The Week Ahead In Biotech (Aug. 8-14): Jazz Pharma FDA Decision, Earnings Deluge and IPOs In The Spotlight

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Biopharma stocks ended higher for the week ending Aug. 6, as the sector latched on to the optimism that was evident in the broader markets. Earnings continued to flow in, triggering stock-specific moves, while clinical readouts also moved stocks during the week.

BeyondSpring Inc. (NASDAQ: BYSI) was among the biggest biopharma gainers of the week, with the stock reacting to a positive late-stage readout for its lung cancer treatment combo. The stock ended the week with a gain of about 128%.

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRNA), however, was not as fortunate, as the stock lost about one-fifth of its market cap following mixed results from a pivotal trial of its RNAi therapeutic candidate nedosiran in primary hyperoxaluria 1.

The market reacted negatively to earnings from vaccine companies Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX). Moderna's results, although outstanding, elicited negative reaction, while a lack of update about U.S. approval of Novavax' vaccine sent its shares tumbling on Friday.

On the approvals front, the Food and Drug Administration cleared Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY)'s Nexviazyme (avalglucosidase alfa-ngpt), an enzyme replacement therapy drug for Pompe disease.

The IPO news flow tapered off, with ABVC BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABVC), Indaptus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INDP) and Adagio Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (NASDAQ: ADGI) among the companies pricing their offerings and listing during the week.

Here are the key catalytic events for the unfolding week:

Conferences:

BTIG Virtual Biotechnology Conference: Aug. 9-10

2021 Wedbush Pacgrow Healthcare Virtual Conference: Aug. 10-11

PDUFA Dates

The FDA is scheduled to rule on Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc's (NASDAQ: JAZZ)'s supplemental new drug application for Xywav (JZP-258) as a treatment option for idiopathic hypersomnia in adults. The PDUFA goal by date is Thursday, Aug. 12.

Clinical Readouts

Pending Mid-2021 Releases

View more earnings on IBB

F-star Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSTX): update on the progress of SB 11285 in the phase 1 clinical trial

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNX): preliminary Phase 1 data for CRN04894 in Cushing's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia and CRN04777 in congenital hyperinsulinism

Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAX): Preliminary topline data from the Phase 2a trial of PRAX-944 in essential tremor and safety, tolerability and PK data from the ongoing Phase 1 trial of PRAX-562

Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: KLDO): Topline Phase 2 data from a clinical study of KB295 in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis