In this article, we will be taking a look at the 11 Best Performing Biotech Stocks So Far in 2025.
On July 8, Jared Holz of Mizuho spoke on CNBC’s “Closing Bell Overtime” about whether the biotech sector is ready for a breakthrough. According to Jared Holz, the biotech sector has proven especially difficult to predict due in large part to the vast number of publicly traded stocks that, when combined, don’t show a clear, consistent trend with many positive and negative features. He noted that this is the reason it is challenging to call on the entire sector.
Holz observed that the industry was beginning to trade a bit better, reaching higher lows and halting its long-running daily drop. He believes that it is time for a move higher because the market has completely understood and taken into account all of the negative factors, such as competition, pricing pressure, and the volume of assets in the publicly traded arena.
He also confirmed that his forecast of a biotech breakout was influenced by a change in investor sentiment and was founded on his analysis. He claimed that contacts with investors had been considerably more positive in recent months. He attributed this shift to discussions about the “pharma dilemma,” which most likely alludes to the need for pharmaceutical corporations to acquire new assets, improved clinical data, and actual M&A activity. He continued by saying that while he doesn’t believe interest rates have a direct connection to this sector, some individuals do, and they anticipate that rates will decline over time, which heightens the sense of optimism. He also paid attention to the technical indicators, pointing out that the biotech index had stopped declining regardless of whether the market as a whole was gaining or dropping, indicating that the sector was in a stronger position.
Our Methodology
Our methodology began with filtering stocks using Finviz that had a market capitalization above $2 billion and a year-to-date (YTD) performance exceeding 15%. From this screened list, we identified the top 11 companies and ranked them according to their YTD performance as of September 8, 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Here is our list of the 11 best-performing biotech stocks so far in 2025.
11. Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG)
Year-to-Date Performance: 22%
Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) is a Belgian-based firm and is carving out a leading position in next-generation oncology through its CAR-T programs and decentralized manufacturing model, designed to deliver faster, more accessible treatments for patients with hematological cancers. It is among the best performing stocks.
Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG)’s momentum centers on GLPG5101, a CAR-T therapy for B-cell lymphomas. Recently, the FDA granted it an RMAT designation for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma, recognizing the promise shown in the ongoing Phase 1/2 ATALANTA-1 trial. The company also reported striking data at the 2025 ICML conference, with a 97% complete response rate and 100% MRD negativity in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. With a vein-to-vein time of just seven days, the therapy stands out from traditional CAR-T products.
Building on this success, the business is expanding ATALANTA-1 to new cohorts, including Richter transformation and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Meanwhile, its second CAR-T candidate, GLPG5301, targeting multiple myeloma, is advancing through early development. These efforts highlight the corporation’s push to broaden its pipeline across high-need cancer indications.
A major differentiator for Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) is its decentralized manufacturing platform, which allows “fresh” CAR-T therapies to be produced closer to patients. Recent collaborations with the Moffitt Cancer Center in the U.S. and CELLforCURE in Paris are strengthening this model, ensuring scalability and faster access.
10. Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAI)
Year-to-Date Performance: 24.32%
Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAI) is a biotech company that is driven by its breakthroughs in precision oncology, expansion of AI-powered molecular diagnostics, and recent FDA approvals.
A pivotal development came with the FDA approval of Caris’s MI Cancer Seek platform, the first diagnostic to combine whole exome and whole transcriptome sequencing on a single test for both adult and pediatric tumors. Validated for eight companion diagnostics, including a pan-cancer indication, the platform enables oncologists to comprehensively profile tumors from minimal samples, improving accuracy, access, and turnaround time. This marks a major step toward setting new standards in precision oncology workflows.
Beyond tissue-based testing, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAI) is advancing blood-based diagnostics with Caris Assure, which applies AI to DNA and RNA sequencing for noninvasive early detection and therapy monitoring. The business continues to expand collaborations, such as its partnership with Karmanos Cancer Institute, to accelerate the adoption of multi-technology tumor profiling in clinical practice.
With a growing database of more than 900,000 genomic profiles and 600,000 matched clinical datasets, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAI) is leveraging big data to fuel discoveries.
9. Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQT)
Year-to-Date Performance: 24.41%
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQT) is strengthening its position in dermatology with ZORYVE, a novel, steroid-free PDE4 inhibitor available in cream and foam formulations for immune-mediated skin conditions such as plaque psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis.
In 2025, the company achieved key milestones. In May, the FDA approved ZORYVE foam 0.3% for treating plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents, including scalp and other hair-bearing areas that are often difficult to manage. This approval addressed significant treatment gaps and highlighted the drug’s strong efficacy profile. In September, Arcutis filed a supplemental New Drug Application seeking to expand ZORYVE cream’s label to include children as young as two years old with plaque psoriasis. If approved, it would become the only topical PDE4 inhibitor available for this pediatric population, offering a safe alternative to steroids and addressing a critical unmet need.
This progress has contributed to ARQT emerging among the best performing stocks in the healthcare sector, reflecting strong clinical execution and market potential. Another major decision looms in October, when the FDA is set to rule on ZORYVE cream 0.05% for atopic dermatitis in children aged two to five. Positive results could make it the first PDE4 topical option for young atopic dermatitis patients, further broadening Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQT)’s footprint in pediatric dermatology.
Clinical studies have shown ZORYVE provides rapid itch relief and significant skin clearance across age groups while maintaining a favorable safety profile. Beyond ZORYVE, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQT) is advancing a late-stage pipeline that includes a topical JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata and a novel CD200R agonist (ARQ-234) for atopic dermatitis, signaling long-term growth potential.
8. argenX SE (NASDAQ:ARGX)
Year-to-Date Performance: 24.88%
argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) is strengthening its leadership in autoimmune therapies with the rapid expansion of Vyvgart, its flagship antibody-based treatment. Available in both intravenous and subcutaneous forms, Vyvgart has become a cornerstone therapy for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and is now extending its reach into other autoimmune diseases, including immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).
A major 2025 highlight for argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) has been the launch of the Vyvgart subcutaneous prefilled syringe, which is quickly gaining traction as a more convenient alternative to infusions. Its adoption in CIDP has been especially strong, with more than 2,500 patients already receiving treatment this year. The formulation’s ease of use is accelerating uptake in the U.S., while additional approvals in Japan and Canada are expected by year-end, further broadening its global footprint.
Vyvgart’s success is positioning it as one of the fastest-growing biologics in gMG and beyond, with analysts projecting multibillion-dollar peak sales. Upcoming late 2025 and early 2026 readouts from Phase 3 trials in seronegative gMG, ocular and pediatric MG, and primary ITP could drive even broader label expansions and solidify its role as a standard of care.
Beyond Vyvgart, argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX)is advancing a diverse pipeline, including early-stage candidates such as empasiprubart, ARGX-109, and ARGX-119 for autoimmune and rare neuromuscular diseases. The business is also branching into new modalities through partnerships, including a recent collaboration with Unnatural Products to develop oral peptide therapies.
7. Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY)
Year-to-Date Performance: 25.32%
Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY), a global biopharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, Delaware, is strengthening its position as a leader in oncology and autoimmune therapies. With a focus on translating cutting-edge science into patient-ready treatments, the business is making notable strides in 2025 through regulatory approvals and pipeline innovation.
This year, Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) secured FDA approvals for Zynyz in squamous cell anal carcinoma and Monjuvi in follicular lymphoma, reinforcing its hematology-oncology franchise. At the same time, positive Phase 1 results for INCA033989 in essential thrombocythemia have advanced its presence in myeloproliferative neoplasms, while upcoming presentations at the ESMO Congress 2025 are set to highlight early data for two promising assets: a bispecific antibody targeting TGFβR2×PD-1 and a novel KRAS inhibitor.
The KRAS program, in particular, is generating strong attention. KRAS mutations are among the most common drivers of cancer but have historically resisted targeted treatment. Incyte’s experimental oral inhibitor, INCB161734, is designed to address G12D-mutated KRAS, one of the most challenging forms. This innovation has helped Incyte emerge among the best performing stocks in oncology, with Phase 1 results expected at ESMO, potentially providing the first clinical proof of concept, positioning Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) as a pioneer in a new frontier of cancer drug development.
6. PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTCT)
Year-to-Date Performance: 26.16%
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTCT) is reinforcing its position in rare disease innovation with the launch of SUFIANCE (sepiapterin) for phenylketonuria (PKU). Recently approved by both the FDA and EU, SUFIANCE rolled out in Germany in July 2025, with a U.S. launch imminent. The drug is projected to generate over $1 billion annually in the U.S., making it a central driver of PTCT’s growth. To accelerate adoption, the company is leveraging early access programs and strategic partnerships to expand global reach.
While SUFIANCE strengthens its commercial momentum, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTCT) continues to navigate challenges in its pipeline. The FDA recently issued a Complete Response Letter for vatiquinone, its Friedreich’s ataxia candidate, requesting additional clinical data before resubmission. The corporation is working closely with regulators to address these concerns while keeping its broader rare disease studies on track.
Financially, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTCT) remains well-positioned. Management emphasized at the Cantor Global Healthcare Conference that SUFIANCE’s revenue potential, combined with $1.9 billion in cash reserves, supports a path toward cash-flow breakeven. This stability allows PTCT to continue advancing its pipeline, including promising gene therapy programs such as PTC518 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
5. Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)
Year-to-Date Performance: 31.96%
Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) is strengthening its position as a global leader in antibody-based therapies with both commercial successes and late-stage clinical progress in 2025. The company currently markets therapies such as Tivdak for cervical cancer and Epkinly for lymphoma, while advancing a robust pipeline targeting high-need oncology indications.
A key milestone this year is the FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation for rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S), an investigational antibody-drug conjugate for recurrent or progressive endometrial cancer following platinum-based and PD-(L)1 therapies. The designation is expected to accelerate regulatory review and underscores Rina-S’s potential to transform treatment in a patient group with limited options.
At the same time, Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)’s bispecific antibody epcoritamab is showing strong potential as an outpatient therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Data from the EPCORE NHL-6 Phase 2 trial revealed that 92% of patients were able to receive their first full dose in an outpatient setting, signaling a shift toward more accessible cancer care. These developments have contributed to Genmab emerging among the best performing stocks in oncology.
Beyond clinical advances, Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) is expanding the global reach of Tivdak and Epkinly while leveraging its KYSO antibody platform to broaden its pipeline.
4. Metsera, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTSR)
Year-to-Date Performance: 32.45%
Metsera, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTSR), a clinical-stage biotech based in New York, is emerging as an innovative player in obesity and metabolic disease treatments. The company develops next-generation injectable and oral hormone analog peptides designed for potency, scalability, and improved patient adherence.
In 2025, Metsera, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTSR)’s lead candidate, MET-233i, an ultra-long-acting amylin analog, showed promising Phase 1 results, with patients achieving up to 8% body weight reduction over five weeks. Its extended half-life supports once-monthly dosing, offering greater convenience and potential compliance benefits compared to existing therapies. MET-233i is being developed both as a standalone treatment and in combination with other obesity medicines in the business’s pipeline.
Another key asset, the GLP-1 receptor agonist MET-097i, is progressing through multiple Phase 2b trials, with data readouts expected later in 2025 and Phase 3 trials planned to begin by year-end. The corporation is preparing to present these results at upcoming medical and investor conferences, signaling growing scientific and market interest.
3. CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP)
Year-to-Date Performance: 37.45%
CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) is a pioneering biotech company focused on gene-editing medicines using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Its flagship therapy, Casgevy, is an ex vivo CRISPR-based treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT), with global adoption expanding rapidly. As of mid-2025, over 75 authorized treatment centers are operational, and more than 90 patients have undergone cell collection, with new initiations expected to grow throughout the year.
In 2025, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) also reported encouraging Phase 1 results for CTX310, an in vivo gene-editing candidate targeting ANGPTL3, a gene involved in regulating LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The therapy demonstrated dose-dependent reductions of up to 86% in LDL and 82% in triglycerides with a favorable safety profile, addressing a significant unmet need in cardiovascular disease. Full Phase 1 data are anticipated in the second half of 2025, potentially validating the business’ in vivo liver editing platform. These advances have helped CRISPR Therapeutics emerge among the best performing stocks in the biotech sector.
Beyond blood disorders and cardiovascular disease, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) is advancing its oncology and autoimmune pipeline. Two next-generation CAR-T candidates, CTX112, targeting CD19, and CTX131, targeting CD70, are progressing through clinical development, with updates expected later this year. These programs reflect the business’s broader ambition to extend gene-editing therapies to cancer and immune-mediated conditions.
2. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD)
Year-to-Date Performance: 38.37%
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders and rare diseases. Its key approved products include NUPLAZID for hallucinations and delusions in Parkinson’s disease psychosis, and DAYBUE for Rett syndrome, both of which have seen growing commercial traction. In Q2 2025, NUPLAZID net sales rose 7% year-over-year to $168.5 million, while DAYBUE grew 14% to $96.1 million, reaching nearly 1,000 unique patients in the U.S.
A major catalyst for 2025 is the nearing Phase 3 readout of the COMPASS trial evaluating ACP-101 in Prader-Willi Syndrome. Enrollment for this pivotal study concluded in Q2, with top-line results expected in early Q4. Positive outcomes could pave the way for a New Drug Application filing in Q1 2026 and potential approval by Q3, marking a significant expansion of the firm’s pipeline into rare neurodevelopmental disorders.
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is also advancing multiple programs targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms and rare neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, psychosis, and Prader-Willi syndrome, reflecting its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs. The company highlighted these developments during its inaugural R&D Day in June 2025, unveiling nine disclosed programs, seven of which are planned to enter Phase 2 or 3 stages over 2025-2026, with five anticipated readouts through 2027.
Additionally, recent patent litigation wins secure market exclusivity for NUPLAZID through 2030, and extended formulations through 2038, providing stability for its commercial franchise. With strong product momentum, a deepening pipeline, and upcoming trial readouts, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is positioned for continued growth in CNS and rare disease therapies.
1. Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)
Year-to-Date Performance: 40.34%
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) tops our list for being one of the best performing stocks. It is a leading biopharmaceutical royalty company that invests in innovative drug products, partnering with biotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions to fund late-stage clinical trials and new product launches in exchange for future royalty earnings.
In Q2 2025, Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) reported strong growth, with Portfolio Receipts rising 20% to $727 million and Royalty Receipts up 11%, driven by products including Trelegy, Evrysdi, and Tremfya. Reflecting confidence in its portfolio, the business updated its full-year 2025 guidance for Portfolio Receipts to $3.05–$3.15 billion, projecting 9%–12% growth.
A key milestone was the acquisition of its external management firm, RP Management, LLC, in May 2025. This internalization streamlined operations and integrated the royalty portfolio with the company’s intellectual property assets, enhancing efficiency and strategic flexibility.
The firm has also expanded its oncology presence, acquiring a royalty interest in Amgen’s Imdelltra, a novel bispecific-cell engager for small cell lung cancer, for an upfront $885 million with potential royalties up to $65 million. Further portfolio diversification came through a $2 billion funding arrangement with Revolution Medicines, including $1.25 billion to purchase a synthetic royalty on daraxonasib and a secured senior loan of $750 million.
Additionally, in September 2025, Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) announced up to $300 million in funding for Zenas Biopharma’s obexelimab in exchange for royalties, underscoring its commitment to supporting innovative pipeline products.
While we acknowledge the potential of RPRX to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RPRX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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