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.
Last week, AbbVie (ABBV) announced positive results from early and mid-stage studies on its oncology candidate, veliparib. Results from the studies were presented at the Annual Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
AbbVie announced interim results from a phase II study on veliparib plus Bristol-Myers Squibb Company’s (BMY) Paraplatin (carboplatin) and Taxol (paclitaxel) chemotherapeutic medicines in patients with previously untreated metastatic or advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data revealed that a 35% improvement in progression-free survival and a 30% improvement in overall survival were observed in patients under the veliparib arm. Earlier this year, AbbVie started a phase III study on veliparib in patients suffering from squamous NSCLC.
AbbVie also presented data from a phase I study on veliparib plus Paraplatin and Taxol in Japanese patients suffering from NSCLC. Results revealed that an overall response rate of 54.5% was observed in the veliparib arm.
Presently, Pfizer (PFE) has an approved drug for NSCLC in Xalkori.
Meanwhile, AbbVie is also developing veliparib for the treatment of patients suffering from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer, containing BRCA1 (breast cancer gene 1) and/or BRCA2 (breast cancer gene 2) mutations (read more: AbbVie's Oncology Candidate Progresses).
Investors in the health care sector can also consider stocks like Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).
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