Mirati, Loxo gain on RET inhibitor presentations

Mirati Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MRTX) jumped $6.45 (136%) to $11.20 on Friday after reporting Phase II data for its Ret proto-oncogene (RET) inhibitor sitravatinib (MGCD516), making it the second company this week to see its stock pop on news for a RET inhibitor. Shares of Loxo Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:LOXO) gained $11.48 (15%) to $86.59 on Wednesday after the company announced plans to present data next month for its RET inhibitor LOXO-292.

Mirati reported preliminary data from a Phase II trial showing that sitravatinib in combination with PD-1 mAb Opdivo nivolumab led to three confirmed partial responses in 11 evaluable patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progressed on or after treatment with checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The company said the predefined criteria for expansion from stage 1 to stage 2 of the trial, which will enroll a combined total of 34 patients, have been met. The data were presented Friday at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology...