Why Shares of Cytokinetics Incorporated Skyrocketed

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of the clinical-stage biopharmaCytokineticsskyrocketed by more than 20%, on heavy volume, at one point today following the company's fourth-quarter earnings release. Although the company posted stronger than expected earnings thanks to research partnerships withAmgen,Astellas, andMyoKardia, the stock's spike appears to largely based on newsnews that Cytokinetics is advancing its experimentalamyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, drug,tirasemtiv, into a late-stage trial.

According to the press release, the company decided to push the drug into late-stage testing after discussing its midstage results with regulatory authorities in the U.S. and EU. Last year, tirasemtiv failed to meet its primary endpoint of improving ALS symptoms, along with some secondary endpoints such as respiratory function, in a large midstage trial.

While it's not altogether clear what regulators will be looking for in the new trial, the company noted in its clinical update that respiratory function would be included as as one of the key measures of efficacy.

So what: ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with few treatment options beyond supportive care. So a drug that shows any form of clinical benefit could stand a chance of gaining a regulatory approval.

Tirasemtiv's value proposition as an ALS treatment, though, doesn't appear all that tantalizing. The total ALS market is expected to decline to $70 million by 2019, and tirasemtiv doesn't appear to hold any real promise as a game-changing drug at this point.

Now what: Given the sudden rise in its share price and minimal cash position (roughly $83 million, per today's earnings release), this microcap biotech looks ripe for a large secondary offering. As such, you might want to exercise caution on the back of this clinical trial update and earnings release.

The article Why Shares of Cytokinetics Incorporated Skyrocketed originally appeared on Fool.com.

George Budwell has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2015 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.