Pipeline updates are highly awaited events in the pharma/biotech sector as they play an important role in deciding whether or not to invest in a particular company. These updates provide information on experimental drugs and at times give an insight into the commercial potential of the candidate once it is successfully developed and commercialized.
Earlier this week, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OGXI) announced that it has finished enrolling patients in an international, randomized, open-label phase III study (AFFINITY) on custirsen. This study is evaluating the potential of custirsen in improving survival outcomes in 630 patients suffering from metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The patients were randomly administered with Jevtana as second-line chemotherapy and prednisone with or without custirsen.
Survival outcome data from the AFFINITY study should be out in late 2015 or early 2016.
We remind investors that OncoGenex has an agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) for the development and commercialization of custirsen. Custirsen is currently in two other phase III studies – SYNERGY (custirsen plus first-line treatment of Taxotere in metastatic CRPC patients) and ENSPIRIT (custirsen plus Taxotere as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer). Custirsen has fast track designation in the U.S. for the AFFINITY study.
Meanwhile, OncoGenex is evaluating apatorsen in multiple phase II studies for four types of cancer − bladder, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Results from the Borealis-1 study (metastatic bladder cancer) should be out in the first quarter of 2015.
We are encouraged by OncoGenex’s progress with its oncology pipeline so far.
OncoGenex carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are Lannett Company, Inc. (LCI) and Endo International plc (ENDP). While Lannett carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Endo holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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