Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
VRTX
announced that it has stopped dosing and will discontinue the phase II study on its investigational oral small molecule corrector, VX-814, for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), an inherited condition that raises risk for lung and liver disease.
The company took the decision to stop dosing in the phase II study based on the safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of VX-814 observed in the study to date. The study was being conducted to evaluate the ability of VX-814 to increase functional levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein mainly produced by the liver, over 28 days of dosing. However, elevated liver enzymes were observed in several patients, which were more than normal limits. Meanwhile, exposure levels were low as observed in the analysis of PK data from the study, which the company believes would make it impractical to safely reach targeted exposure levels and thus meaningful increases in AAT levels.
Vertex’s shares were down almost 12% in pre-market trading on Thursday in response to the pipeline setback. Vertex’s stock has risen 24% this year so far compared with an increase of 3.1% for the
industry
.
Vertex has another AATD small molecule corrector in its pipeline, VX-864, for which a phase II study was initiated in July. This phase II study continues to enroll and dose patients. Data from the study are expected in the second half of next year.
The company’s main focus is on the development and marketing of its cystic fibrosis franchise. However, it also has a rapidly advancing early-stage portfolio in other specialty disease areas. Other than AATD, these disease areas include pain, sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia and APOL1-mediated kidney diseases.
In sickle cell disease and thalassemia, Vertex is co-developing a gene-editing treatment, CTX001, in partnership with CRISPR Therapeutics
CRSP
. Meanwhile, enrollment is underway in a phase II study on VX-147 in APOL1-mediated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).
Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to Consider
Vertex currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).You can see
the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
.
Some better-ranked stocks from the biotech sector include Emergent Biosolutions
EBS
and Horizon Therapeutics
HZNP
. While Emergent has a Zacks Rank #1, Horizon Therapeutics has a Zacks Rank #2.
Emergent Biosolutions’ earnings per share estimates have moved up from $6.17 to $8.42 per share for 2021 in the past 30 days. The stock has risen 81.8% so far this year.
Horizon Therapeutics’ earnings per share estimates have increased from $2.83 to $2.87 per share for 2020 and from $4.28 to $4.38 for 2021 in the past 30 days. The stock has surged 121.8% so far this year.
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