Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc
. (
ALNY
) recently announced the publication of complete results from a
phase I study on ALN-VSP in the journal,
Cancer Discovery
. Alnylam is developing ALN-VSP, a systemically delivered ribo
nucleic acid interference (RNAi) therapeutic, to treat patients
suffering from advanced solid tumors with liver involvement.
The phase I study enrolled 41 patients suffering from advanced
solid tumors with liver involvement, who failed to respond to or
had progressed after standard treatment. Results showed that
chronic dosing of ALN-VSP for up to 26 months was generally safe
and well tolerated, which was the primary objective of the
study.
Alnylam enrolled seven patients in the extension study of
ALN-VSP, who achieved stable disease or better after completing
four months of treatment in the phase I study. Alnylam's main
objective was to collect long-term safety data from the extension
study, along with assessing the tumor response.
In Jul 2012, Alnylam had inked a deal with Ascletis
Pharmaceuticals to develop ALN-VSP. The strategic collaboration
provides Ascletis exclusive rights to develop and commercialize
ALN-VSP for treating patients suffering from liver cancers in
China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Alnylam retained
rights to the candidate for the rest of the world.
We note that the liver cancer market currently has big
companies such as
Bayer
(
BAYRY
).
Earlier this month, Alnylam provided a brief update on its key
"Alnylam 5x15" pipeline, which aims to develop RNAi therapeutic
candidates and partner programs for the next couple of years. The
company is expecting several study results based on its RNAi
therapeutic candidates in the next two years.
We expect investor focus to remain on Alnylam's pipeline.
Alnylam carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). However, other pharma
stocks such as
Targacept Inc.
(
TRGT
) and
Medivation Inc.
(
MDVN
) carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
ALNYLAM PHARMA (ALNY): Free Stock Analysis
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