Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation’s (TKMR) shares increased almost 9% after it provided updates from phase I/II studies on TKM-PLK1. The candidate is being developed for the treatment of patients suffering from advanced gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NET) and adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).
Tekmira announced that it has achieved the enrolment of the targeted number of patients for the phase I and phase I/II studies. The multi-center, single-arm, open-label phase I/II study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the candidate.
Out of the 55 patients treated so far in these studies, 31 of them are part of the company’s target population of GI-NET or ACC patients. Tekmira also revealed that one of the ACC patients showed an almost complete resolution of the disease.
The company expects to provide final data from the studies in mid-2015 which will determine the future pathway of the candidate. We expect investor focus to remain on the candidate going forward.
We note that Tekmira is evaluating TKM-PLK1 for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well. TKM-PLK1 is in a phase I/II study for the HCC indication with interim data expected in 2016. Currently, Bayer/Amgen’s (BAYRY)/(AMGN) Nexavar is an approved product for the treatment of HCC.
Apart from TKM-PLK1, Tekmira’s pipeline also has the Ebola candidate, TKM-Ebola (under partial clinical hold in a phase I study) and chronic hepatitis B infection candidate, TKM-HBV (phase I expected in early 2015).
Tekmira carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked health care stock is AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG) carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
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