Analyst: Quarterly options positions are highly concentrated, with $75,000 becoming the key battleground for bulls and bears

On October 8, Revolution Medicines (RVMD.O) shares fell 8.1% in afternoon trading to $185.91. RBC Capital Markets stated that the share price decline appeared to be driven by the latest U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review documents regarding the company's pancreatic cancer drug Rasonque, particularly the disclosure of objective response rate data for specific RAS mutation subgroups. RBC pointed out that overall survival, rather than objective response rate, is a more meaningful indicator of efficacy, and that the sell-off overlooked Rasonque's broad activity across a variety of RAS mutation subgroups. RBC stated: "While we acknowledge that today's share price decline takes place against the backdrop of overall weakness in the biotech sector, we still believe that the market's reaction to the FDA review documents is an overreaction, given that the drug was approved on the basis of highly clinically meaningful efficacy and has received positive feedback from physicians." Including intraday fluctuations, the stock has more than doubled year-to-date. (Note: For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters has automatically translated its reports into several other languages. Automated translations may be inaccurate or lack necessary context; Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of these automated translations and provides them only for reader convenience. Reuters does not accept liability for any damage or loss arising from the use of automated translation features.)