Biotech Stock Roundup: GILD Collaborates on NASH, FCSC Surges on Deal

The past week was busy for the biotech sector with pipeline updates and collaborations. While Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD forged a couple of alliances to strengthen its NASH pipeline, shares of Fibrocell Sciences FCSC and Axsome Therapeutics, AXSM surged on a commercialization deal and study results, respectively.

Recap of the Week’s Top Stories:

Gilead Focuses on NASH Collaboration:  Gilead Sciences, Inc. collaborates with Denmark-based pharma giant Novo Nordisk A/S NVO for developing treatments on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Both companies will initiate a proof-of-concept study combining Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (GLP-1 analogue) and Gilead's cilofexor (FXR agonist) and firsocostat (ACC inhibitor) for addressing patients suffering from NASH. The tie-up comes at a time when Gilead is trying desperately to develop a NASH pipeline. The company is expecting that a cocktail therapy of its NASH compounds with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide might work for it. Ozempic — the injectable formulation of semaglutide — is a diabetes medicine, used with diet and exercise to treat adults whose type II diabetes is not satisfactorily controlled. Since the NASH patients mostly suffer obesity and diabetes, both companies believe, the combination therapy will yield positive results.

Additionally, Gilead announced an agreement with insitro, a data-driven drug discovery and development company to discover and develop therapies for NASH patients. Per the terms of this three-year deal, insitro’s proprietary platform will be utilized to create disease models for NASH and identify targets that influence clinical progression and regression of the disease.

Vertex, CRISPR Win FDA Fast Track Designation for Beta Thalassemia Drug:  Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX announced that the FDA has granted a Fast Track Designation to its experimental candidate, CTX001, for the treatment of transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). CTX001 is an autologous, gene-edited hematopoietic stem cell therapy for patients suffering severe hemoglobinopathies. This Fast Track program facilitates development and a fast review of the drugs that treat serious conditions and fill the unmet medical needs. The candidate is being developed under a co-development and co-commercialization pact between CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex. Both companies are also evaluating CTX001 for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and received the FDA’s Fast Track Designation for the same in January 2019 for the said indication.

Celgene, Bristol Myers’ Acquisition Gets Green Signal: Celgene Corporation CELG announced that its stockholders have voted in favor of the proposed merger with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company BMY. Approximately 70% of the shareholders voted in favor of the merger. The buyout was earlier announced this January.  Per the terms, Celgene stockholders will receive a share Bristol-Myers Squibb and $50 in cash for each share of Celgene’s common stock. Celgene stockholders will also get one tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR) for per share of Celgene common stock, which will entitle the holder to earn a payment of $9 if certain future regulatory milestones are achieved. This acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019.

Fibrocell Surges on Commercialization Collaboration: Shares of the cell and gene therapy company Fibrocell Science jumped after the company completed a collaboration agreement with Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals. Both companies will coordinate to develop and commercialize Fibrocell’s lead gene therapy candidate, FCX-007, for the treatment of a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder termed recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB).

Per the terms of this collaborative contract, Castle Creek in-licesnses to exclusively commercialize FCX-007 in the United States and will be solely responsible for all the development and manufacturing costs up to $20 million prior to the filing of the biologics license application (BLA). However, if the development cost crosses $20 million, then the excess spending will be shared into 70:30 ratio among Castle Creek and Fibrocell, respectively. For the out-licensed rights to FCX-007, Fibrocell will receive an upfront payment of $7.5 million. Fibrocell will also supposedly earn $2.5 million once the first patient is enrolled in the phase III study and another $30 million upon the candidate’s FDA approval and its subsequent commercialization. However, Fibrocell will retain the sole ownership of the rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV), which may be granted upon winning the regulatory body’s nod. The company will also be in charge of the clinical development, authoritative interactions and the manufacturing process of FCX-007 under a future supply deal with Castle Creek.

Fibrocell currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Axsome Therapeutics Gains as Mid-Stage Study Meets Goal: Shares of Axsome Therapeutic Inc. were up after the company announced that a phase II study, evaluating its pipeline candidate — AXS-05 — for smoking cessation treatment, met the prespecified primary endpoint of substantially controlling the habit of daily smoking in comparison to GlaxoSmithKline’s active comparator, Wellbutrin (bupropion). This evaluation was conducted at the Duke Center for Smoking Cessation under a research collaboration between Axsome and Duke University.

The above-mentioned double-blind phase II program evaluated 58 adult smokers, who were treated with AXS-05 (45 mg) or Wellbutrin (105 mg) over a 3-week period. Data from the analysis showed that patients administered with AXS-05, demonstrated 25% greater reduction in the average number of cigarettes smoked per day in comparison to Wellbutrin.

Performance

Medical - Biomedical and Genetics Industry 5YR % Return

 

Medical - Biomedical and Genetics Industry 5YR % Return

The NASDAQ Biotechnology index declined 2.74% in the past five trading sessions. Among the major biotech biggies, Vertex shed 4.55% of value. Over the past six months, shares of Alexion have gained 7.24% whereas the Biogen stock has lost 32.4%. (See the last biotech stock roundup here: Biotech Stock Roundup: AMGN's Evenity Earns FDA Approval, Deal Wins & More)

 

What's Next in Biotech?

Stay tuned for regular pipeline developments.

Radical New Technology Creates $12.3 Trillion Opportunity

Imagine buying Microsoft stock in the early days of personal computers… or Motorola after it released the world’s first cell phone. These technologies changed our lives and created massive profits for investors.

Today, we’re on the brink of the next quantum leap in technology. 7 innovative companies are leading this “4th Industrial Revolution” - and early investors stand to earn the biggest profits.

See the 7 breakthrough stocks now>>

Is your investment advisor fumbling your financial future?
See how you can more effectively safeguard your retirement with a new Special Report, “4 Warning Signs Your Investment Advisor Might Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future.” Click to get your free report.
 
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Celgene Corporation (CELG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (AXSM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Fibrocell Science Inc (FCSC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research