Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SGYP) currently has no approved products. The company has progressed well with its pipeline in the last few quarters. SP-333 is one of the important candidates in Synergy Pharma’s pipeline, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Synergy Pharma intends to move forward its proprietary next-generation guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist, SP-333, into a phase II study for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) by year end. The phase II study (dose-ranging study) will be evaluating a 4-week regimen of the candidate in adults. The adults in the study have been taking opioid analgesics for chronic, non-cancer pain for a minimum of three months.
In the second quarter of 2013, Synergy Pharma successfully completed a phase I placebo-controlled, dose-escalating, multiple-dose study on SP-333 in patients with IBD.
Another interesting candidate at Synergy Pharma is plecanatide. Plecanatide is currently in a phase IIb study for the treatment of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Synergy Pharma expects to enroll the last patient for the study by year end and release top-line data from this study in the first quarter of 2014.
We expect investor focus to remain on updates regarding the development of the company’s pipeline. The successful development and commercialization of the candidates would be a major positive for Synergy Pharma.
However, the constipation market already includes Ironwood Pharmaceuticals/Forest Laboratories’ (IRWD)/ (FRX) Linzess.
Synergy Pharma currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Right now, Actelion Ltd. (ALIOF) looks attractive with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Get all Zacks Research Reports and be alerted to fast-breaking buy and sell opportunities every trading day.
Be the first to comment