Biotech Alert: Searches spiking for these stocks today

These names in the biotech sector are seeing a substantial increase in search activity today, as determined by InvestingChannel. They include:

• Sarepta (SRPT), 866% surge in interest
• Bolt Biotherapeutics (BOLT), 813% surge in interest
• Sol-Gel Therapeutics (SLGL), 811% surge in interest
• Protagenic Therapeutics (PTIX), 768% surge in interest
• SciSparc (SPRC), 716% surge in interest
• MiMedx (MDXG), 496% surge in interest
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), 382% surge in interest
• uniQure (QURE), 274% surge in interest
• Heron Therapeutics (HRTX), 252% surge in interest
• ImmunityBio (IBRX), 215% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

Sarepta Therapeutics engineers precision genetic medicine for rare diseases. The company holds leadership positions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, or LGMDs, and currently has more than 40 programs in various stages of development. Sarepta’s pipeline is driven by its multi-platform Precision Genetic Medicine Engine in gene therapy, RNA and gene editing.

Bolt Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Bolt Biotherapeutics’ pipeline candidates are built on the company’s deep expertise in myeloid biology and cancer drug development. The company’s pipeline includes BDC-3042, a first-in-class agonist antibody that activates macrophages by targeting dectin-2, and BDC-4182, a next-generation Boltbody Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate clinical candidate targeting claudin 18.2. BDC-3042 is currently in a Phase 1 dose escalation trial that includes patients with any of seven different solid tumor types. BDC-4182 is supported by strong in vitro and in vivo data demonstrating potent anti-tumor activity, and activities are underway to support the initiation of clinical trials in second quarter 2025. Bolt Biotherapeutics is also developing additional Boltbody ISACs in strategic collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies.

Sol-Gel Technologies is a dermatology company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing or partnering drug products to treat skin diseases. Sol-Gel developed Twyneo which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adults and pediatric patients nine years of age and older; and Epsolay, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults.

Protagenic Therapeutics is committed to pioneering neuro-active peptides into therapeutics to mitigate stress-related disorders.

SciSparc is a specialty clinical-stage pharmaceutical company led by an experienced team of senior executives and scientists. SciSparc’s focus is on creating and enhancing a portfolio of technologies and assets based on cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. With this focus, the Company is currently engaged in the following drug development programs based on THC and/or non-psychoactive CBD: SCI-110 for the treatment of Tourette Syndrome, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and agitation; SCI-160 for the treatment of pain; and SCI-210 for the treatment of ASD and status epilepticus.

MiMedx says it is “dedicated to providing a leading portfolio of products for applications in the wound care, burn, and surgical sectors of healthcare. The Company’s vision is to be the leading global provider of healing solutions through relentless innovation to restore quality of life.”

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has multiple approved medicines that treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis and has several ongoing clinical and research programs in CF. Beyond CF, Vertex has a “robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology,” including sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, acute and neuropathic pain, type 1 diabetes and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, the company states.

uniQure said it “is delivering on the promise of gene therapy – single treatments with potentially curative results.” The approvals of uniQure’s gene therapy for hemophilia B represent a major milestone in the field of genomic medicine and ushers in a new treatment approach for patients living with hemophilia. uniQure is now advancing a pipeline of proprietary gene therapies for the treatment of patients with Huntington’s disease, refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, ALS, Fabry disease, and other severe diseases.

Heron Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biotechnology company that says it is developing “novel, patient-focused solutions that apply its innovative science and technologies to already-approved pharmacological agents for patients suffering from pain or cancer.”

ImmunityBio is a vertically integrated biotechnology company developing next-generation therapies and vaccines that bolster the natural immune system to defeat cancers and infectious diseases. The Company’s range of immunotherapy and cell therapy platforms, alone and together, act to drive and sustain an immune response with the goal of creating durable and safe protection against disease. Designated an FDA Breakthrough Therapy, ANKTIVA is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS that activates natural killer cells, T cells, and memory T cells for a long-duration response. The Company is applying its science and platforms to treating cancers, including the development of potential cancer vaccines, as well as developing immunotherapies and cell therapies that we believe sharply reduce or eliminate the need for standard high-dose chemotherapy. These platforms and their associated product candidates are designed to be more effective, accessible, and easily administered than current standards of care in oncology and infectious diseases.

Recent news on these stocks:

May 8

Bolt Biotherapeutics will host a key opinion leader conference call and webcast featuring Ecaterina Dumbrava, M.D., associate professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and investigator on the Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study of BDC-3042, on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. ET. Dr. Dumbrava will discuss the results from the Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study of BDC-3042 that were presented at the American Associates for Cancer Research Annual Meeting that took place in April 2025. In addition, Bolt’s management team will discuss BDC-3042 partnering plans, present an update on BDC-4182 clinical development, and provide an update on first quarter 2025 financial results. A live Q&A will follow the prepared remarks.

May 6

Sarepta reported mixed results for Q1, with adjusted earnings per share falling year-over-year but revenue beating consensus estimates. The company also lowered its product revenue guidance for FY25. “In the first quarter, we achieved net product revenue of $611.5M, a 70% increase over the same quarter prior year; our PMO franchise performed well at $236.5M; and ELEVIDYS achieved $375M, growing at 180% over the same quarter prior year. However, we also faced headwinds in the quarter. While we are taking a variety of actions to address and resolve these challenges, we have adjusted our guidance for 2025 to $2.3B-$2.6B,” said Doug Ingram, president and chief executive officer, Sarepta Therapeutics. “The broader biotech market has also faced significant pressure in the first quarter of 2025. Fortunately, as an organization with four life-changing therapies, significant revenue, and a deep pipeline, Sarepta is well-positioned to navigate these chaotic times. To that end, in addition to driving the launch of ELEVIDYS and the continued performance of our three approved PMO therapies, we continue to invest in our pipeline and look forward to a significant number of LGMD gene therapy approvals in the coming few years. We are also advancing our siRNA platform and look forward to proof of concept and proof of biology readouts later this year in both our DM1 and FSHD1 programs.”

Heron Therapeutics reported upbeat Q1 results, raised its FY25 adjusted EBITDA guidance, and announced that the company entered into a settlement agreement with Mylan Pharmaceuticals, a Viatris company, to resolve the ongoing patent litigations between the parties in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware related to CINVANTI, or aprepitant, injectable emulsion and APONVIE, or aprepitant, injectable emulsion. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company has granted Mylan a license under the Orange Book-listed patents for CINVANTI and APONVIE., to market generic versions of CINVANTI and APONVIE in the U.S. beginning June 1, 2032, or earlier under certain customary circumstances. These patent litigations were initiated by the Company in September 2023 and January 2024 in response to Mylan’s abbreviated new drug applications seeking FDA approval of generic versions of CINVANTI and APONVIE, respectively, in the U.S. prior to the expiration of the Heron Patents in 2035. In connection with the settlement, the Company and Mylan will file a proposed Stipulation and Order of Dismissal with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware requesting that the Court dismiss the pending litigations between the parties.

May 5

Vertex reported lower-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue and narrowed its FY25 revenue outlook. “Vertex delivered a strong start to 2025 with notable execution across the business as we grow and diversify the revenue base, progress multiple launches and advance the R&D pipeline. We continued to expand our leadership in CF and build global momentum for CASGEVY, and we launched JOURNAVX in moderate-to-severe acute pain,” said Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Vertex. “With multiple programs in pivotal development including povetacicept, which continues to make rapid progress in achieving its potential as a pipeline-in-a-product, and additional programs in early and mid-stage development, Vertex is poised to continue to deliver value for years to come.”

ImmunityBio announced that the company received a Refusal to File letter from the U.S. FDA for the supplemental biologics license application for use of ANKTIVA plus Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer for the indication of papillary disease. This RTF letter was received despite reaching unanimous guidance and encouragement at the in-person January 2025 meeting from the leadership of the Agency, including from CBER, CDER and OCE to submit this sBLA. At this meeting all key decision makers were specifically asked and unanimously confirmed that ImmunityBio should submit the sBLA as soon as possible based on the data in the single-arm trial. Relying on this unanimous guidance the company submitted the sBLA in March 2025. The company has already requested an urgent meeting to resolve the inconsistencies between the directives provided at the January Meeting and receipt of the RTF letter.

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About “Biotech Alert”

The Fly will report on a selection of biotech stocks seeing a surge in interest from retail and financial professional investors, based on data from InvestingChannel.

This Fly exclusive recap reveals the biotech stocks that are seeing a spike in searches among the 20-plus million retail and financial professional investors through InvestingChannel’s online financial news media ecosystem.

This increased attention from the investors may be in response to, or advance of, outsized moves for stocks in the biotech sector, which tend to be volatile and prone to sharp swings in share price around binary events such as clinical study results and FDA approvals.