BioCardia (BCDA) Dips 26% on Flunking Heart Failure Study

DVAX BCDA ANVS

Shares of BioCardia (BCDA - Free Report) plummeted 25.5% on Tuesday after management announced disappointing interim results from an ongoing pivotal phase III study evaluating the company’s CardiAMP cell therapy for heart failure.

Based on a one-year follow-up review, the results from the interim analysis indicate that the study is unlikely to meet its primary efficacy endpoint based on the three-tiered Finkelstein-Schoenfeld (FS) hierarchical analysis of 12-month data.

Per BioCardia, patients treated with CardiAMP cell therapy did not show any statistically significant improvement over those in the control group in any of the three tiers – all-cause death (including cardiac death equivalents), non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (MACCE) and change in six-minute walk test distance (6MWT).

However, the study investigators stated that the patients treated with CardiAMP cell therapy reported lower rates of adverse outcomes than those in the control group.

Currently, management is identifying patients from the study who have responded the most to CardiAMP cell therapy. It plans to use the findings from this study in BioCardia’s other ongoing clinical programs.

In the year so far, shares of BioCardia have plunged 72.3% compared to the industry’s 13.2% fall.

 

The above announcement also confirms the recommendation issued in July from an independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) for pausing enrolment in the study until a one-year follow-up analysis was available. This recommendation was based on an initial analysis of data by the DSMB, wherein it concluded that the study was not likely to meet its primary efficacy endpoint.

CardiAMP cell therapy uses a patient's bone marrow cells to the heart via a catheter-based procedure to stimulate the body’s natural healing response.

 

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

BioCardia currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the overall healthcare sector include Annovis Bio (ANVS - Free Report) , Dynavax Technologies (DVAX - Free Report) and Gracell Biotechnologies , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

In the past 30 days, estimates for Annovis Bio’s 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $4.89 to $4.38. During the same period, the loss estimates per share for 2024 have improved from $3.18 to $2.77. Year to date, shares of ANVS have lost 12.4%.

Earnings of Annovis Bio beat estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing the mark on one occasion, witnessing an earnings surprise of 13.40% on average. In the last reported quarter, Annovis’ earnings beat estimates by 6.14%.

In the past 30 days, estimates for Dynavax Technologies’ 2023 loss per share have improved from 34 cents to 24 cents. During the same period, the estimates per share for 2024 rose from a loss of 14 cents to earnings of 2 cents. Year to date, shares of DVAX have risen 33.7%.

Earnings of Dynavax Technologies beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining two, the average surprise being 25.78%. In the last reported quarter, Dynavax Technologies’ earnings beat estimates by 133.33%.

In the past 30 days, estimates for Gracell Biotechnologies’ 2023 loss per share have improved from $1.53 to $1.23. During the same period, the loss estimates per share for 2024 have narrowed down from $1.60 to $1.33. Year to date, shares of GRCL have risen 39.6%.

Earnings of Gracell Biotechnologies beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, missed the mark on one occasion while meeting the mark on another. On an average, the company has reported a negative surprise of 62.71%. In the last reported quarter, Gracell Biotechnologies’ earnings beat estimates by 18.92%.

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