Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INFI) recently announced positive results from a phase I study on its pipeline candidate IPI-145. IPI-145 is being developed for the treatment of patients suffering from advanced hematologic malignancies, or potentially fatal blood cancer.
IPI-145 was well tolerated and clinically active during the study over a wide range of blood cancers like indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and T-cell lymphomas.
Infinity Pharma recently initiated a phase II open-label, single-arm study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IPI-145 (25 mg twice daily). Infinity Pharma intends to enrol around 120 patients suffering from iNHL (follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma or small lymphocytic lymphoma) for the study. In these patients the disease must be refractory to both Roche/Biogen Idec Inc.’s (RHHBY/BIIB) Rituxan (rituximab) and chemotherapy or radioimmunotherapy.
Infinity Pharma intends to initiate another study on IPI-145 in patients suffering from blood cancer later in the year. IPI-145 is also being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The candidate is currently in a phase II development for the RA indication.
Infinity Pharma also has retaspimycin hydrochloride (HCl) in its pipeline. The company intends to present data on HCI from two studies in the second half of 2013. Both studies are evaluating retaspimycin HCl as a combination therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Although the company is progressing well with its candidates, we remain concerned about the early stage/mid stage nature of the pipeline. Consequently, the candidates have a long way to go before hitting the market.
Infinity Pharma currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Meanwhile, stocks such as Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Ltd (JAZZ) currently look more attractive with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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