Twist Bio joins COVID-19 therapy development alliance

Privately held Proteona announces that Twist Bioscience (TWST +0.4%) has joined an international alliance led by Proteona aimed at developing neutralizing antibody therapies against COVID-19 for vulnerable immunocompromised patients.

Twist has developed a highly parallel silicon-based DNA synthesis platform that enables the manufacture of millions of “oligos” of different lengths with a high degree of accuracy that can be used to optimize therapeutic IgG antibodies.

Proteona has developed single-cell proteogenomics technology that enables the simultaneous screening of antibodies targeting multiple viral variants. In COVID-19, it is analyzing blood samples from recovered patients and screening for B cells that produce neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Identified candidates will be optimized for possible therapeutic use.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3579102-twist-bio-joins-covidminus-19-therapy-development-alliance

AbbVie files marketing applications for new use of Rinvoq

AbbVie (ABBV -1.6%) has submitted marketing applications in the U.S. and Europe seeking approval to use Rinvoq (upadacitinib) 15 mg for the once-daily treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis.

The JAK inhibitor is currently approved in both territories for rheumatoid arthritis.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3579165-abbvie-files-marketing-applications-for-new-use-of-rinvoq

Celyad up 9% on positive data on non-gene edited CAR T therapy

Ultra-thinly traded micro cap Celyad (CYAD +9.0%) is up on more than double normal volume, albeit on turnover of only 39K shares, in reaction to updated data from a Phase 1 clinical trial, alloSHRINK, evaluating CYAD-101 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The results were virtually presented at ASCO.

CYAD-101 is a non-gene edited allogeneic CAR T therapy designed to avoid graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) via the use of a technology called TIM (T cell receptor inhibitory molecule) that knocks down the immune response responsible for GvHD.

15 patients with relapsed/refractory mCRC who progressed after chemo are enrolled, each receiving three consecutive doses of CYAD-101 concurrently with FOLFOX chemo.

No evidence of GvHD has been observed after 44 injections of CYAD-101. Two patients showed partial responses while nine experienced stable cancer implying a disease control rate of 73% (n=11/15).

Enrollment in an expansion cohort assessing CYAD-101 (1B cells/infusion) following FOLFIRI chemo should commence in Q4.

#ASCO20

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3579061-celyad-up-9-on-positive-data-on-non-gene-edited-car-t-therapy

Alnylam to host webcast on Illuminate-A study of lumasiran on June 7

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -0.9%) will discuss full results from the ILLUMINATE-A Phase 3 study of lumasiran in a webcast conference call on Sunday, June 7, at 8:30 am ET.

The clinical data will be presented at the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association International Congress being held June 6-9 as a virtual event.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3579031-alnylam-to-host-webcast-on-illuminate-study-of-lumasiran-on-june-7

Sensus Healthcare up after it rejects buyout offer at $4/share

Sensus Healthcare (SRTS +13.0%) had received an unsolicited offer to acquire all the outstanding shares at a price of $4/share, in cash.

Following consideration by and at the direction of its Board of Directors, Sensus rejected the offer.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3579043-sensus-healthcare-up-13-after-rejects-buyout-offer-4-share

Investors make a break for the civil unrest trade

Gun-related stocks are soaring after a weekend of civil unrest in the U.S.

American Outdoor Brands (NASDAQ:AOBC) is up 22.67% and Sturm, Ruger (NYSE:RGR) is 8.68% higher. Retailer Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings (NASDAQ:SPWH) is 4.57% higher, Vista Outdoor (NYSE:VSTO) is showing a 12.15% gain and ammunition maker Olin (NYSE:OLN) is 3.91% higher. Meanwhile, taser maker Axon Enterprises (NASDAQ:AAXN) is rallying 8.98% and Big Five Sporting Goods (NASDAQ:BGFV) is up 8.60%.

Also on the move are gunshot detecting firm ShotSpotter (NASDAQ:SSTI) +3.40% and remote handcuff player Wrap technologies (NASDAQ:WRTC) +8.77%. On the homefront, ADT (NYSE:ADT) is 14.41% higher on the expectation for more home security business.

Previously: Body-camera, surveillance stocks surge pre-market after protests (June 1)

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3578986-investors-make-break-for-civil-unrest-trade

Anixa rallies on development of four COVID-19 candidates

Thinly traded nano cap Anixa Biosciences (NASDAQ:ANIX) is up 18% premarket on increased volume in reaction to its announcement that it and partner OntoChem GmbH have synthesized four compounds for the potential treatment of COVID-19.

Animal studies are next up. If successful, in-human trials will follow.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3578993-anixa-rallies-on-development-of-four-covidminus-19-candidates