Over the years, biotech stocks have proven to be an excellent choice of investment for a large number of investors and even now it remains one of the hottest sectors to invest in.

However, an investor needs to do a lot of research and read the market adequately. On that note, here is a look at 3 biotech stocks which are currently in focus and ones that could be watched closely by investors who are interested in the top biotech stocks heading into the 4th quarter.

PharmaCyte Biotech (PMCB)

The company’s proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology known as “Cell-in-a-Box®is the platform that the company uses to develop its therapy delivery methods. For most of the quarter, shares of PMCB stock have traded between $0.033 and $0.04 with volume recently surging.

[BREAKING NEWS] PharmaCyte Biotech (PMCB) Releases Shareholder Update Call Playback Information

PharmaCyte’s submission of an IND application is what has its shareholder’s attention, but it’s what an FDA approval of that application could mean for PharmaCyte (PMCB) that could garner the most attention. Once the FDA has approved the company’s IND application for Cell-in-a-Box® + low doses of ifosfamide to treat LAPC, the FDA’s approval will essentially permit PharmaCyte to open clinical activities throughout the country.

On September 19, PharmaCyte saw more than 6 million shares trade; well above its daily average. That trend has continued during the days to follow. Most of the attention surrounding the company has been on two things. First, its progress with Cell-In-A-Box and the application for Pancreatic cancer has continued to progress.

The company brought on Dr. Manuel Hidalgo, has confirmed that he will be Principal Investigator (PI) for PharmaCyte’s planned clinical trial in locally advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer (LAPC) now that he is at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The Medicines Company (MDCO)

The first one to consider here is the simply named biotech company The Medicines Company (NASDAQ:MDCO). The company is in focus primarily because it revealed highly positive results from the trials of its cholesterol treatment medicine. The company revealed that its medicine inclisiran helped in lowering LDL cholesterol in patients and that could prove to be a major breakthrough.

In a note written by one of the analysts at Chardan, the breakthrough now allows the company to enter the hugely lucrative American cholesterol medicine market that could be worth as much as $5 billion in yearly sales. In addition to that, it also opens up The Medicines Company to the possibility of being acquired by a larger company at a hefty premium.

Shares of MDCO are up about 20% so far in September. In yesterday’s trading session made a multi-year high of $51.93.

Ardelyx (ARDX)

The other biotech stock that has had a rollicking time in September is that of Ardelyx Inc (NASDAQ:ARDX). In early September, the company reported impressive results from a Phase 3 study. This was for its cardiorenal disease treatment. The development proved to be a massive trigger.

ARDX stock rallied as much as 150% over the course of the month so far. Although it is true that biotech investment can be a risky affair, it needs to be pointed out that Ardelyx is not standing on the brink of turning into a commercial business and that’s is possibly the reason behind the rally.