Health and Healthcare

This Past Week's Top 5 Biotech Movers

Over the past week, a few biotech companies made absolutely massive runs. In the past year, the health care sector was on fire from positive trials, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals, and mergers and acquisitions. These companies that 24/7 Wall St. has picked stood out from the rest with at least 25% gains over the course of the week. We have included information about each company, as well as recent trading activity and the consensus price target.

Akebia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AKBA) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative therapies to patients with kidney disease through the biology of hypoxia inducible factor. The company announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2 study of vadadustat (formerly AKB-6548) in dialysis patients with anemia related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Over the course of the past week, shares rose 74.6%, but year to date shares are down 3.7%. Shares of Akebia closed Friday at $11.21, in its 52-week trading range of $5.91 to $23.41. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $20.67.

ALSO READ: Jefferies Starts Coverage on Biotechs: 3 Top Stocks to Buy Now

Clovis Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVS) focuses on acquiring, developing and commercializing anti-cancer agents in the United States, Europe and internationally. Shares were driven up last week from the presentation of updated data at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. Over the course of the week, shares rose 30.6%, and year to date shares are up 85.9%. Clovis shares closed Friday at $104.10. The stock has a consensus price target of $112.80 and a 52-week trading range of $39.45 to $105.57.

Mirati Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX) develops a pipeline of products targeting oncology. The stock was up this past week on news that it will present clinical data at the European Society for Medical Oncology. Over the course of the week, shares rose about 69.5%. Year to date, they are up 134.2%. Shares closed Friday at $43.51, in its 52-week range of $13.69 to $44.68. The consensus analyst price target is $46.60.

VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) develops and commercializes therapies to address unmet needs in obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes and sexual health in the United States and the European Union. Over the past week, shares rose 42.7%, though shares are still down 38.5% year to date. VIVUS shares closed Friday at $1.77. The consensus price target is $3.15, and the 52-week range is $0.94 to $4.82.

Vitae Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VTAE) focuses on discovering and developing novel and small molecule drugs for diseases with unmet medical needs in the United States. The company’s products include VTP-43742, which reported positive Phase 1 top-line results on Tuesday. In the past week shares, rose 92.8%. Year to date, shares are down 13.9%. The stock closed Friday at $14.32, in its 52-week range of $5.41 to $23.35. The consensus price target is $19.33.

ALSO READ: Biogen Follows Gilead With Large Debt Offering

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