Vertex Pharmaceuticals
(
VRTX
) recently presented promising data on its influenza candidate,
VX-787. The company presented results from a double-blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIa study.
Treatment with VX-787 led to a statistically significant
improvement in viral and clinical measurements of infection.
VX-787 achieved the primary endpoint of the study and
demonstrated a statistically significant decline in the amount of
virus in nasal secretions during the seven-day study period.
Moreover, a statistically significant reduction in the
severity and duration of influenza-like symptoms was observed at
the highest dosing regimen. Patients in this dosing arm suffered
from influenza-like symptoms for a median of 1.9 days compared to
3.7 days for the placebo arm.
After three days of treatment, 93% of patients in the highest
dosing regimen arm showed no clinical symptoms of influenza
compared to 41% in the placebo arm.
Vertex Pharma said that VX-787 was found to be generally
well-tolerated with no discontinuations being reported.
With these encouraging results in hand, Vertex Pharma intends
to seek partnership deals to support the development of the
candidate.
Our Take
We are encouraged by the promising data presented by Vertex
Pharma on VX-787. We believe the results will help the company
secure a lucrative partnership deal for the candidate.
The influenza market holds huge commercial potential. VX-787
represents a new class of potential treatment for influenza and
its differentiated mechanism of action compared to currently
approved treatments could help it gain share once launched. Rapid
onset of action and an expanded treatment window could work in
VX-787's favor.
Vertex Pharma currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Companies that currently look more attractive include
Cytokinetics, Inc.
(
CYTK
),
Array BioPharma
(
ARRY
) and
Agenus, Inc.
(
AGEN
). While Cytokinetics is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock, both
Array BioPharma and Agenus are Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stocks.
AGENUS INC (AGEN): Free Stock Analysis Report
ARRAY BIOPHARMA (ARRY): Free Stock Analysis
Report
CYTOKINETCS INC (CYTK): Free Stock Analysis
Report
VERTEX PHARM (VRTX): Free Stock Analysis
Report
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