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Celldex Stock Plunges 37% in 'Sell the News' Reaction to Positive Drug Trial Data
Shares of Celldex Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CLDX) plunged in pre-market trading on Tuesday, in a stark example of a "sell the news" reaction after the company reported positive topline results from two Phase 3 trials for its drug candidate, barzolvolimab.
Positive Data, Negative Reaction
Celldex announced that both of its pivotal Phase 3 studies, EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2, successfully met their primary endpoint. The trials, which enrolled 1,939 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria, showed a statistically significant mean change in the urticaria activity score at week 12.
The company also stated that all key secondary endpoints were met across both dose groups, with efficacy sustained or deepened through week 24. Despite the clinical success, the stock plummeted 37.0% to $23.86 in pre-open trading, reversing an initial spike and falling near its 52-week low of $22.10, according to Investing.com data.
High Expectations and Commercial Timeline
AdThe severe downturn suggests that while the trial results were positive, they failed to exceed the high expectations that investors had already built into the company's valuation. Celldex shares had been trading near their 52-week high of $45.14 in the weeks leading up to the announcement, indicating a strong outcome was anticipated.
Investor sentiment may also be tempered by the long road to market. Celldex does not expect to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to regulators until 2027, pushing potential revenue years into the future. This extended timeline, combined with a previous Phase 2 trial failure for the drug in prurigo nodularis in July 2026, appears to have prompted investors to take profits rather than wait for the drug's potential commercial launch.
Market Context
The dramatic sell-off was specific to Celldex and not reflective of broader market trends. During the pre-market session, the S&P 500 was trading flat, confirming the decline was driven by investor reaction to the company's clinical data and commercial outlook rather than macroeconomic factors.
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