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Pharma Stock Roundup: Blow for Bayer, FDA Nod for MRK Cancer Drug in New Indication
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This week was the second consecutive week of relatively fewer developments for the sector. Bayer’s (BAYRY - Free Report) shares slumped after its newly acquired company Monsanto was fined $289 million over allegations that its popular weed killer caused cancer. Texas-based small drugmaker, Pain Therapeutics, Inc. saw its shares jump after it announced a grant from NIH to support its Alzheimer’s disease candidate. Merck (MRK - Free Report) /Eisai’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lenvima got FDA approval for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a difficult-to-treat liver cancer.
Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories
Bayer Slumps as Fine Slapped on Monsanto: Shares of Bayer slumped on Monday after a California state jury ordered its newly acquired subsidiary Monsanto to pay $289 million in damages to a man who claimed the company’s Roundup weed-killer was the cause of his terminal cancer. This is the first verdict from thousands of similar cases across the country. The active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, is being blamed for causing the cancer. However, Monsanto claims that glyphosate is completely safe to use and does not cause cancer.
Bayer also announced a multi-year partnership agreement with small biotech, Haplogen GmbH to identify new treatments for pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pain Therapeutics Shares Jump on Alzheimer's Grant: Pain Therapeutics was awarded a $3.2 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a mid-stage study on its Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate, PTI-125. The company expects to begin the study in the fourth quarter. Shares of Pain Therapeutics skyrocketed in response. (Read More: Pain Therapeutics' Shares Rally on Alzheimer's Study Grant).
Glaxo/J&J’s Two Dug HIV Regimen Succeeds: Glaxo’s (GSK - Free Report) HIV subsidiary, ViiV Healthcare and partner J&J (JNJ - Free Report) announced that the late-stage ATLAS study, testing a two-drug HIV regimen of Glaxo’s pipeline candidate cabotegravir and J&J’s marketed drug Edurant, met the primary endpoint. At week 48, the study demonstrated that the cabotegravir+Edurant injection regimen, given once monthly, was non-inferior to the standard oral, daily three-drug regimen. The cabotegravir+Edurant regimen is being developed to reduce the number of doses of antiretroviral therapy. The cabotegravir +Edurant regimen is being co-developed by Glaxo and J&J.
Full results from the studies will be presented at a future medical meeting. Glaxo is also evaluating cabotegravir as a monotherapy in an HIV prevention study.
Glaxo and J&J already market a two-drug once-daily, single pill for HIV, Juluca, which is a combination of dolutegravir and rilpivirine. The pill is enjoying a strong launch uptake. (Read More: Glaxo, J&J's Dual Drug HIV Regimen Succeeds in Phase III Study)
Merck/Eisai Lenvima Approved by FDA for First-Line Liver Cancer: Merck and Japanese partner Eisai announced that the FDA has approved their tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Lenvima for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. Presently, Lenvima is approved to treat metastatic iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and advanced renal cell carcinoma - in combination with everolimus. In March this year, Merck entered into a deal with Eisai to co-develop and commercialize the latter’s Lenvima, both as a monotherapy as well as in combination with Keytruda, for several types of cancer.
The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index rose 0.8% in the last five trading sessions.
Here is how the seven major stocks performed in the last five trading sessions:
All the stocks were in the green except AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) and Glaxo, which declined 4.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Merck recorded the highest gain of 4.3%.
In the past six months, Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has been the biggest gainer (32.2%) while Bristol-Myers (BMY) declined the most (11.4%).
Watch out for several pipeline and regulatory updates next week
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With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
Image: Bigstock
Pharma Stock Roundup: Blow for Bayer, FDA Nod for MRK Cancer Drug in New Indication
This week was the second consecutive week of relatively fewer developments for the sector. Bayer’s (BAYRY - Free Report) shares slumped after its newly acquired company Monsanto was fined $289 million over allegations that its popular weed killer caused cancer. Texas-based small drugmaker, Pain Therapeutics, Inc. saw its shares jump after it announced a grant from NIH to support its Alzheimer’s disease candidate. Merck (MRK - Free Report) /Eisai’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lenvima got FDA approval for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a difficult-to-treat liver cancer.
Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories
Bayer Slumps as Fine Slapped on Monsanto: Shares of Bayer slumped on Monday after a California state jury ordered its newly acquired subsidiary Monsanto to pay $289 million in damages to a man who claimed the company’s Roundup weed-killer was the cause of his terminal cancer. This is the first verdict from thousands of similar cases across the country. The active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, is being blamed for causing the cancer. However, Monsanto claims that glyphosate is completely safe to use and does not cause cancer.
Bayer also announced a multi-year partnership agreement with small biotech, Haplogen GmbH to identify new treatments for pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pain Therapeutics Shares Jump on Alzheimer's Grant: Pain Therapeutics was awarded a $3.2 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a mid-stage study on its Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate, PTI-125. The company expects to begin the study in the fourth quarter. Shares of Pain Therapeutics skyrocketed in response. (Read More: Pain Therapeutics' Shares Rally on Alzheimer's Study Grant).
Glaxo/J&J’s Two Dug HIV Regimen Succeeds: Glaxo’s (GSK - Free Report) HIV subsidiary, ViiV Healthcare and partner J&J (JNJ - Free Report) announced that the late-stage ATLAS study, testing a two-drug HIV regimen of Glaxo’s pipeline candidate cabotegravir and J&J’s marketed drug Edurant, met the primary endpoint. At week 48, the study demonstrated that the cabotegravir+Edurant injection regimen, given once monthly, was non-inferior to the standard oral, daily three-drug regimen. The cabotegravir+Edurant regimen is being developed to reduce the number of doses of antiretroviral therapy. The cabotegravir +Edurant regimen is being co-developed by Glaxo and J&J.
Full results from the studies will be presented at a future medical meeting. Glaxo is also evaluating cabotegravir as a monotherapy in an HIV prevention study.
Glaxo and J&J already market a two-drug once-daily, single pill for HIV, Juluca, which is a combination of dolutegravir and rilpivirine. The pill is enjoying a strong launch uptake. (Read More: Glaxo, J&J's Dual Drug HIV Regimen Succeeds in Phase III Study)
Merck/Eisai Lenvima Approved by FDA for First-Line Liver Cancer: Merck and Japanese partner Eisai announced that the FDA has approved their tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Lenvima for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. Presently, Lenvima is approved to treat metastatic iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and advanced renal cell carcinoma - in combination with everolimus. In March this year, Merck entered into a deal with Eisai to co-develop and commercialize the latter’s Lenvima, both as a monotherapy as well as in combination with Keytruda, for several types of cancer.
The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index rose 0.8% in the last five trading sessions.
Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return
Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return
Here is how the seven major stocks performed in the last five trading sessions:
All the stocks were in the green except AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) and Glaxo, which declined 4.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Merck recorded the highest gain of 4.3%.
In the past six months, Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has been the biggest gainer (32.2%) while Bristol-Myers (BMY) declined the most (11.4%).
(See the last pharma stock roundup here: Pharma Stock Roundup: NVO Q2 Earnings, JNJ, AGN & AZN’s Pipeline Updates in Focus)
What's Next in the Pharma World?
Watch out for several pipeline and regulatory updates next week
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>