Vical and Astellas have unveiled disappointing topline Phase II results with their cytomegalovirus vaccine in kidney transplant patients, although the product remains on track in the hematopoietic cell transplant setting.

Two companies in the biopharma space began trading publicly this week, one to pay off debt, the other to fund an early-stage pipeline.

The biotech is shifting gears after clinical hold on its lead drug was unlikely to be lifted, but the early-stage candidate that it's placing its hopes on is raising red flags for analysts and investors.