with Marker, the approval by TapImmune's stockholders as required by NASDAQ Stock Market Rules, and other customary closing conditions, is anticipated to occur by the end of the third quarter of 2018.