The company’s nitric oxide delivery system has been granted FDA approval for compassionate use Continue reading...

In the battle against the coronavirus, who will be able to defeat this formidable foe? In the three months since the onset of this public health crisis, names from all over the world have stepped up, hoping their approach will ultimately yield success. Those at the front lines currently represent the U.S., Europe and China. As the outbreak escalated into a pandemic, even the most intense rivals have been working together to find solutions. However, at the end of the day, the fight underscores a geopolitical competition, with the first nation to produce an effective weapon against the virus potentially gaining an advantage both economically and in making sure their citizens are the first to receive it. Against this backdrop, we used TipRanks’ Stock Screener tool to find three healthcare names that are battling COVID-19. On top of receiving praise recently from at least one analyst, each boasts a healthy dose of upside potential. We’re talking about over 60% here. Let’s tackle the search results. Genmark Diagnostics (GNMK) Operating as a molecular diagnostics company, Genmark’s products, which include ePlex and XT-8, provide effective ways to identify various health conditions. With its technology now being used in the fight against COVID-19, analysts see substantial gains in store for GNMK.On March 19, the company revealed that its ePlex SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test had been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA. Its test runs on GNMK's ePlex system and is expected to come with a price tag of about $110 per test. With the test able to provide results in only 90 minutes and ePlex’s ability to perform 96 tests in 8 hours, it’s no wonder GNMK has captured Wall Street’s attention.Needham’s Mike Matson points out that “labs are reportedly clamoring for additional COVID-19 testing capacity given limited access to centralized COVID-19 testing.” As a result, the analyst wrote, “... while GNMK management downplayed the potential magnitude of the COVID-19 test on the 4Q19 earnings call, our recent conversation with management suggests a tremendous level of interest and leads us to believe that the test could be a significant tailwind in 2020.”It should also be noted that demand is coming from customers that not only already have ePlex systems, but also from those without, helping to fuel more ePlex system sales. Matson commented, “While management noted on the 4Q19 earnings call that newly placed ePlex systems can take several months to be implemented, the urgency of the pandemic has shortened this to a single weekend in some cases.” Not to mention the demand for its Respiratory Pathogen (RP) test is also on the rise.Even though some investors have expressed concern about GNMK’s manufacturing capabilities, Matson argues that the additional ePlex sales could still drive revenue upside. Taking all of this into consideration, the analyst left his Buy recommendation and $11 price target as is. Should the target be met, a twelve-month gain of 105% could be in the cards. (To watch Matson’s track record, click here)Turning now to the rest of the Street, the majority of other analysts agree with Matson. With 3 Buys and 1 Hold assigned in the last three months, the verdict is that GNMK is a Strong Buy. The $9.67 average price target brings the upside potential to 80%. (See Genmark price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks) Bellerophon (BLPH) After its share price soared a whopping 431% on March 20, this healthcare name is on the Street’s radar. Bellerophon, which specializes in developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, has been pegged by some analysts as being able to play a key role in combatting COVID-19. Driving the company’s massive climb was its announcement that INOpulse, its patented delivery system for inhalable nitric oxide (iNO), received Emergency Expanded Access to treat COVID-19 patients. Not only is the system portable and easy to use, but it can also be connected to any oxygen source and features easily interchangeable cartridges. Based on the study of iNO in SARS, which is genetically similar to COVID-19, the molecule could reduce the need for ventilation by improving arterial oxygenation. Additionally, iNO has also been found to decrease lung infiltrates on a chest radiography as well as block the virus’ replication and improve cell survival. According to Maxim Group analyst Jason McCarthy, the implications of a reduction in ventilators needed are significant given the way that Italian hospitals have been overwhelmed. “Ventilators are for in-hospital use and as we know there is shortage already. INOpulse is small, portable and can be reused. Patients can be treated in ambulatory setting or in their homes potentially,” he explained. With the technology also standing to help prevent the virus from progressing to a severe point, McCarthy views this development as being critical. “This represents not just a turning point for Bellerophon, with the first real-world usage of INOpulse, but also potentially COVID-19 as INOpulse is among the first FDA authorized therapies for the disease,” he stated. To this end, McCarthy stayed with the bulls, reiterating a Buy rating and $30 price target. This conveys his confidence in BLPH’s ability to move 67% higher in the next year. (To watch McCarthy’s track record, click here) What do other analysts have to say? As it turns out, it has been relatively quiet when it comes to the rest of the Street. There has only been one other recent review, but it was a Buy, and therefore, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. The other price target also matches McCarthy’s. (See Bellerophon price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks)Vaxart Inc. (VXRT) Last on our list is Vaxart, whose unique approach involves using tablets instead of injections to deliver vaccines. After reaching an agreement with Emergent BioSolutions to develop and manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine candidate on March 18, one analyst believes its future is filled with plenty of growth. As per the terms of the agreement, Emergent will use its molecule-to-market contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services to develop and manufacture Vaxart’s experimental vaccine, which is based on VXRT’s VAAST technology platform. This technology gives VXRT an edge in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine in that it uses adenovirus type 5 (Ad5), which allows an oral-delivered vaccine to target the small intestine specifically, where it can stimulate mucosal immunity. As a result, this could spur robust immune responses. H.C. Wainwright analyst Vernon Bernardino points out data suggests that COVID-19 can be transmitted by the fecal-oral route. “We believe an oral delivery CoV vaccine would be highly differentiated and could see significant future utility in the control and prevention of COVID-19, particularly in cases of fecal-oral transmission,” he commented. In addition, Bernardino thinks that a vaccine against COVID-19 will in fact be necessary. Even though the analyst currently doesn’t include contributions from the candidate’s future sales in his model, he argues that the joint development effort with Emergent is a major step in the right direction. “We believe this is a potential commercial opportunity down the road for companies like Vaxart and Novavax (NVAX; Buy), which have already produced multiple recombinant nanoparticle-based vaccine candidates for preclinical evaluation...Thus, we believe Vaxart’s arrangement with Emergent, which is similar to the agreement Novavax entered into with Emergent on March 10, 2020, offers potential future scalability and rapid deployment capabilities,” he noted. Based on all of the above, Bernardino kept a Buy rating and $3 price target on the stock. Given this target, shares could surge 67% in the next twelve months. (To watch Bernardino’s track record, click here) Currently, Bernardino is the only analyst that has thrown an opinion into the mix recently. However, this could change should the public health crisis further intensify. (See Vaxart stock analysis on TipRanks)

Last year, according to the World Economic Forum, 77,000 new ventilators were enough to meet the market demand worldwide. For context, this month alone, New York City predicts a need for an extra 30,000 machines.COVID-19’s impact has stretched hospital resources to almost breaking point, but micro-cap Bellerophon Therapeutics (BLPH) might just have a solution to mitigate against the lack of ventilators. Accordingly, the stock has shot up 113% year-to-date.But H.C. Wainwright’s Andrew Fein believes the story is only beginning. Fein reiterated a Buy on Bellerophon, along with a $30 price target, which implies an impressive 168% upside from current levels. (To watch Fein’s track record, click here)Bellerophon has been granted Emergency Expanded Access for INOpulse for the treatment of COVID-19. INOpulse is a small and portable nitric oxide delivery system, which has demonstrated it can reduce viral load as well as prevent virus replication in SARS-CoV.One COVID-19 patient has already been treated and discharged from hospital and the focus now turns to the availability of units, costs, and further studies. A Phase 3 trial assessing INOpulse in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis (PH-PF) patients is expected to begin sometime in 2Q20.Although there are other nitric oxide delivery systems available, if proven successful, INOpulse could significantly reduce the load on hospitals. Due to the unit’s compact size and potential to address the earlier pulmonary stage of COVID-19, patients who would otherwise need the help of a ventilator, could possibly be treated away from hospital settings.Fein said, “In speaking with management, the approximately hundreds of available units are currently in the process of being allocated, with potential manufacturing needs to be reassessed in the future. Importantly, we note the company remains in ongoing dialogue with the government, while we specifically highlight that the possibility of BARDA funding exists to address related operational costs. We view the expanded access program utilizing INOpulse treatment for COVID-19 patients as an important coal in the fire for reducing the burden of the ongoing pandemic, and we believe the INOpulse clinical program can continue its development in the interim.”Based on one additional Buy rating published over the last 3 months, Bellerophon has a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The average price target is, like Fein’s, $30. (See Bellerophon stock analysis on TipRanks) More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Risk-Takers Have a Reasonable Shot With American Airlines Stock * 3 'Safe Haven' Gold Stocks With at Least 15% Upside * Halliburton Incurs $1 Billion Quarterly Loss, Sees Spending Cuts Amid Oil Price Crisis  * Pepsi Scores FTC Approval For $3.85 Billion Rockstar Deal

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Company stocks drop on dilution, but monies could benefit shareholders down the line Continue reading...

Several experimental therapies being tested as treatments for COVID-19 patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 aim to reduce reliance on mechanical ventilators, which are in short supply in some American hospitals.

WARREN, N.J., April 06, 2020 -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. The gross proceeds to Bellerophon from this offering are expected to be $15.3 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by Bellerophon. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, general corporate purposes, and other research and development efforts.

WARREN, N.J., May 11, 2020 -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH), (“Bellerophon” or the “Company”) a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing.

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (BLPH), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, announced that it will host an investor conference call and webcast on the INOpulse® inhaled nitric oxide system (iNO) for the treatment of COVID-19 at 1:00 PM EDT. The event will feature a presentation by Fabian Tenenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Bellerophon Therapeutics, and Hunter Gillies, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Bellerophon Therapeutics, who will discuss the Company's emergency expanded access program for INOpulse® for COVID-19, through which the first patient initiated treatment. Bellerophon Therapeutics is currently developing INOpulse for multiple cardiopulmonary indications.

WARREN, N.J., May 11, 2020 -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH) (“Bellerophon” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing.

Companies In The News Are: BLPH, GNMK, WORK, SRNE

Bellerophon intends to use the net proceeds from the Offerings, together with its current cash and cash equivalents, for funding its ongoing clinical trials, working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. A total of 3,365,384 shares of common stock were issued in the Offerings, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, at a public offering price of $13.00 per share. Jefferies LLC acted as sole book-running manager for the Underwritten Offering.

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (BLPH), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, today announced that expanded access treatment with the INOpulse® inhaled nitric oxide system (iNO) was initiated for the first time in a patient with a diagnosis of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the University of Miami School of Medicine. The treatment follows the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant emergency expanded access that allows INOpulse to immediately be used for the treatment of COVID-19 under the care and supervision of their physician. “Based on previous studies that demonstrate the benefits of iNO in oxygenation and immune response, INOpulse has the potential to be used as a viable treatment option for COVID-19,” said the treating physician, Roger Alvarez, DO, MPH, Assistant Professor, University of Miami School of Medicine.

NO is a naturally produced molecule that is critical to the immune response against pathogens and infections. Additionally, in a clinical study of patients infected with SARS-CoV, iNO demonstrated improvements in arterial oxygenation, a reduction in the need for ventilation support and an improvement in lung infiltrates observed on chest radiography³.

WARREN, N.J., May 19, 2020 -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH) (“Bellerophon” or the “Company”) today announced the pricing of offerings for an aggregate of.

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (BLPH), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, today announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study the INOpulse® inhaled nitric oxide system (iNO) for the treatment of patients infected with COVID-19. INOpulse is the only therapy to deliver targeted nitric oxide by autonomously adjusting to the patient’s breathing pattern to ensure accurate and consistent drug delivery into the airways. The proposed randomized, open-label study, called PULSE-CVD19-001, will evaluate the efficacy and safety of INOpulse in patients with COVID-19 who require supplemental oxygen.

WARREN, N.J., May 04, 2020 -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary.

Bellerophon currently intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, general corporate purposes, and other research and development efforts. The shares were offered by Bellerophon pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that was initially filed on June 25, 2018 and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 6, 2018 and the prospectus contained therein (File No. 333-225878).

All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by Bellerophon. Bellerophon also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional fifteen percent (15%) of the number of shares of common stock offered in the public offering at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Bellerophon expects to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, for funding its ongoing clinical trials, for working capital and general corporate purposes.