We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Alnylam, Vir Begin Phase I/II Study on Hepatitis B Candidate
Read MoreHide Full Article
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY - Free Report) announced that licensee Vir Biotechnology, Inc. has initiated a phase I/II study evaluating VIR-2218 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. VIR-2218 is a novel, investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic that is administered via subcutaneous injection and designed to effectively silence all HBV RNA transcripts, which are necessary for viral replication and viral protein expression.
VIR-2218 was originated by Alnylam as ALN-HBV02 and it was out-licensed to Vir. The latter will conduct the clinical development of the candidate. VIR-2218 is the first product to enter clinical trials as part of the research collaboration between Vir and Alnylam, announced in 2017, to develop novel RNAi therapeutics for infectious diseases.
The phase I/II trial of VIR-2218 is a randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of the candidate in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic HBV infection. The companies plan to enroll patients at multiple study sites in several countries around the Pacific Rim. The trial will progress in a staggered, parallel fashion to rapidly generate early proof of concept data.
The company expects data from the study in 2019.
Share price of Alnylam declined 38.3% year to date compared with the industry’s decline of 17.7%.
We note that, Anlylam is focused on the development of novel therapeutics based on RNAi. In August 2018, the FDA approved Alnylam’s Onpattro (patisiran) lipid complex injection, a first-of-its-kind RNAi therapeutic, for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis in adults. Onpattro is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for this indication.
The company’s Advanced ALN-TTRsc02 is a subcutaneously administered investigational RNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. The company reached alignment with the FDA on a pivotal phase III study for ALN-TTRsc02 in patients with hATTR amyloidosis.
Bristol-Myers’ earnings per share estimates have increased from $3.62 to $3.87 for 2018 and from $3.82 to $4.08 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with average of 11.99%.
Gilead’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $6.60 to $6.93 for 2018 and from $6.53 to $6.83 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters with average of 6.99%.
Merck’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $4.27 to $4.34 for 2018 and from $4.63 to $4.71 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with average of 3.96%. Shares of the company have increased 37.2% year to date.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
Image: Bigstock
Alnylam, Vir Begin Phase I/II Study on Hepatitis B Candidate
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY - Free Report) announced that licensee Vir Biotechnology, Inc. has initiated a phase I/II study evaluating VIR-2218 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. VIR-2218 is a novel, investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic that is administered via subcutaneous injection and designed to effectively silence all HBV RNA transcripts, which are necessary for viral replication and viral protein expression.
VIR-2218 was originated by Alnylam as ALN-HBV02 and it was out-licensed to Vir. The latter will conduct the clinical development of the candidate. VIR-2218 is the first product to enter clinical trials as part of the research collaboration between Vir and Alnylam, announced in 2017, to develop novel RNAi therapeutics for infectious diseases.
The phase I/II trial of VIR-2218 is a randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of the candidate in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic HBV infection. The companies plan to enroll patients at multiple study sites in several countries around the Pacific Rim. The trial will progress in a staggered, parallel fashion to rapidly generate early proof of concept data.
The company expects data from the study in 2019.
Share price of Alnylam declined 38.3% year to date compared with the industry’s decline of 17.7%.
We note that, Anlylam is focused on the development of novel therapeutics based on RNAi. In August 2018, the FDA approved Alnylam’s Onpattro (patisiran) lipid complex injection, a first-of-its-kind RNAi therapeutic, for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis in adults. Onpattro is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for this indication.
The company’s Advanced ALN-TTRsc02 is a subcutaneously administered investigational RNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. The company reached alignment with the FDA on a pivotal phase III study for ALN-TTRsc02 in patients with hATTR amyloidosis.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Alnylam is a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock.
Some better-ranked stocks worth considering are Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY - Free Report) , Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD - Free Report) and Merck & Co. (MRK - Free Report) . While Bristol-Myers and Gilead sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Merck carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Bristol-Myers’ earnings per share estimates have increased from $3.62 to $3.87 for 2018 and from $3.82 to $4.08 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with average of 11.99%.
Gilead’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $6.60 to $6.93 for 2018 and from $6.53 to $6.83 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters with average of 6.99%.
Merck’s earnings per share estimates have increased from $4.27 to $4.34 for 2018 and from $4.63 to $4.71 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all of the trailing four quarters with average of 3.96%. Shares of the company have increased 37.2% year to date.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>