Unusual Volume At Biotech Stocks: Aastrom Biosciences (NASDAQ:ASTM), 22nd Century Group (NYSEMKT:XXII), Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX), Exelixis (NASDAQ:EXEL)

Over the past few trading days, sleepy microcap Aastrom Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:ASTM) has exploded from $3.88 3/19/14 to a peak of $6.24 after a positive article from respected analyst Jason Napodano. Seeking Alpha’s sophisticated readership is more than capable of analyzing Aastrom Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:ASTM)’s balance sheet. Aastrom Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:ASTM) stock performance was -15.21% in last session and finished the day at $4.18. Traded volume was 1.06million shares in the last session and the average volume of the stock remained 329.73K shares. The beta of the stock remained 0.85. Aastrom Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:ASTM) insider ownership is 3.27%.

Share of 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII) shares yesterday traded down, when a stock takes a downturn it scares many investors, but 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII) is a different case, the fall in the stock price is seen by analysts as a perfect opportunity to buy as things are poised to get better from here. 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII) dropped
-1.86 percent to $3.16 Wednesday on volume of 3.43million shares. The intra-day range of the stock was $3.10 to $4.00. 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII) has a market capitalization of $184.08million.

RBC Capital started coverage on shares of Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX) in a research report released on Tuesday morning, TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports. The firm issued an outperform rating and a $15.00 price objective on the stock. Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX)’s stock on Mar 26, 2014 reported a decrease of -7.38% to the closing price of $8.28. Its fifty two weeks range is $2.26 -$10.99. The total market capitalization recorded $1.11billion. The overall volume in the last trading session was 4.96million shares. In its share capital, DYAX has 119.57million outstanding shares.

Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) announced that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) notified the company today that a planned interim analysis of the COMET-1 phase 3 pivotal trial has been completed, and that the IDMC recommended the trial proceed to its final analysis. Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) continues to anticipate top-line data from COMET-1 in 2014. On Wednesday, shares of Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) dropped -39.36% to close the day at $3.90. Company return on investment (ROI) is -48.50% and its monthly performance is recorded as -44.53%. Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) quarterly revenue growth is -34.59%.