Biotech Active Runners: Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO), Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARIA), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARNA)

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSEMKT: INO) on Feb. 18 announced it has expanded its senior management team with two appointments to help advance the company’s growing pipeline of preclinical and clinical DNA vaccines. Inovio has appointed Dr. Laurent Humeau as Vice President of R&D and Dr. Jan Marie-Albert Van Tornout as Vice President of Clinical Development. Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSEMKT: INO) stock opened at $2.98 in last session, and closed at $3.22, while the day range of Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSEMKT: INO) stock is $2.95 -$3.24. The stock showed a positive weekly performance of 17.95%.

Shares of Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARIA) were the target of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Investors bought 9,989 put options on the stock, AnalystRatingsNetwork.com reports. This is an increase of approximately 194% compared to the typical daily volume of 3,399 put options. Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARIA) stock opened at $8.98 in last session, and closed at $8.87 by gaining 1.60%. The 52 week range of $2.15 – $23.00. Company’s market capitalization is $1.64B.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Director Nicholas G. Moore sold 19,068 shares of the company’s stock on the open market in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) stock decreased -0.27% and finished the last session at $82.59. The EPS of the stock remained 1.83. Company’s market capitalization is $126.68B.

To say that Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) has been a disappointment since its weight loss drug Belviq was approved back in June of 2012 would be an understatement. Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) stock opened the session at $6.78, and closed the session at $6.92. The 52 week range of the Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) stock remained $4.05 – $9.25 and the day range was $6.67 – $7.03.