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Bellicum (BLCM) Down on Ending Development of CAR-T Candidates
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Shares of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals lost 50.1% on Mar 15 after management announced that it has decided to discontinue the ongoing phase I/II studies evaluating its GoCAR-T cell product candidates in heavily pre-treated cancer patients. Consequently, the studies evaluating the candidates, BPX-601 and BPX-603, are being discontinued.
BLCM now has no other pipeline candidate in active clinical development. In the year so far, the stock has lost 40.4% compared with the industry’s 0.5% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The above decision is based on management’s assessment of the risk/benefit profile of BPX-601 plus the activating agent rimiducid in phase I/II study in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
While the study achieved clinically meaningful efficacy in more than half of the study participants, some participants also experienced serious immune-mediated adverse events, including grade 3 and 4 cytokine release syndrome. This was confirmed by management after a thorough review of the study's risk/benefit observed to date.
Using its findings from the above study, management concluded that it neither has the resources to optimize the clinical dosage for BPX-601/ rimiducid nor can it optimize the design of the BPX-601 cell construct to achieve a favorable risk/benefit profile.
Bellicum has already started communicating these decisions to the regulatory authorities and clinical sites conducting the ongoing studies. Management also started evaluating strategic alternatives which may be more beneficial to the company.
Estimates for Adaptive Biotechnologies’ 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $1.30 to $1.15 in the past 30 days. During the same period, the loss per share estimates for 2024 have narrowed from 99 cents to 94 cents. Shares of Adaptive Biotechnologies have risen 7.6% year-to-date.
Earnings of Adaptive Biotechnologies beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed the mark on one occasion, the average surprise being 10.75%. In the last reported quarter, ADPT delivered an earnings surprise of 24.32%.
In the past 30 days, estimates for CRISPR Therapeutics’ 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $8.21 to $7.54. Shares of CRISPR Therapeutics have risen 10.5% in the year-to-date period.
Earnings of CRISPR Therapeutics beat estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing the mark on the other two occasions, witnessing an earnings surprise of 3.19%, on average. In the last reported quarter, CRISPR Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates by 39.22%.
In the past 30 days, estimates for EQRx’s 2023 loss per share have narrowed from 66 cents to 63 cents. In the year so far, shares of EQRx have declined 15.0%.
Earnings of EQRx beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, witnessing an earnings surprise of 34.99%, on average. In the last reported quarter, EQRx’s earnings beat estimates by 73.68%.
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Bellicum (BLCM) Down on Ending Development of CAR-T Candidates
Shares of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals lost 50.1% on Mar 15 after management announced that it has decided to discontinue the ongoing phase I/II studies evaluating its GoCAR-T cell product candidates in heavily pre-treated cancer patients. Consequently, the studies evaluating the candidates, BPX-601 and BPX-603, are being discontinued.
BLCM now has no other pipeline candidate in active clinical development. In the year so far, the stock has lost 40.4% compared with the industry’s 0.5% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The above decision is based on management’s assessment of the risk/benefit profile of BPX-601 plus the activating agent rimiducid in phase I/II study in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
While the study achieved clinically meaningful efficacy in more than half of the study participants, some participants also experienced serious immune-mediated adverse events, including grade 3 and 4 cytokine release syndrome. This was confirmed by management after a thorough review of the study's risk/benefit observed to date.
Using its findings from the above study, management concluded that it neither has the resources to optimize the clinical dosage for BPX-601/ rimiducid nor can it optimize the design of the BPX-601 cell construct to achieve a favorable risk/benefit profile.
Bellicum has already started communicating these decisions to the regulatory authorities and clinical sites conducting the ongoing studies. Management also started evaluating strategic alternatives which may be more beneficial to the company.
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. price | Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider
Bellicum currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the overall healthcare sector include Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (ADPT - Free Report) , CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP - Free Report) and EQRx , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Estimates for Adaptive Biotechnologies’ 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $1.30 to $1.15 in the past 30 days. During the same period, the loss per share estimates for 2024 have narrowed from 99 cents to 94 cents. Shares of Adaptive Biotechnologies have risen 7.6% year-to-date.
Earnings of Adaptive Biotechnologies beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed the mark on one occasion, the average surprise being 10.75%. In the last reported quarter, ADPT delivered an earnings surprise of 24.32%.
In the past 30 days, estimates for CRISPR Therapeutics’ 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $8.21 to $7.54. Shares of CRISPR Therapeutics have risen 10.5% in the year-to-date period.
Earnings of CRISPR Therapeutics beat estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing the mark on the other two occasions, witnessing an earnings surprise of 3.19%, on average. In the last reported quarter, CRISPR Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates by 39.22%.
In the past 30 days, estimates for EQRx’s 2023 loss per share have narrowed from 66 cents to 63 cents. In the year so far, shares of EQRx have declined 15.0%.
Earnings of EQRx beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, witnessing an earnings surprise of 34.99%, on average. In the last reported quarter, EQRx’s earnings beat estimates by 73.68%.