Pharma Stock Resumes Rally On Promising Drug Data

The company's drug to reverse blood thinner was well-tolerated

Biotechnology concern PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:PHAS)unveiled impressive preliminary data from a mid-stage study of its PB2452 therapy, used to reverse the effects of antiplatelet agentsin patients over 50. The drug was found to be generally well-tolerated with only minor adverse events. As such, PHAS shares are trading up 10.3% at $13.54, pacing for their best day since April 9, when the stock was assailing record highs.

In fact, PHAS gapped higher in April after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted "breakthrough therapy" status for PB2452. The security skyrocketedto an all-time high of $16.65, but subsequently fell to support in the $10 region -- double its October initial public offering (IPO) price -- with the 50-day moving average serving as stiff resistance. Today, however, PhaseBio shares are set to topple that trendline for the first time since mid-May.

The brokerage bunch is relatively quiet on the stock, though the three that do follow PHAS give it a "buy" or better rating. Plus, analysts are predicting even more upside for the stock, with a consensus 12-month target price of $22.33 representing a nearly 82% premium to yesterday's close, and in uncharted territory.