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Why Is Cidara Therapeutics Stock Trading Higher On Monday?
Benzinga· 2025-06-23 15:00
Core Insights - Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (CDTX) stock surged over 90% following the release of positive topline results from its Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial for CD388, aimed at preventing seasonal influenza in healthy unvaccinated adults aged 18 to 64 [1][6] Study Results - The NAVIGATE trial met its primary endpoint, showing statistically significant prevention efficacy (PE) across all three dose groups, with evaluations conducted over 24 weeks [2] - The highest dose group (450 mg) achieved a 76.1% prevention efficacy, while the 300 mg and 150 mg doses demonstrated 61.3% and 57.7% efficacy, respectively, all statistically significant compared to placebo [3] - Secondary endpoints were also met, including efficacy at specific temperature thresholds and maintenance of PE for up to 28 weeks [2] Safety and Tolerability - CD388 was well-tolerated across all doses, with no unexpected dose-limiting treatment-emergent adverse events reported [3][4] - No serious drug-related adverse events were observed, and injection site reaction rates were consistent across all dose groups [4] Regulatory Actions - Cidara has submitted a request to the FDA for an end of Phase 2 meeting to discuss the results and the design of the upcoming Phase 3 trial [5]
Just As Tesla Lined Up Its Big Move, Waymo Went Bigger
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 21:27
Core Insights - Waymo has applied for a permit to test its self-driving vehicles in New York City, marking its entry into the largest city in the U.S. [1] - The application is aimed at operating autonomous vehicles in Manhattan with a human safety driver present [1]. Regulatory Environment - New York has strict regulations for autonomous vehicles, requiring a human operator, a $5 million insurance policy, and comprehensive training for test vehicle operators [2][3]. - Even if Waymo secures the permit, it will face significant challenges before launching commercial services or conducting driverless tests [2]. Competitive Landscape - Waymo's move coincides with Tesla's preparations for its robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, scheduled for June 22 [4]. - Tesla is inviting influencers and long-time supporters to access autonomous rides through a new Robotaxi app, utilizing Model Y SUVs equipped with Full Self-Driving software [4][5]. - Tesla's CEO has emphasized the company's high safety standards for the robotaxi pilot and expressed optimism about rapid scaling if the Austin pilot is successful [5].
Snap Just Bought A Student Calendar App: How It Could Reinvent Snapchat
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 20:47
Acquisition Details - Snap, Inc. has confirmed the acquisition of Saturn, a calendar app aimed at helping students organize and share their school schedules [1] - The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, and Saturn will continue to operate as an independent app [1] - Nearly all of Saturn's team, consisting of just under 30 full-time employees, will join Snap as part of the deal [2] Future Plans - Snap has not provided specific details on future plans for Saturn, but intends to integrate Saturn's calendar features into Snapchat in innovative ways [2] Saturn's Features and Popularity - Launched in 2018, Saturn allows high school and college students to connect with classmates and view each other's class schedules, eliminating the need to exchange timetable photos [3] - The app enables users to share class schedules, practice plans, rehearsals, meetings, and games, providing a real-time view of friends' activities [4] - Saturn is widely used, with support in 80% of U.S. high schools, attributed to its engaging and interactive scheduling approach [4] Snap's Broader Initiatives - Snap plans to launch lightweight, immersive AR glasses called Specs in 2026, which will utilize advanced machine learning for various applications [5] - Currently, Snapchat users interact with AR Lenses 8 billion times daily, with over 400,000 developers creating more than 4 million Lenses using Snap's AR tools [5]
Capricor Reports 4-Year Data For Deramiocel, Shows Sustained Benefit In Duchenne Patients
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 19:11
Core Insights - Capricor Therapeutics released four-year safety and efficacy results from the HOPE-2 Open-Label Extension study of Deramiocel, showing a median change of -0.5 points in treated patients compared to baseline [1] - A subgroup analysis indicated that patients with baseline Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) >45% experienced greater clinical benefits, suggesting early intervention may preserve cardiac function [2] - The treatment also slowed skeletal muscle disease progression, with a smaller average decline in performance of the upper limb (PUL v2.0) in the fourth year (0.6 points) compared to the first year (1.8 points) [3] - Extended treatment with Deramiocel may help attenuate the progression of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) over time, maintaining a favorable safety profile throughout the study [4] - CEO Linda Marbán emphasized the strength and durability of Deramiocel's clinical benefits and the company's focus on moving toward potential approval with their Biologics License Application (BLA) under priority review [5] Summary by Category Efficacy Results - After four years of treatment, Deramiocel-treated patients showed a median change of -0.5 points compared to baseline [1] - Patients with baseline LVEF >45% showed greater clinical benefits, supporting early intervention [2] - The treatment slowed skeletal muscle disease progression, with a decline of 0.6 points in the fourth year compared to 1.8 points in the first year [3] Safety Profile - Deramiocel maintained a favorable safety profile throughout the study, indicating its potential for long-term use [4] Regulatory and Market Impact - The company is executing with urgency towards potential approval, with their BLA under priority review [5] - CAPR stock experienced a decline of 31.75%, trading at $8.16 at the time of publication [5]
Vegas Grocery Prices Rise 2%, Walmart Remains Cheapest: Analyst
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 18:46
Grocery Price Trends - Bank of America Securities analysts conducted a grocery price study in Las Vegas, revealing average prices increased by 2% year-over-year and 23% compared to 2019, with eggs being a significant contributor to the rise [1][4][5] - Excluding eggs, prices rose only 1%, with dairy prices increasing by 8% and center store prices slightly declining by 1% [4] Retailer Comparisons - Year-over-year price hikes were most significant at Kroger Company and least at Dollar Tree's Family Dollar and Amazon's Whole Foods Market [1] - Over a six-year period, the largest price increases were observed at Sprouts Farmers Market and Dollar General, while Whole Foods Market and Walmart experienced the smallest increases [2][5] - Walmart maintained the lowest grocery prices among all retailers except Dollar Tree, which offered $1.25 items that were 16% cheaper than Walmart [2][3] Specific Price Observations - At Dollar General Market, produce prices were 16% higher than Walmart's, an increase from a 14% gap the previous year [3] - Egg prices surged between 30% to 70% across nearly all retailers, except for Sprouts Farmers Market, where prices remained flat [4]
Analyst Downgrades Sarepta As Elevidys Safety Clouds Future Demand
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 18:10
Core Insights - Sarepta Therapeutics provided a safety update on Elevidys, the only approved gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, following a second case of acute liver failure resulting in death [1] - Investor hesitancy is attributed to uncertainty regarding the number of non-ambulatory patients treated and their risk of developing acute liver failure [2] - Analyst Sami Corwin downgraded Sarepta from Outperform to Market Perform due to concerns over revenue estimates and competition from other gene therapies [2][3] Company Developments - The company is taking steps to strengthen the safety profile of Elevidys in non-ambulatory patients after the reported cases of acute liver failure [1] - There is a growing concern that the penetration of the non-ambulatory population may not meet previous peak revenue estimates, impacting future revenue potential [3] - Sarepta's stock price decreased by 3.18% to $20.11, reflecting investor concerns over the safety profile and revenue outlook [4] Market Context - The potential entry of other AAV gene therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy by 2027 could further impact Sarepta's peak revenue estimates [3] - Early clinical data from competitors suggests they may have a safer profile with fewer liver-related side effects, increasing competitive pressure on Sarepta [3] - Despite expected strong interest among commercial ambulatory patients, the uncertainty surrounding non-ambulatory patient treatment is seen as a deterrent for investors [4]
This Could Be AMD's Biggest AI Win: MI400 Chips May Power Stargate
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 18:07
Core Insights - The Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative led by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, aims to create the world's largest AI infrastructure in the U.S., with AMD's next-generation chips potentially playing a crucial role [1] - AMD's CTO indicated that the MI400 chips are designed for mass scale capability, making them suitable for integration into the Stargate Project [2] - Oracle has announced plans to offer zettascale AI clusters powered by AMD's Instinct GPUs, which are essential for the massive workloads required by the Stargate Project [3] Industry Context - The demand for AI hardware has surged following the rise of generative AI, leading to a shortage of NVIDIA chips, which are currently the industry standard [4] - This supply crunch has created an opportunity for AMD to provide alternatives that meet the unprecedented scale and performance needs of AI deployments like Stargate [4] - AMD's collaboration with Oracle positions the company to capture a significant share of the AI hardware market, addressing the growing need for scalable compute power [5]
Stock Of The Day : Is A Reversal In Applovin Coming?
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 18:03
Core Viewpoint - AppLovin Corporation's shares are experiencing a significant decline but are approaching a price level that may provide support and are currently oversold, indicating a potential for reversal and upward movement [1][8]. Group 1: Oversold Conditions - The current situation shows that the stock is in oversold territory, as indicated by the Stochastics Indicator falling below a critical threshold [2][4]. - Historical data suggests that previous oversold conditions in March and April provided good buying opportunities, indicating a pattern that may repeat [2]. Group 2: Support Levels - The stock is trading near a price level that has previously acted as support, which could attract buyers who regret selling at this level [6]. - When the stock returns to this support level, buying activity from regretful sellers could create renewed support and potentially push the price higher [6][5]. Group 3: Market Behavior - Traders often wait for a reversal to confirm a buying opportunity, believing that the odds will favor them if they enter the market after a reversal rather than at the lowest price [7]. - There is uncertainty regarding whether AppLovin will reverse or break through the support level, but the oversold conditions suggest that new buyers may enter the market, providing a potential floor for the price [8].
Gold Moves Lower; Darden Restaurants Earnings Top Views
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 17:36
Company Performance - Darden Restaurants Inc. reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.98, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $2.97 [2] - The company's quarterly sales reached $3.27 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $3.26 billion [2] - For fiscal 2026, Darden expects adjusted EPS between $10.50 and $10.70, which is below the consensus estimate of $10.75 [2] - Darden projects total sales growth of 7% to 8% for the year [2] Stock Movements - Gorilla Technology Group Inc. shares increased by 36% to $25.51 following a strong first-quarter earnings report indicating significant revenue growth and a return to profitability [8] - Couchbase, Inc. shares surged 30% to $24.69 after agreeing to be acquired by Haveli Investments for $1.5 billion [8] - Innovative Eyewear, Inc. shares rose by 81% to $4.12 after announcing a partnership with Smartech Retail Group [8] - Accenture plc shares fell by 6% to $287.53 after releasing its third-quarter results [8] - Moleculin Biotech, Inc. shares dropped 47% to $0.31 due to a $5.9 million public offering announcement [8] - Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. shares declined by 18% to $8.89 after reporting worse-than-expected fourth-quarter EPS and sales [8]
Did Warren Buffett Whiff On Occidental Petroleum? Maybe Not As OXY Flashes Signs Of Technical Strength
Benzinga· 2025-06-20 16:50
Core Viewpoint - Occidental Petroleum Corp. has faced skepticism due to a 27% decline in shares over the past year, but recent technical indicators suggest a potential rebound and bullish trend [1][2][3] Technical Analysis - The stock has rebounded nearly 9% in the past month, breaking above its eight, 20, and 50-day simple moving averages, indicating a shift to a bullish trend [1][2] - Current share price is $45.49, above the eight-day SMA of $45.26, 20-day SMA of $43.14, and 50-day SMA of $41.53, although still below the 200-day SMA of $47.67 [2][3] - Technical indicators such as MACD at 1.06 and RSI at 61.52 suggest building momentum, with room for further gains before overheating occurs [2][3] Fundamental Analysis - Occidental is projected to generate $1.5 billion in incremental annual free cash flow by 2027, independent of oil price fluctuations [4] - The company's expanding carbon capture and storage initiatives and potential benefits from rising crude prices enhance its long-term attractiveness [4] - Warren Buffett's investment strategy focuses on long-term value rather than short-term price movements, indicating confidence in Occidental's fundamentals [5]