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Beyond SUSTOL: Why Heron (HRTX) is a Great Biotech Stock to Buy

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Heron Therapeutics Inc. (HRTX - Free Report) could make for an intriguing investment choice, as the company has recently announced that the FDA approved its product called SUSTOL (granisetron), an injection which prevents acute and delayed nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.  The extended release injectable utilizes Heron’s Biochronomer®polymer-based drug delivery technology to maintain the amount of granisetron present in the patient’s body so that effects preventing nausea last.

SUSTOL’s Competitive Edge

The drug could be popular among cancer patients going through chemotherapy in spite of the advancements made with regards to treating and preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).  This is because of the fact that delayed CINV is difficult to combat against.  The 5-HT3 receptor can send messages to the brain which causes the body to have nausea and become prone to vomiting. 

Antagonists can stop the receptor from activating, but drugs that employ them are generally effective for two days or so.  Heron’s Biochronomer®technology allows SUSTOL to stay effective for longer periods, and Medical Director for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Ralph V. Boccia, MD says that “SUSTOL, due to its extended-release profile, represents a novel option that can protect patients from CINV for a full 5 days”.  This should give Heron a very competitive edge in the CINV prevention space, especially since it is an effective means for preventing delayed CINV.

 Heron’s Promising Pain Drug Candidate

There is more to Heron Therapeutics than its recent drug approval though.  In addition to its focus on addressing the needs of cancer patients, HRTX is also dedicated towards developing pharmaceutical products for people suffering from pain.  One of Heron’s products that targets post-operative pain and inflammation is known as HTX-011.  The company recently announced positive results from two phase 2 studies on the product.  HTX-011 is the first long-acting formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a combination with meloxicam, and the drug is meant to reduce post-operative pain and inflammation. 

The two studies on HTX-011 show a lot of promise for a few reasons.  Patients partaking in the studies were either recovering from inguinal hernia repair or a bunionectomy.  These two surgeries are known for the pain patients tend to experience while recovering, so it is good to see that there was significant pain reduction compared to placebo as well as compared to bupivacaine solution. 

Because of the efficacy of HTX-011, patients from the bunionectomy study consumed 74% less opioids than placebo patients, and 67% less than bupivacaine solution patients.  Patients suffering after inguinal hernia repair surgery saw that total opioid consumption was 36% less after 96 hours post-surgery when using HTX-011.  These reductions in opioid use are great to see.  Because of this, HTX-011 could be a favorable post-surgery drug recommendation among physicians because of its properties which could help prevent opioid abuse and addiction in patients.  This is significant, as opioid abuse occurs worldwide, with an estimated 26-36 million people abusing the narcotic.    

Bottom Line

Heron Therapeutics could make for a great biostock investment candidate over the long run.  Their sustained drug delivery technology provides the company with a platform that has immense potential within the broader biotech space.  The recent drug approval of SUSTOL is great on its own, but Heron’s Biochronomer technology makes the stock have a lot of long-term growth appeal. 

The company’s longer-term efficacy profile has shown promise in treating CINV and delayed CINV, the latter of which is a condition that has previously been very difficult to treat.  That profile has also shown the potential to reduce narcotic drug intake by patients (HTX-011), and this could have huge benefits in the form of seeing Heron’s products being recommended as first-line medications by physicians.  The core which the company is based on has proven itself with the FDA approval of SUSTOL, and if HTX-011 continues to deliver in future studies and gain approval as well, we could see HRTX stock price go higher than it has ever been.


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