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:

• CytomX Therapeutics (CTMX), 432% surge in interest
• Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR), 371% surge in interest
• Adaptimmune Therapeutics (ADAP), 332% surge in interest
• Agenus (AGEN), 285% surge in interest
• Humacyte (HUMA), 269% surge in interest
• Sangamo (SGMO), 264% surge in interest
• Black Diamond Therapeutics (BDTX), 190% surge in interest
• NKGen Biotech (NKGN), 179% surge in interest
• NRx Pharmaceuticals (NRXP), 169% surge in interest
• Coherus BioSciences (CHRS), 167% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

CytomX is a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company whose pipeline comprises seven therapeutic candidates across multiple treatment modalities including antibody-drug conjugates, or “ADCs,” T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies, or “TCBs,” and immune modulators such as cytokines and checkpoint inhibitors. CX-2029 is an investigational conditionally activated antibody-drug conjugate directed toward CD71, which has demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity in patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer and is being developed in collaboration with AbbVie (ABBV). CytomX’s clinical pipeline also includes cancer immunotherapeutic candidates against validated targets such as the CTLA-4-targeting Probody therapeutics, BMS-986249 and BMS-986288, partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), as well as CX-904, a conditionally activated T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor on tumor cells and the CD3 receptor on T cells, which is partnered with Amgen (AMGN).

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

Adaptimmune says the company’s “drive is to redefine the treatment of some of the most challenging-to-treat solid tumors.” The company’s proprietary cell therapy platform engineers a patient’s own cells to fight cancer. The company’s robust pipeline of cell therapies has the potential to significantly improve the patient’s treatment experience.

Agenus is an immuno-oncology company targeting cancer and infectious diseases with a comprehensive pipeline of immunological agents. The company’s mission is to expand patient populations benefiting from cancer immunotherapy through combination approaches, using a broad repertoire of antibody therapeutics, adoptive cell therapies and adjuvants.

Humacyte is developing a disruptive biotechnology platform to deliver universally implantable bioengineered human tissues, advanced tissue constructs, and organ systems designed to improve the lives of patients and transform the practice of medicine. The company develops and manufactures acellular tissues to treat a wide range of diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. Biologics License Application for the acellular tissue engineered vessel in the extremity vascular trauma indication was approved by the FDA in December 2024. ATEVs are also currently in late-stage clinical trials targeting other vascular applications, including arteriovenous access for hemodialysis and peripheral artery disease. Preclinical development is also underway in coronary artery bypass grafts, pediatric heart surgery, treatment of type 1 diabetes, and multiple novel cell and tissue applications. Humacyte’s 6mm ATEV for AV access in hemodialysis was the first product candidate to receive the FDA’s Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation and has also received FDA Fast Track designation. Humacyte’s 6mm ATEV for urgent arterial repair following extremity vascular trauma and for advanced PAD also have received an RMAT designations.

Sangamo Therapeutics is a genomic medicine company dedicated to translating ground-breaking science into medicines that transform the lives of patients and families afflicted with serious neurological diseases who do not have adequate or any treatment options. Sangamo believes that its zinc finger epigenetic regulators are ideally suited to potentially address devastating neurological disorders and that its capsid discovery platform can expand delivery beyond currently available intrathecal delivery capsids, including in the central nervous system. Sangamo’s pipeline also includes multiple partnered programs and programs with opportunities for partnership and investment.

Black Diamond Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with cancer. The company’s MasterKey therapies are designed to address a broad spectrum of genetically defined tumors, overcome resistance, minimize wild-type mediated toxicities, and be brain penetrant to treat central nervous system disease. The company is advancing a Phase 2 NSCLC trial of BDTX-1535, a brain-penetrant fourth-generation EGFR MasterKey inhibitor targeting EGFR-mutant NSCLC and GBM.

NKGen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous and allogeneic NK cell therapeutics.

NRx Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics based on its NMDA platform for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, specifically suicidal bipolar depression, chronic pain, and PTSD. The Company is developing NRX-101, an FDA-designated investigational Breakthrough Therapy for suicidal treatment-resistant bipolar depression and chronic pain. NRx plans to file an NDA for Accelerated Approval for NRX-101 in patients with bipolar depression and suicidality or akathisia. NRX-101 additionally has potential to act as a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain, as well as a treatment for complicated UTI.

Coherus is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of immunotherapies to treat cancer. Coherus’ immuno-oncology pipeline includes multiple antibody immunotherapy candidates focused on enhancing the innate and adaptive immune responses to enable a robust immunologic response and enhance outcomes for patients with cancer.

Recent news on these stocks:

May 15

Agenus announced new data from its ongoing Phase 1 trial evaluating botensilimab and balstilimab in patients with microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer will be presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Barcelona, Spain. A poster presentation will feature updated findings from an expanded cohort of 123 patients, incorporating additional participants and extended follow-up to further assess clinical activity of the combination, including durability of response and overall survival, the company noted.

May 14

Wells Fargo lowered the firm’s price target on Adaptimmune to $1 from $1.50 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. While the Tecelra launch is ramping up, the firm sees balance sheet risk in the near term, absent positive outcomes from the ongoing exploration of strategic options, given the limited cash position and quarterly cash burn.

Barclays analyst Peter Lawson lowered the firm’s price target on Adaptimmune to 46c from $1 and keeps an Underweight rating on the shares. The company’s Q1 product revenue was roughly in line with consensus but it evaluated strategic options ongoing to address its constrained capital position, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

May 13

Humacycte reported upbeat Q1 earnings but downbeat Q1 revenue. “The U.S. commercial launch of Symvess this quarter was a major milestone for Humacyte, and we are excited to provide this transformative product to surgeons and patients in need of a new option to save limbs and lives,” said Laura Niklason, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Humacyte. “Supporting the launch is our number one priority and we are pleased by the traction gained in our interactions with hospitals, despite the current volatile economic environment. Only a few months after commercial launch, we are excited that 45 hospitals have already commenced an evaluation of Symvess as part of their Value Analysis Committee approval process – approximately one quarter of all Level 1 trauma centers nationwide.”

May 12

CytomX Therapeutics announced positive interim Phase 1 data for its EpCAM PROBODY ADC candidate, CX-2051, in advanced, late-line CRC. The data are as of an April 7th 2025 data cutoff from the ongoing CTMX-2051-101 Phase 1 study. McCarthy added, “Importantly, we believe these results validate EpCAM as an oncology target and unlock a broad development opportunity for CX-2051 in CRC and potentially many other cancer types where EpCAM is expressed. We are excited to rapidly advance CX-2051 for the benefit of CRC patients and to explore the full potential of this novel ADC.” The CTMX-2051-101 study was initiated in April 2024 with dose escalation proceeding through seven dose levels as of April 2025. 25 advanced metastatic CRC patients were treated with CX-2051 across dose levels 1 through 5 as of the April 7, 2025 data cutoff. CX-2051 was administered on a once every three week schedule. The 2.4 mg/kg and 4.8 mg/kg doses were single patient dose escalation cohorts not anticipated to be therapeutically active. At the 7.2 mg/kg, 8.6 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg doses, 23 patients were treated in total, 18 of whom were efficacy evaluable, having had at least one post-baseline tumor assessment as of the data cutoff. 28% of patients achieved confirmed partial RECIST v. 1.1 responses. Overall response rates for currently approved therapies in 3rd line or later CRC are in the low to mid-single digit percentages. At the 10 mg/kg dose, 3 of 7 evaluable patients achieved confirmed partial responses. The Disease Control Rate2 was 94% across the three dose groups . Median progression free survival was 5.8 months as of the data cutoff. 10 of 18 patients remained on study treatment as of the data of cutoff.

Arrowhead repored a year-over-year increase in Q2 earnings per share. “Arrowhead is in a strong and stable position as a business, and we have made meaningful progress towards our long-term goal of developing and ultimately commercializing new innovative medicines for millions of patients. We are on schedule to launch plozasiran this year, pending regulatory approval, with what we think is a best-in-class profile with meaningful differentiation from currently available therapies in FCS. We are also well on our way to fully enrolling Phase 3 studies designed to support regulatory submissions for the large SHTG patient population,” said Christopher Anzalone, Ph.D., President and CEO at Arrowhead. “Following the closing last quarter of the agreement with Sarepta Therapeutics, Arrowhead is now funded into 2028 with no current needs for further cash infusions from an equity raise or other sources. During that period, we see the potential for multiple commercial launches of both wholly owned programs that we intend to launch independently, and programs being developed and commercialized by partners. In addition, we believe our TRiMTM technology platform is the broadest and best in the field, giving us many opportunities to receive additional capital inflows from business development in areas that are outside of our core commercial focus.”

Sangamo reported mixed Q1 results. “This quarter we continued to advance our promising neurology genomic medicine pipeline and are pleased to have signed our third STAC-BBB license agreement, reinforcing that Sangamo is a collaborator of choice for neurotropic capsids,” said Sandy Macrae, Chief Executive Officer of Sangamo Therapeutics. “We achieved significant clinical and regulatory derisking milestones in our Fabry disease program and raised additional capital through business development and other means, to provide additional runway to secure a potential Fabry partner. With our neuropathic pain program ready to enter the clinic, we look forward to dosing the first patients with our epigenetic regulation technology, which we hope will usher in a new era in chronic pain treatment.”

Black Diamond Therapeutics reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings per share. Black Diamond ended Q1 with approximately $152.4M in cash, cash equivalents, and investments compared to $98.6M as of December 31, 2024, , which the company believes is sufficient to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into Q4 of 2027. “We continue to execute on enrollment in our BDTX-1535 Phase 2 trial for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with EGFRm NSCLC and look forward to providing a clinical update in the fourth quarter of 2025,” said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., CEO. “Our recently announced global licensing agreement with Servier for BDTX-4933 provides us with a strong cash position and runway into the fourth quarter of 2027. Pending FDA feedback in the fourth quarter of 2025, we believe we are well-positioned to begin pivotal development of BDTX-1535 in the first half of 2026.”

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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.