Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:AUPH) reported that the company has been selected for inclusion in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index®, effective December 18, 2017. The popular NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is intended to monitor the performance of a set of securities that are categorized as either pharmaceutical or biotechnology as per the Industry Classification Benchmark.
The details
As it is known, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index marks as the basis for IBB and is re-ranked annually. IBB seeks investment data that correspond usually to the yield performance and price, before expenses and fees, of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. Moreover, options depending on the IBB Fund trade on different exchanges. In addition, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals was recently included in the MSCI Global Small Cap Indexes, effective November 30, 2017. Canada deleted 7 securities and added 17 securities from this index.
Aurinia marks as a clinical stage biopharmaceutical firm focused on commercializing and developing therapies to cure targeted patient populations suffering from serious ailments with an increased unmet medical need. The firm is currently advancing voclosporin for the treatment of MCD, DES, LN and FSGS. The firm is based in Victoria, BC and focuses its advancement efforts globally.
Last month, Aurinia issued its financial report for the quarter closed September 30, 2017. On October 20, 2017 the company reported plans to expand its renal franchise by assessing voclosporin in FSGS and minimal change disease. In addition, it reported plans to assess their proprietary nanomicellar VOS for the cure of keratoconjunctivitis sicca or DES. The development of these indications, in addition to LN, exhibits an expansion of the firm’s strategy, commercial and pipeline opportunities.
A Phase 2 proof of concept clinical study for voclosporin in MCD and FSGS subjects will be started in 1H2018. MCD and FSGS affect almost 150,000 patients internationally, comprising for nearly 50% of subjects with Nephrotic Syndrome.