Gainers & Losers Of The Day: ACST, MRNS, BIOA, APTO, PULM...

(RTTNews) - The following are some of the biotech stocks that made their way onto the Day's Gainers & Losers' list of January 23, 2017.

GAINERS

1. Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MRNS)

Gained 18.10% to close Monday's (Jan.23, 2017) trading at $1.37.

News: Marinus reported positive preliminary data from phase II trial of Ganaxolone in children with CDKL5 genetic disorder.

In the ongoing phase II study, three of the four patients in one of the cohorts who received up to 1800 mg/kg of Ganaxolone per day for an average treatment duration of five-months, experienced a notable reduction in seizure frequency compared to baseline ranging from 52% to 88%.

Enrollment is continuing in the study with top-line data expected in mid-2017.

CDKL5 is a serious and rare genetic disorder that predominantly affects girls, and is characterized by early-onset, difficult-to-control seizures and severe neuro-developmental impairment.

2. Acasti Pharma Inc. (ACST)

Gained 15.08% to close Monday's trading at $1.45.

News: No news

Anticipated event: The company has an End of phase II meeting scheduled with the FDA in the first quarter of 2017, related to CaPre, an investigational drug for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

Positive data from the company's phase II Bridging Study for CaPre were reported last September.

3. BIOLASE Inc. (BIOL)

Gained 14.29% to close Monday's trading at $1.68.

News: The company's new Epic Pro dental diode laser system gets FDA clearance.

The new Epic Pro Diode Laser System is the newest addition to the Epic family of dental soft-tissue lasers. It offers the most laser power of any diode laser in dentistry, according to the company.

The company also announced that its worldwide launch is now underway with systems available for delivery in the U.S. and select international markets.

4. Chimerix Inc (CMRX)

Gained 13.06% to close Monday's trading at $5.54.

News: No news

Anticipated event: Final 36-week data from phase III trial evaluating Brincidofovir for the treatment of adenovirus infection in immunocompromised patients, dubbed AdVise, to be reported at a medical meeting during the first quarter of 2017.

LOSERS

1. Aptose Biosciences Inc. (APTO)

Lost 18.32% to close Monday's trading at $1.07.

News: The company has decided to pause clinical activities of APTO-253, a phase 1 stage compound for acute myeloid leukemia.

In November 2015, Aptose's phase 1b trial of APTO-253 in patients with AML was placed on clinical hold by the FDA as the company voluntarily suspended dosing in the trial to review drug manufacturing processes and procedures. Recently also, the company has encountered manufacturing setbacks related to the intravenous formulation of APTO-253.

2. CAS Medical Systems Inc. (CASM)

Lost 11.54% to close Monday's trading at $1.38.

News: No news

Anticipated event: CAS medical to report Q4 and Full-year 2016 financial results on March 7, 2017.

The company expects net sales from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2016 of approximately $5.5 million, compared with $5.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net sales from continuing operations for the full-year 2016 are expected to be approximately $22.2 million, up 14% from $19.5 million for 2015.

3. BioAmber Inc. (BIOA)

Lost 11.15% to close Monday's trading at $5.26.

News: The company has announced a $10 million underwritten public offering.

BioAmber is offering underwriters a minimum of 2.10 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase a minimum of 1.05 million shares of common stock of the company with an exercise price of US$5.50 per share of common stock, at a price to the public of US$4.75 per share and associated warrant. The gross proceeds to the company are expected to be about $10 million.

The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 315,790 shares of common stock and/or warrants to purchase 157,895 shares of common stock of the company, for potentially additional aggregate proceeds to the company of up to approximately US $1.5 million.

The offering is expected to close on or about January 27, 2017.

4. Benitec Biopharma Limited (BNTC)

Lost 9.96% to close Monday's trading at $1.90.

News: No news

After gaining as much as 137% in intraday trading on Jan.17, 2017, the stock has been on the decline.

On Jan.17, the company announced that BB-301, a ddRNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency.

BB-301 is currently in preclinical development and Benitec plans to initiate IND-enabling studies later this year.