The Medicines Company (MDCO) is working actively to develop its pipeline. Late-stage pipeline candidates at the Medicines Co. include Cangrelor, an intravenous anticoagulant and antibiotic oritavancin. Cangrelor is under review in the U.S. for use in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and in patients requiring bridging from oral antiplatelet therapy to surgery. A response from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be out in the second quarter of 2014.
The EU approval process for the candidate is also on track with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepting The Medicines Co.’s Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for Cangrelor. The Medicines Co. sought European approval for the candidate on the basis of encouraging data from four studies – CHAMPION PHOENIX, CHAMPION PLATFORM, CHAMPION PCI, and BRIDGE – which evaluated more than 25,000 patients with coronary artery disease. The company expects to launch the product in the EU in 2015, assuming approval.
As noted earlier, The Medicines Company is working on expanding and strengthening its pipeline. To further this goal, the company acquired Rempex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. earlier in the month. The erstwhile Rempex focused on the development of treatments targeting multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria.
Following the acquisition, The Medicines Co.’s portfolio now has anti-infective assets like Carbavance, Minocin IV and RPX-602. The company has also acquired a preclinical developmental program of novel candidates. We believe investor focus will remain on The Medicines Co.’s pipeline development efforts going forward.
The Medicines Co. is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Some better-ranked stocks include Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ), Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VNDA) and Santarus, Inc. (SNTS). All three hold a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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