AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACRX) Downgraded by Zacks Investment Research

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACRX – Get Rating) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Zacks.com reports.

According to Zacks, “AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of pain. The Company product candidates comprises: ARX-01 or the Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System; ARX-02 or the Sufentanil NanoTab BTP Management System; and ARX-03 or the Sufentanil/Triazolam NanoTab which are in their development stage. Its product ARX-01 is focused on acute post-operative pain, ARX-02 is focused on the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain and ARX-03 is focused on providing mild sedation, anxiety reduction, and pain relief to patients undergoing painful procedures in a physician’s office. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is headquartered in Redwood City, California. “

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. HC Wainwright downgraded shares of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, March 14th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Friday, May 13th. They set a “sell” rating for the company. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating on shares of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Friday, March 11th.

Shares of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals stock traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $0.28. The stock had a trading volume of 63,990 shares, compared to its average volume of 934,629. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $0.27 and its 200 day moving average is $0.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.53 million, a PE ratio of -1.05 and a beta of 0.70. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals has a twelve month low of $0.16 and a twelve month high of $1.67.

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACRX – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 16th. The specialty pharmaceutical company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.06). During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.08) earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that AcelRx Pharmaceuticals will post -0.22 EPS for the current year.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACRX. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at about $291,000. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its holdings in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 3,721,586 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $2,085,000 after acquiring an additional 407,507 shares during the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter valued at about $143,000. apricus wealth LLC acquired a new stake in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at about $73,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals by 40.1% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 334,248 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $187,000 after acquiring an additional 95,716 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.12% of the company’s stock.

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Company Profile (Get Rating)

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of acute pain. Its lead product candidate is DSUVIA and DZUVEO, a 30 mcg sufentanil sublingual tablet for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain. The company develops ZALVISO, a pre-programmed and patient-controlled analgesia system that allows hospital patients with moderate-to-severe acute pain to self-dose with sufentanil sublingual tablets to manage their pain; ARX-02, which is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients; and 4ARX-03 for mild sedation and pain relief during painful procedures.

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