AstraZeneca Plc (AZN - Free Report) announced that the FDA has approved Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a rare blood cancer, in patients who have received at least two prior systemic therapies. Lumoxiti is a CD22-directed cytotoxin and the first of this type of treatment approved for patients with HCL.
The approval was based on a phase III study of 80 patients who had received prior treatment for HCL with at least two systemic therapies including a purine nucleoside analog. The primary endpoint of the study was durable complete response. The study demonstrated that 75% of patients receiving Lumoxiti achieved an overall response, while 30% had a durable complete response.
HCL is a rare form of blood cancer. It is observed that many patients with HCL experience a remission with current treatments, and in 30-40% of these patients, it will relapse after five to ten years from their first treatment. Lumoxiti represents promising non-chemotherapeutic agent for HCL, thereby addressing an unmet medical need.
Shares of AstraZeneca have increased 8.4% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 6.6%.
AstraZeneca boasts a strong late-stage oncology pipeline. Other than moxetumomab pasudotox, its oncology portfolio includes selumetinib (neurofibromatosis type 1) and savolitinib (kidney cancer). An interesting candidate in the company’s immuno-oncology pipeline is Imfinzi (durvalumab), which is being evaluated for multiple cancers, either alone or in combination with other regimens. Imfinzi is presently marketed in the United States for second-line advanced bladder and early-stage lung cancer (NSCLC).
Lynparza, presently marketed in partnership with Merck (MRK - Free Report) for advanced ovarian and breast cancer, is also being evaluated in different studies for a range of tumor types including prostate and pancreatic cancers, as well as earlier-line settings for ovarian cancer. Tagrisso is also being evaluated in earlier-line settings for lung cancer.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
AstraZeneca is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.
Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are Roche Holding AG (RHHBY - Free Report) , and Eli Lilly and Company (LLY - Free Report) . Both of them carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Lilly’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $5.16 to $5.47 for 2018 and from $5.53 to $5.73 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 10.15%. The stock has rallied 22.7% in the past three months.
Roche’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $2.10 to $2.24 for 2018 and from $2.15 to $2.28 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The stock has rallied 16.2% in the past three months.
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It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
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AstraZeneca Plc (AZN - Free Report) announced that the FDA has approved Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a rare blood cancer, in patients who have received at least two prior systemic therapies. Lumoxiti is a CD22-directed cytotoxin and the first of this type of treatment approved for patients with HCL.
The approval was based on a phase III study of 80 patients who had received prior treatment for HCL with at least two systemic therapies including a purine nucleoside analog. The primary endpoint of the study was durable complete response. The study demonstrated that 75% of patients receiving Lumoxiti achieved an overall response, while 30% had a durable complete response.
HCL is a rare form of blood cancer. It is observed that many patients with HCL experience a remission with current treatments, and in 30-40% of these patients, it will relapse after five to ten years from their first treatment. Lumoxiti represents promising non-chemotherapeutic agent for HCL, thereby addressing an unmet medical need.
Shares of AstraZeneca have increased 8.4% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 6.6%.
AstraZeneca boasts a strong late-stage oncology pipeline. Other than moxetumomab pasudotox, its oncology portfolio includes selumetinib (neurofibromatosis type 1) and savolitinib (kidney cancer). An interesting candidate in the company’s immuno-oncology pipeline is Imfinzi (durvalumab), which is being evaluated for multiple cancers, either alone or in combination with other regimens. Imfinzi is presently marketed in the United States for second-line advanced bladder and early-stage lung cancer (NSCLC).
Lynparza, presently marketed in partnership with Merck (MRK - Free Report) for advanced ovarian and breast cancer, is also being evaluated in different studies for a range of tumor types including prostate and pancreatic cancers, as well as earlier-line settings for ovarian cancer. Tagrisso is also being evaluated in earlier-line settings for lung cancer.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
AstraZeneca is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.
Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are Roche Holding AG (RHHBY - Free Report) , and Eli Lilly and Company (LLY - Free Report) . Both of them carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Lilly’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $5.16 to $5.47 for 2018 and from $5.53 to $5.73 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 10.15%. The stock has rallied 22.7% in the past three months.
Roche’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $2.10 to $2.24 for 2018 and from $2.15 to $2.28 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The stock has rallied 16.2% in the past three months.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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