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Pharma Stock Roundup: LLY's Alzheimer Disease Data, NVS & SNY's M&A Deals

This week, Eli Lilly LLY announced promising data from a mid-stage study on its Alzheimer’s disease candidate, donanemab. Sanofi SNY announced an agreement to acquire a small private biotech while Novartis NVS signed a deal to in-license rights to BeiGene’s PD-L1 inhibitor.

Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories

Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Disease Candidate Meets Primary Goal in Phase II: Lilly’s investigational antibody, donanemab, led to significant slowing of decline in a composite measure of cognition and daily function in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease compared to placebo in a pivotal phase II study (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ).  The study's primary endpoint was change from baseline until 76 weeks in the Integrated Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (iADRS). Donanemab met the primary endpoint, slowing decline in cognition and function by 32% versus placebo, which was statistically significant.  Currently, no treatments that slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease patients have been approved by the FDA. Lillyalso has another pivotal study, TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2, ongoing on the candidate.

The FDA has accepted Lilly’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) seeking approval for its diabetes medicine, Jardiance as a treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure as well as to slow kidney function decline in adults with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

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Novartis In-Licenses Rights to BeiGene’s PD-L1 Inhibitor: Novartis signed a collaboration with China’s BeiGene to in-license ex-China rights to the latter’s late-stage anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, tislelizumab for an upfront payment of $650 million plus royalties and milestone payments. Novartis secures development and commercialization rights inmajor markets outside of China like North America, Europe, and Japan. Tislelizumab is approved to treat classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma and metastatic urothelial carcinoma in China while several studies are ongoing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancer indications.

Meanwhile, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to Novartis’ monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, ligelizumab for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in patients with an inadequate response to H1-antihistamines. Novartis plans to file regulatory applications seeking approval of ligelizumab for this severe skin disease in 2022.

Sanofi to Buy Kymab, Add Global Rights to Immunology Candidate: Sanofi announced an agreement to acquire Kymab, which will add global rights to the former’s lead pipeline candidate KY1005, a potential treatment for a range of immune and inflammatory diseases. KY1005, a human monoclonal antibody, has a novel mechanism of action as it targets key immune system regulator, OX40L. The acquisition, if successfully closed, will strengthen Sanofi’s presence in immunology.

FDA Approves Expanded Use of Pfizer’s Xalkori: The FDA granted approval to Pfizer’s PFE cancer drug Xalkori for the treatment of relapsed or refractory ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), in pediatric patients and young adults. Xalkori is presently approved to treat metastatic   ALK- or ROS1-positive NSCLC. It is not approved for relapsed or refractory, systemic ALK-positive ALCL in older adults.

EU Approval to Roche’s Xofluza for Influenza: The European Commission granted approval to Roche’s RHHBY Xofluza, a single-dose oral medicine, to treat uncomplicated influenza in patients aged 12 years and above. Additionally, Xofluza has been approved as a preventative treatment for influenza in those aged over 12. The approval was based on results of phase III studies Capstone-1, Capstone-2, and Blockstone.

FDA’s Priority Review to Merck’s Pneumococcal Vaccine: The FDA accepted Merck’s MRK biologics license application (BLA) for V114, its investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for use in adults. With the FDA granting priority review to the BLA, the FDA’s decision is expected on Jul 18, 2021. A regulatory application for V114 is also under review in the EU.

European Commission Approves Glaxo’s Tivicay for Pediatric Use: The European Commission granted marketing approval to Glaxo’s GSK Tivicay (dolutegravir) 5mg dispersible tablets for treating HIV-1 in pediatric patients in Europe. The tablet will be available for oral suspension to treat pediatric patients aged at least four weeks and weighing at least 3kg. Meanwhile, the EC also approved an expanded label of Tivicay film-coated tablet (10mg, 25mg and 50mg for use in pediatric HIV patients (6 years and older and weighing at least 14kg). The FDA approved Tivicay for pediatric use as Tivicay PD in June 2020.

The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index rose 1.5% in the last five trading sessions.

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return
Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

Here’s how the eight major stocks performed in the last five trading sessions.

Last week, Lilly recorded the maximum gain (12.6%) while Merck declined the most (2.2%).

In the past six months, while Lilly recorded the maximum rally (13.2%) AstraZeneca declined the most (10.7%).

(See the last pharma stock roundup here: ABBV’s Positive Skyrizi Data, AZN, PFE, RHHBY’s FDA Updates)

What's Next in the Pharma World?

Watch out for pipeline and regulatory updates next week.

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Sanofi (SNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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