Is There Still Room To Run For These Biotech Stocks?

(RTTNews) - Biotechnology companies' fortunes depend on binary events, such as FDA approvals and clinical trials results. However, capitalizing on these opportunities depends on knowing when the key events are going to happen. The returns can be impressive when the stocks are bought and sold at the right time.

What follows is a bunch of some of our biotech stock picks of 2017 that have not only posted impressive gains but continue to trade at a minimum 60 percent premium over our published price. The near-term catalysts of the highlighted stocks, if any, are also mentioned in this report.

1. Acceleron Pharma Inc. (XLRN)

Acceleron Pharma was trading around $27 when we alerted readers to the stock on January 5, 2017 in our report titled "Will the Dart hit the target?"

XLRN touched an all-time high of $54.34 in intraday trading on August 31, 2018, which is a gain of 101%, had you bought the stock last January.

The most advanced drug candidate in Acceleron's pipeline is Luspatercept, which is under phase III testing in myelodysplastic syndromes, dubbed MEDALIST, and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia study known as BELIEVE.

The MEDALIST and BELIEVE phase III trials, the results of which were announced recently, have met all primary and key secondary endpoints.

Luspatercept is being developed as part of a global collaboration between Acceleron and Celgene (CELG).

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Acceleron and Celgene plan to submit regulatory applications for Luspatercept in myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia in the United States and Europe in the first half of 2019. -- A phase III trial of Luspatercept in patients with lower-risk MDS who are treatment naïve, dubbed COMMANDS, is planned for the third quarter of 2018.

XLRN is currently trading at $53.67, down 0.65%.

2. Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (XENE)

Xenon Pharma was trading around $8 when we alerted readers to the stock on January 27, 2017 in our report titled "Getting ready to face it…".

XENE touched a 52-week high of $13.80 in intraday trading on August 31, 2018, which is a gain of 69%, had you bought the stock last January.

On August 29, 2018, the Company announced positive data from its XEN1101 Phase 1b transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study. XEN1101 is a Kv7 potassium channel opener being developed for the treatment of epilepsy.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Initiation of a phase II clinical trial of XEN1101 as a treatment for adult focal seizures is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018. -- A read-out of the final data from a phase I study of XEN901 is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2018. As soon as feasible thereafter, Xenon expects to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating XEN901's efficacy as a treatment for adult focal seizures or for rare, pediatric forms of epilepsy.

XENE is currently trading at $13.30, up 0.38%.

3. FibroGen Inc. (FGEN)

Fibrogen was trading around $23 when it was profiled on our site on January 9, 2017 in our report titled "The January Effect…".

FGEN touched an all-time high of $68.55 on July 9, 2018, representing a gain of 186%.

The most-advanced drug candidate in FibroGen's pipeline is Roxadustat being developed for the treatment of chronic kidney disease anemia.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Topline phase III clinical data readout from the U.S. trial of Roxadustat is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018. -- NDA approval decision for Roxadustat for anemia in CKD in China is anticipated by year-end 2018. -- Topline data readout from the first of two ongoing non-dialysis-dependent CKD Phase 3 studies with Roxadustat for anemia in CKD in Japan is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018. -- Submission of New Drug Application for Roxadustat to the FDA is on target for the first half of 2019.

FGEN is currently trading at $60.30, down 1.39%.

4. Kindred Biosciences Inc. (KIN)

Kindred Bio was trading around $6 when we alerted readers to the stock on March 3, 2017 in our report titled "Caring For Pets...".

The stock touched a 52-week high of $15.75 on August 13, 2018, which reflects a gain of 162% from our published price.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- The FDA approval of Zimeta IV for the control of fever in horses, a significant unmet medical condition that affects millions of horses each year, is expected late 2018 or early 2019. -- Top line data from pilot effectiveness studies for fully-caninized anti-IL31 antibody is expected by the end of 2018. -- A pivotal field study of KIND-014 for the treatment of gastric ulcers in horses is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2019.

KIN is at $14.90, unchanged from the previous day's close.

5. MyoKardia Inc. (MYOK)

MyoKardia was trading around $12 when we alerted readers to the stock on April 5, 2017 in our report titled "Can the pioneer win investors' hearts?"

The stock for sure has won the investors' hearts, as can be seen from the intraday high of $63, recorded on August 9, 2018, which represents a gain of 404%.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- A phase II clinical study of MYK-491 in Dilated Cardiomyopathy patients is expected to begin in the second half of 2018. -- Data from a phase II study of Mavacamten in patients with symptomatic, non-obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, dubbed MAVERICK-HCM, is anticipated in the second half of 2019. -- A phase III study of Mavacamten for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, dubbed EXPLORER-HCM trial, is underway, with topline results expected in the second half of 2020.

MYOK is currently trading at $59.50, down 3.49%.

6. Mirati Therapeutics Inc. (MRTX)

Mirati was trading around $4 when we alerted readers to the stock on April 19, 2017 in our report titled "Will the study results make this stock shine like an Amethyst?"

No doubt, the stock has been shining as can be seen from the intraday high price of $65.35, touched on July 31, 2018, which represents a gain of 1,385% from our published price.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- Present Sitravatinib data at the 2018 European Society of Medical Oncologists Congress (ESMO) in October. -- File an Investigational New Drug application for MRTX849, a potent and selective inhibitor of KRAS G12C, in the fourth quarter of 2018. KRAS G12C is a well-validated driver mutation present in approximately 14% of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Colorectal Cancer patients.

MRTX is currently trading at $56.25, down 0.53%.

7. Glaukos Corporation (GKOS)

Glaukos was trading around $39 when we alerted readers to the stock on May 24, 2017 in our report titled "For Your Eyes Only..."

GKOS touched an all-time high of $70.91 on August 29, 2018, reflecting a gain of 81% from our published price.

Near-term Catalyst:

For 2018, the Company expects net sales to be in the range of $162 million to $166 million. The net sales in 2017 were $159.3 million.

GKOS is currently trading at $67.78, down 0.86%.

8. CymaBay Therapeutics Inc. (CBAY)

CymaBay was trading around $5 when we alerted readers to the stock on June 21, 2017, in our report titled "Work In Progress...".

CBAY touched an all-time high of $15.59 on March 5, 2018, representing a gain of 205% from our published price.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- 52-week data from a phase III pivotal study of Seladelpar in primary biliary cholangitis are expected to be announced in the fourth quarter of 2018.

CBAY is currently trading at $13.28, down 2.57%.

9. Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (APVO)

Aptevo was trading around $2 when we alerted readers to the stock on November 6, 2017, in our report titled "Flying under the radar..."

APVO touched a 52-week high of $6.35 on May 17, 2018, which reflects a gain of 124% from our published price.

Near-term Catalyst:

-- Commence patient dosing in a Phase 1 clinical study of APVO436 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the fourth quarter of 2018.

APVO is currently trading at $5.49, down 0.54%.

10. argenx SE (ARGX)

argenx was trading around $25 when we alerted readers to the stock on November 23, 2017, in our report titled "A Catalyst-rich Year Ahead!".

ARGX touched an all-time high of $103 on June 11, 2018, which represents a gain of 302% from our published price.

Near-term Catalysts:

-- A phase III clinical trial of Efgartigimod (ARGX-113) in myasthenia gravis is expected to be launched before this year-end. -- Report topline data from the Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial for Efgartigimod in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) before the end of the third quarter of 2018 and present the full dataset at a workshop around the ASH Annual Meeting. -- Report full data from the Phase 2 trial of Efgartigimod in Pemphigus Vulgaris in the first half of 2019. -- Report full data of the dose-escalation phase of the AML Phase 1/2 clinical trial and the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Phase 2 clinical trial of ARGX-110 around the ASH Annual Meeting.

ARGX is currently trading at $94.28, up 0.48%.

11. Catalyst Biosciences Inc. (CBIO)

Catalyst Biosciences was trading around $6 when we alerted readers to the stock on November 25, 2017, in our report titled "Will The Data Win Over Investors?".

CBIO touched a 52-week high of $37 on February 12, 2018, which represents a gain of 464% from our published price.

Although the stock has given back almost all its gains, and currently trades at $10.81, it is still at 60% premium to our published price.