August 29, 2025 4:46pm

Sector closes August on a down note … with markets closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday

Be ready its coming; investors should be on their guard, September has been the weakest month of the year for stock performance.

My insights are conveyed with a simplicity of language to highlight what is informative.

Never leave an investor uninformed! 

TGIF and summer is over, bummer

I answer or qualify the sector’s equity’s movement; with an emphasis on which company is gaining or losing stride in your portfolio for the short-term

 

Friday’s RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: Ending August with yet another inflation econ, BREAKING PCE data … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14085

RegMed Investors (RMi) Research Note: Harvard Apparatus GT (OTCQB): Just another wrinkle – Q2/25’s 10-Q – liabilities exceed cash position … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/13812

RegMed Investors (RMi): New website coming soon! Same insights. Fresh design … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14083

 

Friday: The Dow closed DOWN 92.02- points or -0.20%, the S&P closed DOWN -41.60 points or -0.64% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -249.608 points or -1.15%

  • Theme of the session, PCE was in line with expectation and Cook vs. Trump: Federal Judge Ends Hearing Without a Decision
  • For August, the Dow was up +3%, the S&P +2% and the Nasdaq +1%

Henry’omics: We need to more than consider the economic environment to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy

  • PCE rose 0.2% month over month in July and 2.6% year over year. Core PCE, which strips out food and energy, climbed increased 0.3% month on month and 2.9% year on year,
  • Consumer optimism dimmed in August as worries grew over higher prices, according to a University of Michigan survey … the sentiment index showed a reading of 58.2, about in line with the consensus but 5.7% below the July level and off 14.3% from a year ago. Readings on current conditions and expectations also declined.

Friday’s my covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 11 incliners, 20 decliners and 4 flat ending with a negative close of 7 incliners, 27 decliners and 1 flat

Metrics:  Friday, the IBB was up +0.01%, the XBI was down -0.44% while the VIX was up +0.93 points or +6.44% at 15.36

 

As of 9/2/25 – I am adding to my cell and gene therapy coverage (40) universe:

  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR)
  • Vertex (VRTX)
  • Rocket Therapeutics (RCKT)
  • Arrow Pharmaceuticals (AWWR)
  • Entrada Therapeutics (TRDA)

 

Q3 – August ends – 11 negative and 9 positive closes

  • July – 1 market holiday, 13 positive and 9 negative closes

Q2/25: June – 1 market holiday, 1 neutral, 9 negative and 11 positive closes, May – 1 market holiday, 10 negative and 11 positive closes and April – 11 positive and 10 negative closes

 

Friday Closing UP (7 of 7)

  • IQV Holdings (IQV +$2.03),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.47),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ +$0.43 after Thursday’s +$0.83 after Wednesday’s -$1.27),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.13 after Thursday’s -$0.51 after Wednesday’s -$0.22),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.07 after Thursday’s +$0.51),
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.05),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$0.01 after Thursday’s -$0.13, Wednesday’s +$0.58, Tuesday’s +$0.35 and Monday’s -$0.87),

Flat (0)

Friday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 27):

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$5.82 after Thursday’s -$1.85, Wednesday’s +$2.98, Tuesday’s +$7.56 and Monday’s -$10.74),
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$2.12 after Thursday’s -$0.17),
  • BioNTech SE (BNTX -$1.93 after Thursday’s -$1.08, Wednesday’s -$1.78, Tuesday’s -$0.28 and Monday’s -$5.81),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$1.22 after Thursday’s -$0.48, Wednesday’s -$1.35 and Tuesday’s +$0.75),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$0.49),
  • Moderna (MRNA -$0.38 after Thursday’s -$0.63, Wednesday’s +$0.37, Tuesday’s -$0.62 and Monday’s -$1.77),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.34 after Thursday’s +$0.22, Wednesday’s +$0.52, Tuesday’s +$0.29 and Monday’s -$0.51),
  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN -$0.34 after Thursday’s $0.00),
  • Wave Life Science (WFE -$0.33 after Thursday’s -$0.15),
  • Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN -$0.25 after Thursday’s +$0.30, Wednesday’s +$0.75, Tuesday’s -$0.11 and Monday’s -$0.45)

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  The DOW, S&P and Nasdaq pulled back but improved from the day's lows Friday afternoon as investors digested inflation data.

  • The Nasdaq was on track to see a 2% bump in August, marking its 5th straight monthly rise, the longest winning streak in nearly a year and a half.
  • The S&P 500 (+1.6%) and the Dow (+2%) popped their 4th consecutive month of gains, the longest since September 2024.
  • Small caps on the Russell 2000 weren't spared pain either, popping +0.6% in August on course for its fourth monthly uptick, the longest streak in over four years.
  • Volume was lower on the Nasdaq and on the NYSE compared with Thursday, as investors prepare for the holiday weekend.

The inflation data caps a whirlwind week for markets gripped by Nvidia (NVDA) earnings and President Trump's effort to oust Fed governor Lisa Cook, which took a yet another turn with a 3rd “housing” issue brought forth and a judge did NOT rule on Cook's bid for a temporary restraining order.

  • Both sides are expected to file supplemental arguments by Tuesday, with a final ruling to come after Labor Day.

Welcome to my world of defining the “grey’ in our universe!

  • Right up front, “I also hate to be so negative or contrarian but, this is a NO spin zone and facts are its product; I can always be WRONG but … I am mostly EARLY!”
  • Yet, I was again on target … this 5 a.m.

Earnings: As earnings slowly come to the last few releases, collaborator revenues and runways has instilled share pricing with forward stability

  • Q2 results so far:  4 net incomes and 25 net losses of 29 releases to date

 

Closing August: understand the “flow” …

  • 8/29 – Friday closed negative with 7 positive, 27 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/28 – Thursday closed negative with 15 positive, 17 negative and 3 flats
  • 8/27 – Wednesday closed negative with 16 positive, 17 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/26 – Tuesday closed positive with 25 positive, 9 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/25 – Monday closed negative with 4 positive, 29 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/22 – Friday closed positive with 30 positive, 4 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/21 - Thursday closed positive with 22 positive, 12 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/20 - Wednesday closed negative with 14 positive, 19 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/19 - Tuesday closed negative with 5 positive, 28 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/18 - Monday closed positive with 18 positive, 17 negative and 0 flat
  • 8/15 – Friday - closed positive with 25 positive, 9 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/14 – Thursday closed barely positive with 18 positive, 17 negative and 0 flat
  • 8/13 – Wednesday closed positive with 32 positive, 2 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/12 - Tuesday closed positive with 28 positive, 6 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/11 – Monday closed negative with 10 positive, 25 negative and 0 flat
  • 8/8 – Friday closed negative with 11 positive, 23 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/7 – Thursday closed negative with 9 positive, 24 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/6 - Wednesday closed negative with 11 positive, 22 negative and 2 flats
  • 8/5 – Tuesday closed negative with 15 positive, 19 negative and 1 flat
  • 8/4 – Monday closed positive with 27 positive, 8 negative and 0 flat
  • 8/1 – Friday closed negative with 9 positive, 20 negative and 6 flats

 

“I hate to be so negative or contrarian but, this is a NO spin zone and truth is its product; I can always be WRONG but, I am mostly EARLY!”

  • If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst in a venture and public fund, operating executive, x-FBI, x-military officer and an adjunct (MBA) business school professor now a journalist; my life and your portfolio are largely tied to knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets and more.
  • I was once told by a “very” prominent figure early in my career, “write it right, keep it tight without hype and never lose the stride to guide the reader” – they were pretty simple instructions to follow!

 

Why do I keep repeating, so investors can make the connection …

The top three (3) performing in the session:   

  • Friday: IQVIA Holdings (IQV), Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ) and Vericel (VCEL
  • Thursday: Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ), UniQure NV (QURE) and Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN)
  • Wednesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), IQVIA Holdings (IQV) and Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN)
  • Tuesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), AxoGen (AXGN) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP)
  • Monday: Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM) and Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN)
  • Last Friday: IQVIA Holdings (IQV), Vericel (VCEL) and Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN)

The worst three (3) in the session: 

  • Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Mesoblast (MESO) and BioNTech (BNTX)
  • Thursday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), BioNTech (BNTX) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Wednesday: BioNTech (BNTX), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Tuesday: Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ), Moderna (MRNA) and BioNTech (BNTX),
  • Monday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), BioNTech (BNTX) and IQVIA Holdings (IQV)
  • Last Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Ionis Pharmaceuticals IONS) and Agenus (AGEN)

 

Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change, and not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice. Whether information or intelligence is good, bad, or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors.  All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.

Henry McCusker, the editor, and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication. Regulation Analyst Certification (Reg AC): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and it’s or their securities.

I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.