September 30, 2025 5:13pm

As the sector escaped negativity per Q3 & September ending with a shutdown contemplation

Cell and gene therapy sector equities edged up on Tuesday as investors weighed the lowering PFE’s medications pricing and its pharma follow-ons as the government tip-toed toward its 1st shutdown in 7 years.

The month and Q3’s numbers, the S&P 500 Q is up 7% and the month -4.2%, the Nasdaq’s Q is up +11% and the month +5% while the Dow’s Q is up +5% and the month +1%

Never leave an investor uninformed!  

Past shutdowns have had limited impact on the economy and stock market, and many investors expect something similar this time around. Treasury yields wavered but ultimately held relatively steady following mixed reports on the U.S. economy.

Remember, “The sector is what it is, until it isn’t, even if it doesn’t seem to be, it yet will be.” 

 

Monday’s RMi pre-open: It’s over … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14129

RMi Research Note: uniQure NV (QURE) Closes 6.736 M share offering priced at $47.50 … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14128   

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

 

Tuesday: The Dow closed UP +81.82 points or +0.18%, the S&P closed UP +27.25 points or +0.41% while the Nasdaq closed UP +68.855 points or +0.31%

  • Theme of the session: a government shut-down fogs the market

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

  • Consumer confidence edged lower in September; the Conference Board’s confidence index registered a 94.2 reading, off 3.6 points from the August reading and below the estimate for 96.0. The reading was the lowest since April.

Tuesday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened neutral with 20 incliners, 20 decliners and 0 flats ending with a positive close of 24 incliners, 15 decliners and 1 flat

Metrics:  Tuesday, the IBB was up +1.38%, the XLV +2.41% and the XBI was up +0.80% while the VIX was up +0.16 points or +0.99% at 16.28

 

Q3 – 1 holiday, 9 negative and 12 positive closes

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

 

Tuesday Closing UP (10 of 24) 

  • IQV Holdings (IQV +$9.18 after Monday’s +$1.17),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) closed +$8.51 after Monday’s +$1.09),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ closed +$1.69 after Monday’s +$2.86),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals IONS +$1.27),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$1.04 after Monday’s +$2.10),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.99),
  • Arrowhead Pharma (ARWR +$0.71 after Monday’s +$0.98),
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.58),
  • BioNTech (BNTX +$0.52),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$0.52),

Flat (1)

  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN)

Tuesday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 15): 

  • Vertex (VRTX -$3.67 after Monday’s +$9.58),
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$1.03 after Monday’s +$5.09),
  • Precigen (PGEN -$0.34),
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.32 after Monday’s +$1.56),
  • Compass Therapeutics (CMPX -$0.32),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.28 after Monday’s +$1.28),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX -$0.20),
  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR -$0.20),
  • Agenus (AGEN -$0.13),
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.07),

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  More of the … WHYs …

  • Indexes edged higher Tuesday after Monday’s high as investors waited for a government shutdown
  • That also could delay the release of the all-important monthly jobs report later in the week.
  • Cell and gene therapy sector equities finished September and Q3 with gains if not minimal

 

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

 

President Donald Trump and Pfizer (PFE) CEO Albert Bourla announced an agreement that will voluntarily sell the PFE’s medications at lower prices.

  • Other pharma shares of Eli LILLY (LLY) was up +5.02%, Pfizer (PFE) +6.83%, AbbVie (ABBV)+3.76%, Amgen (AMGN) +3%, Novartis (NVS) +3.34%, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY +2.15% and Merck (MRK) +6.81%.

Stats to consider as cell and gene therapy sector response to econs and possible shutdown chaos … What isn't impacted by the shutdown:

  • Social Security
  • Medicare/Medicaid
  • Interest payments on U.S. debt
  • Postal Service (it's self-funded)
  • Essential services, including air traffic controllers, military and law enforcement

 

September: understand the “flow” …

  • 9/30 – Tuesday closed positive with 24 positive, 15 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/29 – Monday closed positive with 33 positive, 5 negative and 2 flats

Last week:

  • 9/26 – Friday closed positive with 29 positive, 9 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/25 - Thursday closed negative with 8 positive, 30 negative and 2 flat
  • 9/24 – Wednesday closed positive with 28 positive, 11 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/23 – Tuesday closed negative with 7 positive, 32 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/22 – Monday closed positive with 31 positive, 9 negative and 0 flat

The previous:

  • 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

The former:

  • 9/12 – Friday closed negative with 4 positive, 34 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/11 - Thursday closed positive with 27 positive, 11 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/10 – Wednesday closed negative with 13 positive, 26 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/9 - Tuesday closed positive with 24 positive, 15 negative and 1 flat
  • 9/8 – Monday closed negative with 10 positive, 28 negative and 2 flats

Starting the month:

  • 9/5 - Friday closed positive with 35 positive, 5 negative and 0 flat
  • 9/4 – Thursday closed negative with 17 positive, 21 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/3 - Wednesday closed positive with 22 positive, 16 negative and 2 flats
  • 9/2 -Tuesday closed positive with 22 positive, 18 negative and 0 flat
  • 9/1 -Monday was a holiday

 

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:   

  • Tuesday: IQV Holdings (IQV), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Monday: Vertex (VRTX), uniQure NV (QURE) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)
  • Friday: Vertex (VRTX), IQV Holdings (IQV) and Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ)

The worst three (3) in the session:

  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), uniQure NV (QURE) and Precigen (PGEN)
  • Monday: Cellectis SA (CLLS), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) and Solid Biosciences (SLDB)
  • Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Mesoblast (MESO) and Intellia therapeutics (NTLA)

 

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.