4 Top Biotech Stocks To Watch This Month
As investors look for the next lucrative industry in the stock market, biotech stocks would often be in sight. It may not be the largest industry nor the most exciting, but it does boast some of the highest potential for returns. For example, a biotech company posting positive clinical trial results or gaining FDA approval will likely see big gains. Meanwhile, a delay or negative results could send a company’s stock in the wrong direction.
We need to look no further than Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) when it comes to the importance health care brings to the table. Out of the blue, we were struck by a global pandemic that has changed everyone’s lives. This has then made people realize the important roles that biotech stocks play in crucial times like this. Demand for coronavirus vaccines remains high as fears of the delta variant escalate. With the potential need for booster shots in discussion, Moderna and Pfizer are able to raise the prices of their jabs in their latest European Union (EU) supply contracts. With that being said, are you also on the lookout for the top biotech stocks in the stock market today?
Top Biotech Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] In August 2021
- BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX)
- Zai Lab Ltd (NASDAQ: ZLAB)
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX)
- Veracyte Inc (NASDAQ: VCYT)
BioNTech SE
Firstly, we have the German biotech company, BioNTech. Put simply, it develops and commercializes immunotherapies for cancer and other infectious diseases. Over the past year, the company became known globally through its partnership with Pfizer to develop the coronavirus vaccine that is being used today. BNTX stock has skyrocketed over the past month due to fears of coronavirus escalating. It has risen over 45% just within the one-month period.
In July, the company along with Pfizer announced that the U.S. government purchased an additional 200 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine. With this, the total number of doses supplied by the companies to the U.S. government will be at 500 million. These additional doses are expected to be delivered from October 2021 through April 2022. The U.S. government’s confidence in the vaccine puts both companies in a favorable position. After all, vaccines have been and will remain critical in protecting lives against the pandemic.
On another note, BioNTech has also announced the launch of its Malaria project last Monday. This project aims to develop a well-tolerated and highly effective Malaria vaccine and implement sustainable vaccine supply solutions on the African continent. Its efforts will include cutting-edge research and innovation, investments in vaccine development, and establishing manufacturing facilities across the continent. Given the company’s track record in tackling infectious diseases, there are reasons to believe this will be successful long-term. All things considered, would you consider buying BNTX stock?
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Zai Lab Ltd
China-based biopharmaceutical company Zai Lab focuses on developing and commercializing therapeutics in oncology, autoimmune and infectious diseases. As of now, it has a broad pipeline of proprietary drug candidates that range from discovery stage to late-stage clinical programs. A few examples would be Niraparib, Zl-2103, ZL-1101, and others.
Last Tuesday, the company and Entasis Therapeutics Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: ETTX) announced that patient enrollment in the ATTACK Phase 3 registrational clinical trial of sulbactam-durlobactam is now complete. This will be the largest antibiotic-resistant, pathogen-specific registrational trial conducted globally. Also, it is the first to focus specifically on carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter infections. Should top-line data be announced in the coming months, it would be a huge step for both companies.
Besides that, Zai Lab also collaborated with MacroGenics (NASDAQ: MGNX) to develop and commercialize preclinical bispecific antibodies in oncology during its second quarter. Under the terms of the agreement, Zai Lab receives commercial rights in China, Japan, and Korea while MacroGenics will have the rights in all other territories. Now, the collaboration leverages both companies’ unique research capabilities and gives Zai Lab access to MacroGenics’ proprietary technologies to expand its innovative oncology portfolio. With these in mind, would ZLAB stock be a top biotech stock to buy?
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Next up, we may have one of the top biotech companies that have flown under the radar of many investors, Vertex. For the uninitiated, the company focuses on developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). Its marketed medicines are ORKAMBI and KALYDECO.
Just last week, Vertex announced that it will initiate a Phase 3 development program for the new once-daily investigational triple combination of VX-121/tezacaftor/VX-561(deutivacaftor) in the second half of 2021. The data from its Phase 2 study were mostly encouraging. Hence, the company aims to develop a more effective treatment regimen with the potential to restore cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator function in people with CF to even higher levels than currently achievable.
During its second quarter, Vertex showed continued, and significant growth in its CF franchise. Its product revenues came in at $1.79 billion, an increase of 18% year-over-year. Thus, allowing the company to raise its full-year guidance for product revenues to $7.2 to $7.4 billion. Moreover, Vertex has also made important progress with its pipeline programs with five programs in mid to late-stage clinical trials. So, would you consider investing in VRTX stock on the dip?
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Veracyte Inc
Veracyte is a genomic diagnostics company. The company utilizes ribonucleic acid (RNA), whole-transcriptome sequencing combined with machine learning, and produces genomic tests. The genomic tests include Afirma Genomic Sequencing Classifier (GSC), Percepta Bronchial Genomic Classifier, Envisia Genomic Classifier, and Afirma Xpression Atlas.
Investors could be watching VCYT stock following the company’s recent new data announcement and second-quarter earnings report. So, Veracyte’s new data suggest the Decipher Prostate Biopsy genomic classifier (GC) may help guide treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients who are candidates for active surveillance (AS). It has found evidence that Decipher scores predict time to definitive treatment and time to treatment failure among men with early-stage prostate cancer. With this, it fills a critical gap in prostate cancer treatment.
On the other hand, its second-quarter financial results showed significant momentum with particularly strong growth in its thyroid and urologic cancer product lines. Its total revenue was $55.1 million, up by 166% year-over-year. Meanwhile, its total volume of genomic tests grew to 20,856, an increase of 215% compared to the prior year’s quarter. If we take into account the pending HalioDx acquisition, it will further fuel Veracyte’s global cancer diagnostics growth and leadership. So, would you be watching VCYT stock right now?
