Abbott and Tandem Diabetes to explore integrated solutions for diabetes

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM) intends to develop and commercialize integrated diabetes solutions combining Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre, a sensor-based glucose monitoring system with Tandem’s insulin delivery systems to provide more options for people to manage their diabetes.

TNDM shares were up 5% premarket.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505752-abbott-tandem-diabetes-explore-integrated-solutions-diabetes-tndm-shares-5-percent-premarket

Principia Bio up on positive PRN1008 data

Thinly traded Principia Biopharma (PRNB +2.8%) is up out of the gate this morning in response to positive preliminary data from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating lead candidate PRN1008 for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), a condition characterized by easy bruising and a bleeding tendency due to low blood platelets.

26 participants have been enrolled to date. After a median duration of treatment of almost 13 weeks, 39% (n=10/26) achieved the primary efficacy endpoint of at least two consecutive platelet counts of at least 50K/µL at least five days apart and platelet count increases of at least 20K/µL from baseline without needing rescue medication. Preliminary results across all doses in patients who completed at least 12 weeks of treatment showed a response rate greater than 50% on both both primary endpoints (the other one is safety).

Updated data will be presented at ASH in early December.

PRN1008 is an optimized Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that the company says enables rapid reversibility of effects on the immune system which makes it suitable for chronic therapy. It is also being developed to treat pemphigus.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505761-principia-bio-3-percent-positive-prn1008-data

CRISPR teams up with KSQ Therapeutics on cancer

Gene editor CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +3.8%) and CRISPR/Cas9-focused biotech KSQ Therapeutics have inked reciprocal license agreements aimed at advancing cell therapies for cancer.

Under the terms of the respective contracts, CRSP will receive non-exclusive access to KSQ’s intellectual property (IP) for certain novel gene targets in its allogeneic oncology cell therapy programs while KSQ will gain non-exclusive access to CRSP’s IP for editing novel gene targets identified by KSQ as part of its eTIL (engineered tumor infiltrating lymphocyte) cell programs.

Financial terms remain confidential.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505780-crispr-teams-ksq-therapeutics-cancer-shares-4-percent

Therapix Bio up on encouraging THX-210 data

Thinly traded nano cap Therapix Biosciences (TRPX +20.6%) is up on triple normal volume, albeit on turnover of only 331K shares, in response to positive preclinical data on candidate THX-210, a pharmaceutical preparation containing cannabidiol (CBD) and a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory molecule called palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), that it intends to develop to treat epilepsy and inflammatory conditions.

Results from in vitro tests in hepatocyte models of fat accumulation showed that the effect of CBD was enhanced by the addition of PEA while PEA showed no effect alone, adding that THX-210 showed superior efficacy compared to CBD alone, the first time PEA has demonstrated a synergistic effect on CBD in such a model.

Development is ongoing.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505787-therapix-bio-21-percent-encouraging-thxminus-210-data

DexCom down on Abbott/Tandem deal

DexCom (DXCM -6%) slips on modestly higher volume in apparent reaction to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) competitor Abbott’s announced partnership with insulin pump seller Tandem Diabetes Care aimed at developing and commercializing integrated solutions with the former’s FreeStyle Libre sensor-based CGM device.

Investors appear to perceive a potential competitive threat to DexCom’s G6 CGM system.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505797-dexcom-6-percent-abbott-tandem-deal

Citron bullish on Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies (BHC +3.3%) perks up on almost 50% higher volume in reaction to a bullish report from original bear Citron Research.

Citron believes the stock could rise 84% to $40 as investors come around to its improved financial health, adding that the company has delivered two consecutive quarters of EBITDA growth, six consecutive quarters of organic revenue growth, launched products that could generate more than $1B in peak sales by the end of 2022 and cut debt by $8B since early 2016.

Citron was an early bear on Valeant Pharmaceuticals under then-CEO Mike Pearson.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3505803-citron-bullish-bausch-health-shares-3-percent

eHealth started at Outperform by Raymond James

https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EHTH/ratings