These names in the biotech sector are seeing a substantial increase in search activity today, as determined by InvestingChannel. They include:

Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO), 7,320% surge in interest
Harpoon Therapeutics (HARP), 3,816% surge in interest
Magenta Therapeutics (MGTA), 2,677% surge in interest
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP), 2,596% surge in interest
Aptose Biosciences (APTO), 1,321% surge in interest

Pipeline and key clinical candidates for these companies:

Aptevo Therapeutics is focused on developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. APVO436 is a bispecific CD3xCD123 ADAPTIR currently in Phase 1b development in a multi-center, multi-cohort trial designed to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy in combination therapy and monotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial, evaluating APVO436 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine in patients with AML who are venetoclax treatment naïve, in 2H23.

Harpoon Therapeutics is developing a novel class of T cell engagers that harness the power of the body’s immune system to treat patients suffering from cancer and other diseases. Using its proprietary Tri-specific T cell Activating Construct, or TriTAC, platform, Harpoon is developing a pipeline of novel TriTACs initially focused on the treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Harpoon has also developed a proprietary ProTriTAC platform, which applies a prodrug concept to its TriTAC platform to create a therapeutic T cell engager that remains inactive until it reaches the tumor. Harpoon’s third proprietary technology platform, extended release TriTAC-XR, is designed to mitigate cytokine release syndrome.

Magenta Therapeutics is developing medicines designed to bring the curative power of stem cell transplant to more patients with blood cancers, genetic diseases and autoimmune diseases. Magenta says it is "combining leadership in stem cell biology and biotherapeutics development with clinical and regulatory expertise to revolutionize blood and immune reset to allow more patients to take advantage of the curative potential of stem cell transplant and potentially improve eligibility for future gene therapies."

Tonix is focused on central nervous system, rare disease, immunology and infectious disease product candidates. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes both small molecules and biologics to treat pain, neurologic, psychiatric and addiction conditions. Tonix’s lead CNS candidate, TNX-102 SL, is in mid-Phase 3 development for the management of fibromyalgia with a new Phase 3 study launched in the second quarter of 2022 and interim data expected in the second quarter of 2023. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat Long COVID, a chronic post-acute COVID-19 condition. Tonix initiated a Phase 2 study in Long COVID in the third quarter of 2022 and expects interim data in the second quarter of 2023. TNX-1300 is a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA.

Aptose Biosciences is focused on developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The company has two clinical-stage oral kinase inhibitors under development for hematologic malignancies: tuspetinib, an oral, myeloid kinase inhibitor in an international Phase 1/2 trial in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia; and luxeptinib, an oral, dual lymphoid and myeloid kinase inhibitor in Phase 1 a/b stage development for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies.

Recent news on these stocks:

December 12

Aptevo Therapeutics announced that APVO436, in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine, achieved a 100% clinical benefit rate in venetoclax treatment naive AML patients. The data, which was presented in a poster session at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, also showed that APVO436, when given in combination with this standard-of-care regimen, was observed to be generally safe and well tolerated. Aptevo plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in the second half of 2023 to further evaluate APVO436 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine among frontline and relapsed/refractory AML patients who are venetoclax treatment naive. In the Phase 1b trial cohort 2, a total of 16 response-evaluable patients received the combination therapy of venetoclax and azacitidine with APVO436 and 75% experienced clinical benefit. 100% of patients in this cohort who had not received venetoclax previously, experienced clinical benefit; a favorable outcome with respect to a variety of response categories including CR, CRi and MLFS.

Magenta Therapeutics highlighted updated clinical data from the ongoing MGTA-117 Phase 1/2 dose-escalation clinical trial made in an oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology 2022 Annual Meeting in New Orleans and provided program updates across the portfolio. "We have shown that a single dose of MGTA-117 binds target cells, depletes target cells, clears the body quickly as designed, and does so with a favorable tolerability profile in our ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial. We believe that these positive clinical data establishes proof-of-mechanism, and that we have reached an active dose. Target cell depletion is a critical measurement of success for MGTA-117, and we are encouraged by the levels of depletion we have observed in both the blood and the bone marrow of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients."

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding obtained an exclusive license from Curia Global for the development of three humanized murine monoclonal antibodies for the treatment or prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of COVID-19.

Aptose Biosciences announced it has entered into an equity distribution agreement with JonesTrading Institutional Services, as agent. Under the terms of the agreement, the company may, from time to time, issue and sell through the agent, common shares of the company through "at-the-market" distributions on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Aptose will determine, at its sole discretion, the time, price and number of common shares to be sold under the offering.

December 11

Harpoon Therapeutics presented updated interim data from its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating single-agent HPN217 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in a poster presentation at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition being held in person and virtually in New Orleans. HPN217 targets B-cell maturation antigen and is based on Harpoon's proprietary Tri-specific T cell Activating Construct platform designed to recruit a patient's own immune cells to kill tumor cells.

About “Biotech Alert”

The Fly will report on a selection of biotech stocks seeing a surge in interest from retail and financial professional investors, based on data from InvestingChannel.

This Fly exclusive recap reveals the biotech stocks that are seeing a spike in searches among the 15-plus million retail and financial professional investors through InvestingChannel's online financial news media ecosystem.

This increased attention from the investors may be in response to, or advance of, outsized moves for stocks in the biotech sector, which tend to be volatile and prone to sharp swings in share price around binary events such as clinical study results and FDA approvals.