This weekend is a big weekend for many biotech investors, as two major conferences get started on Saturday. Here’s a breakdown of the publicly-traded names involved and a preview of what investors can expect.
American Academy of Neurology Conference: April 18-25, Washington, D.C.
Biogen Inc BIIB 2.15%
Investors will be watching Biogen for more data on its potential Alzheimer’s drug BIIB037, although the critical data isn’t expected until later in 2015. Investors are anxious to see if the drug will eventually penetrate the $20 billion-plus Alzheimer’s market.
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. PTCT 0.35%
PTC is expected to present data on its drug RG7800, a potential treatment for muscular atrophy. PTC and partner Rocke are hoping that the drug, which is taken orally, can provide a better treatment alternative than Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ISIS 1.48% and Biogen’s potential treatment, which is injected into patients’ spinal fluid.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY 3.62%
Alnylam and Isis are both developing potential treatments for TTR amyloidosis, and updates on these medicines will likely be included in the companies’ presentations.
American Association For Cancer Research Conference: April 18-22, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Merck & Co, Inc. MRK 1.66% and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY 2.62%
Merck and Bristol-Myers are headlining this year’s conference, and analysts are looking for data on key cancer drugs from both companies ahead of next month’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.
CAR-T Names
Analysts are waiting on data from chimeric antigen T-cell receptor immunotherapy studies that could come at the conference.
Any data on this front could have a huge impact on Novartis AG (ADR) NVS 0.82%, Juno Therapeutics Inc JUNO 0.25%, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc BLCM 0.5%, Kite Pharma Inc KITE 0.32% and ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc. ZIOP 0.29%.
Other Companies
Analysts will also be looking for any new data on treatments from Incyte Corporation INCY 1.07%, Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. INFI 1.85% and Pharmacyclics, Inc. PCYC 0.22%.
Positive news from any of these companies could make big waves in the stock market.
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