Sanofi, Inc. (SNY Quick QuoteSNY - Free Report) announced the start of two new phase III studies evaluating its investigational biologic, isatuximab in combination with other cancer medicines for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer.

While the first study – IKEMA (n=325) – will compare a combination of isatuximab, Amgen’s (AMGN Quick QuoteAMGN - Free Report) Kyprolis (carfilzomib) and dexamethasone to Kyprolis and dexamethasone, the second study IMROZ (n=425) will evaluate a combination of isatuximab, dexamethasone, Celgene’s multiple myeloma drug Revlimid  (lenalidomide) and Japanese firm Takeda’s Velcade (bortezomib) against a combination of Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone.

While the IKEMA study will include patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma that have been previously been treated with one-to-three lines of therapy, IMROZ will evaluate the cancer combinations in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients not eligible for transplant.

The primary endpoint will be progression-free survival in both the studies

Please note that isatuximab is already being evaluated as a monotherapy in phase III studies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and in phase II for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Sanofi’s shares have risen 7% so far this year, comparing unfavorably with a gain of 14.7% recorded by the industry.

Sanofi carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

A better-ranked large-cap pharma stock is Johnson & Johnson (JNJ Quick QuoteJNJ - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Shares of J&J have risen 21.5% this year so far while 2018 earnings estimates have gone up 1.7% in the past 60 days.

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