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Agenus, NCI Ink Deal to Evaluate Prophage-Keytruda Combo
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Agenus Inc. (AGEN - Free Report) announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to evaluate its personalized autologous vaccine candidate, Prophage (HSPPC-96), in conjunction with Merck & Co., Inc.’s (MRK - Free Report) PD-1 therapy, Keytruda.
A look at Agenus’ price movement in the past one year shows that the company has outperformed the Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry, having increased 30.4%, while the industry fell 9.5%.
Merck has outperformed the Large Cap Pharma industry in the past one year too. The stock rose 19.7%, while the industry increased 0.9%.
Coming back to the latest press release, a phase II study will evaluate the effect of Prophage, in conjunction with Keytruda, on the overall survival rate of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (ndGBM).
The objective of the study will be to evaluate the efficacy of PD-1 targeted checkpoint blockade, in combination with a heat-shock protein-based vaccine candidate, in ndGBM patients.
The double-blind, randomized controlled study will be conducted in two arms – one receiving Keytruda as monotherapy and the other receiving the Prophage-Keytruda combination.
We are encouraged by Agenus’ efforts to form collaborations to boost its pipeline. The company’s agreements not only validate its technology platforms but also provide it with funds.
However, with no approved product in its portfolio, Agenus is highly dependent on its partners for pipeline development. Also, with only a few candidates in mid-stage development, the company is still several years from launching a product. Thus, any unfavorable outcome from the ongoing studies may hurt the stock significantly.
Sucmapo’s earnings estimates were stable at $1.22 for 2016 but have increased from $1.30 to $1.74 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 35.5%.
Anika’s earnings per share estimates for 2016 and 2017 were up 3.9% and 0.5%, respectively, over the last 60 days. The company recorded a positive earnings surprise in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 33.14%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017
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Agenus, NCI Ink Deal to Evaluate Prophage-Keytruda Combo
Agenus Inc. (AGEN - Free Report) announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to evaluate its personalized autologous vaccine candidate, Prophage (HSPPC-96), in conjunction with Merck & Co., Inc.’s (MRK - Free Report) PD-1 therapy, Keytruda.
A look at Agenus’ price movement in the past one year shows that the company has outperformed the Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry, having increased 30.4%, while the industry fell 9.5%.
Merck has outperformed the Large Cap Pharma industry in the past one year too. The stock rose 19.7%, while the industry increased 0.9%.
Coming back to the latest press release, a phase II study will evaluate the effect of Prophage, in conjunction with Keytruda, on the overall survival rate of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (ndGBM).
The objective of the study will be to evaluate the efficacy of PD-1 targeted checkpoint blockade, in combination with a heat-shock protein-based vaccine candidate, in ndGBM patients.
The double-blind, randomized controlled study will be conducted in two arms – one receiving Keytruda as monotherapy and the other receiving the Prophage-Keytruda combination.
We are encouraged by Agenus’ efforts to form collaborations to boost its pipeline. The company’s agreements not only validate its technology platforms but also provide it with funds.
However, with no approved product in its portfolio, Agenus is highly dependent on its partners for pipeline development. Also, with only a few candidates in mid-stage development, the company is still several years from launching a product. Thus, any unfavorable outcome from the ongoing studies may hurt the stock significantly.
Agenus currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Key Picks from the Sector
A couple of batter-ranked stocks in this industry include Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (ANIK - Free Report) . Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Sucmapo’s earnings estimates were stable at $1.22 for 2016 but have increased from $1.30 to $1.74 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 35.5%.
Anika’s earnings per share estimates for 2016 and 2017 were up 3.9% and 0.5%, respectively, over the last 60 days. The company recorded a positive earnings surprise in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 33.14%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2017?
Who wouldn't? As of early December, the 2016 Top 10 produced 5 double-digit winners including oil and natural gas giant Pioneer Natural Resources which racked up a stellar +50% gain. The new list is painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Be among the very first to see it>>