September 19, 2025 5:44pm

Cell and gene therapy sector lowered as it went to week’s volatile end

As I wrote this a.m., “To reiterate: “my hang-up or same-old mantra, every time I see a new high; I am of the opinion to say BYE. Yesterday’s (Thursday) cell and gene therapy sector bolted skyward as the Nasdaq grew more extended …

Never leave an investor uninformed! 

TGIF

No Don Quixote … as I continually ask, what do all these stock sources, I-Banks and brokers do for you, a retail investor anyway? Technological advances and the increasing availability of data have made intel both available and complex

My idea generation derives from a screening process, bearing metrics on the covered sector that I know like the palm of my hand and where I generate for like-minded investors with whom I share suggestions.

I see myself as a better daily fact collector and my responsibility is to lead investors to interpreted data as I bridge the gap to an investment decision.

 

Friday’s RMi pre-open: Check light … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14114

RMi Research Note: Harvard Apparatus GT (OTCQB): Who is wasting lipstick on this pig? … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/13812

 

Friday: The Dow closed UP +172.856 points or +0.37%, the S&P closed UP +32.40 points or +0.49% while the Nasdaq closed UP +160.751 points or +0.72%

  • Theme of the session, indexes rose marginally after yesterday’s big bounce and an interest rate cut
  • While September has historically delivered pullbacks, this year’s market has defied that pattern — climbing 35% since March with strong technical and fundamental tailwinds 
  • The small-cap Russell 2000 dipped -0.7%, taking back some gains this week after the index touched a fresh record high earlier in the session.

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

  • Luckily none today

Friday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 13 incliners, 27 decliners and 0 flat ending with a negative close of 7 incliners, 33 decliners and 1 flat

Metrics:  Friday, the IBB was down -0.91%, the XBI was down -1.08% while the VIX was down -0.25 points or -1.59% at 15.45

 

Q3 – 1 holiday, 7 negative and 7 positive closes

  • August – 12 negative and 9 positive closes
  • July – 1 market holiday, 13 positive and 9 negative closes

 

Friday Closing UP (7 of 7)

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) closed up +$1.39 after Thursday’s +$0.45 and Wednesday’s -$9.51
  • Mesoblast (MESO) closed up +$1.26 after Thursday’s +$0.68 and Wednesday’s -$0.53
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.81),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ) closed up +$0.58 after Thursday’s -$0.54, Wednesday’s +$0.94, Tuesday’s +$1.28 and Monday’s -$1.33
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.27),
  • Capricor (CAPR +$0.25),
  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN +$0.01

Flat (0)

Friday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 33): 

  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX -$3.99 after Thursday’s -$0.04, Wednesday’s -$4.21, Tuesday’s -$1.85 and Monday’s -$1.12),
  • IQV Holdings (IQV -$2.98 after Thursday’s +$3.51),
  • Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT -$1.09 after Thursday’s +$1.46 and Wednesday’s -$1.04),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.98),
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$0.87),
  • Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR -$0.82 and Thursday’s +$2.38),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$0.78 after Thursday’s +$2.65, Wednesday’s -$0.46, Tuesday’s +$1.63 and Monday’s +$0.68),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.73),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.71 after Thursday’s +$0.70 and Wednesday’s -$0.40),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP Closed down -$0.62 after Thursday’s +$3.87, Wednesday’s -$2.12, Tuesday’s +$3.35 and Monday’s +$1.58),

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  More of the … WHYs …

The "honeymoon period" was OVER after a rate cut with Friday’s lower market gains as the sector was followed by a big decline hit …

  • “Uncle algo and his electronic trading dwarfs” rolled-up some profit taking needing to pay for the weekend cocktails.
  • Also, remember Q3 is coming to a close in 7 business session while many funds are rotating and rebalancing portfolios
  • The Nasdaq is 5.7% above its 50-day moving average, slightly in extended territory.

Another also, next Friday (9/26) the PCE index will be released, the Feds primary measurement data tool

  • Economists expect a modest 0.22% increase, which would lift the 12-month core inflation rate to 3% from 2.9%, according to FactSet.
  • Suspense is low since most inputs are released with the CPI and PPI.
  • Meanwhile, economists expect personal consumption expenditures to rise 0.4% and personal income to grow 0.3%. slew of other econ news is also due, led by August existing home sales on Tuesday.

The Dow, S&P and Nasdaq ended in positive territory after President Trump's phone meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

  • Agreeing for a group of investors to take over TikTok's U.S. operations. The two countries are still negotiating a broader trade deal that involves advanced artificial intelligence chips and U.S. tariffs.
  • The 10-year Treasury yield advanced to 4.12%. Oil prices slipped, as West Texas Intermediate futures traded around $63.15 a barrel.

Is a market ripple ahead: Republicans moved forward Friday on their plan to avert a partial government shutdown (9/30 deadline) and up the political pressure on Democrats to accept the GOP approach to a funding deadline looming in less than two weeks.

  • Analyst expectations across the board say this latest round of brinkmanship is more likely to end with a shutdown than recent standoffs that began with gridlock but saw last-minute concessions.
  • Markets are paying little attention so far — a pattern that has recent historical precedence.
  • One possible reason is that government shutdowns since 1995 have had little effect on stocks <IBD>

We seem to be always waiting for … something i.ie., anything

  • As I have written, “Econs have been poison to our universe” … onerous as they have been today Wednesday

September: understand the “flow” …

  • 9/19 – Friday closed negative with 7 positive, 33 negative and 0 flat
  • 9/18 – Thursday closed positive with 33 positive, 6 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/17 – Wednesday closed negative with 10 positive, 30 negative and 0 flat
  • 9/16 - Tuesday closed positive with 29 positive, 9 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/15 - Monday closed negative with 17 positive, 22 negative and 1 flat

 

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

  • “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: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Mesoblast (MESO and Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM)
  • Thursday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) and IQV Holdings (IQV)
  • Wednesday: Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ), Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN) and Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN)
  • Tuesday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Vericel (VCEL) and Beam Therapeutics (BEAM)
  • Monday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Mesoblast (MESO) and Beam Therapeutics (BEAM)

The worst three (3) in the session: 

  • Friday: IQV Holdings (IQV), Vertex (VRTX) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT)
  • Thursday: BioNTech (BNTX), Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ) and Vertex (VRTX)
  • Wednesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Vertex (VRTX) and Vericel (VCEL)
  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), uniQure NV (QURE) and Wave Life Sciences (WVE)
  • Monday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and uniQure NV (QURE)

 

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.