Drugmakers Aptose Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:APTO) and Esperion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ESPR) are both making headlines this morning, but for different reasons. We'll dig into APTO and ESPR stocks below.
Aptose Biosciences stock is up 1.9% to trade at $3.24, after the company announced a global license deal with OHM Oncology to develop and commercialize a cancer drug. Aptose could make up to $125 million depending on the success of the deal. APTO stock has been a steady riser of the past year, adding 183%and touching a two-year high of $3.90 on Jan. 24. Not many analysts have taken notice of this outperformance, however, as just two brokerage firms are currently tracking APTO.
Esperion stock is down 3% to trade at $75.62, despite the news that the company's oral cholesterol drug met its late-stage trial goals. Still, ESPR shares are up 136% year-over-year, and touched a two-year high of $82.68 last Tuesday. The 50-day moving average is providing support today, too, as it did during pullbacks in December and February.
In the options pits, puts have never been more popular this year relative to calls. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the security sports a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 3.78, which ranks in the 100th percentile of its annual range.