Search Results for: AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca Product Fasenra Approved in the US for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis 

AstaZeneca Fasenra Approval AstraZeneca (AZN) product Fasenra (bevacizumab) has been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) - a rare, immune-mediated vasculitis that can result in damage to multiple organs, and without treatment, can be fatal. The approval in the United States FDA was based on positive results from the MANDARA Phase III trial published in . …

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi + Imjudo Demonstrated Unprecedented Overall Survival in Advanced Liver Cancer

AstraZeneca Imfinzi + Imjudo Updated results from the HIMALAYA Phase III trial have demonstrated that AstraZeneca (AZN) Imfinzi (durvalumab) plus Imjudo (tremelimumab) showed a sustained clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) benefit at five years for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had not received prior systemic therapy and were not eligible for localized treatment. The results from HIMALAYA were presented at . . . …

 AstraZeneca: The U.S. FDA Approved IMFINZI in Combination with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel followed by IMFINZI Monotherapy for Adults with Primary Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer

US FDA Approval for AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI AstraZeneca (AZN): The trial results of the FDA newly approved combination products demonstrated a reduction in the risk of disease progression or death by 58% in patients with dMMR endometrial cancer versus chemotherapy alone.   Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women In the United States.  More than 66,000 patients diagnosed and almost 12,000 deaths in …

Yes, Compugen’s Stock is Soaring, But Why?

Compugen's Soaring Stock Many recent events  led to Compugen's (CGEN) soaring stock after a huge decline in its price. In spite of the tremendous stock decline, Prohost never doubted the fact that Compugen has solid scientific fundamentals and great scientists. The firm has done a great  job utilizing its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological . . . …

AIM ImmunoTech Announces Authorizations from Competent Authority and Ethics Board in Netherlands to Start Phase 1b/2 Study Evaluating Ampligen in Combination with AstraZeneca Imfinzi for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

AIM ImmunoTech Announcement AIM ImmunoTech (AIM) - an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of its TLR-3 agonist Ampligen (rintatolimod) as a novel and potentially powerful therapeutic in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (“LAPC”) and metastatic pancreatic cancer, announced the required approvals from the Netherlands for Erasmus Medical Center (“Erasmus MC”) to begin a . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please …

Comprehensive Prohost Letter #448

Comprehensive Prohost Letter Issues Coronavirus Variant Omicron A lot has happened since the coronavirus variant Omicron was discovered in South Africa. After having been responsible for a severe plummeting of the stock market, Omicron boosted the market after being described by many scientists as fast spreading with different yet milder symptoms when compared to those caused by SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and …

AstraZeneca Granted FDA EUA for Long Acting Antibody Evusheld for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis of Covid-19

AstraZeneca Long Acting Antibody Granted FDA EUA for COVID-19 Prevention AstraZeneca (AZN) product Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination received emergency use authorization (EUA) in the US for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19, with the first doses expected to become available very soon. The EUA for Evusheld was granted for . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here …

AstraZeneca Saphnelo Approved in Japan for Adult Patients with SLE

AstraZeneca Saphnelo Approved by Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Developed by AstraZeneca (AZN), Saphnelo is a first-in-class type I interferon receptor antibody shown to reduce overall disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) was based on efficacy and safety data from the Saphnelo clinical . . . This content is for paid subscribers. …

AstraZeneca: Big Step Towards Improving the Lives of SLE Patients and More on Cassava Sciences

Cassava Sciences There is no doubt in our minds that Cassava Sciences’ (SAVA) product simufilam will play a major role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. We have no doubt that simufilam has improved cognition in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The cognition gained 3.0 Points on ADAS-Cog in 9 months. The Alzheimer’s patients’ disordered . . . This content is for paid …

AstraZeneca: Tagrisso Recommended for Marketing Authorization in the EU for Early Stage EGFRm NSCLC

AstraZeneca: Tagrisso for Adult Patients with Early-Stage EGFRm NSCLC... AstraZeneca (AZN): Tagrisso (osimertinib) has been recommended for marketing authorization in the European Union for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early-stage (IB, II and IIIA) epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log in.

CureVac N.V.

Prohost Portfolio PLUS #3 CureVac N.V. We were looking forward to learning more important details about the German firm, CureVac N.V. (CVAC), when the company announced business updates and financial results for its fourth quarter and full-year 2020. The reason for our interest was the fact that the U.S. was looking to take over this firm two years ago to no avail. A more important …

A Flashback and Future Projections

Prohost Letter #445 A Flashback and Future Projections 1. A Follow-Up on Recently Posted News from ProhostBiotech 2. Answering Questions 3. Development-Stage Firms to Outperform 4. Oversold Revenue-Generating Firms 5. Tables with FAIR 2021 Targets for the Prohost Selected Firms In This Issue We Discuss the Following Firms: Anixa Biosciences (

AstraZeneca to Supply Half a Million Additional Doses of the Potential COVID-19 Antibody Treatment AZD7442 to the U.S.  

AstraZeneca to Supply Additional Doses of AZD7442 to the U.S. for COVID-19  AstraZeneca (AZN) has modified an existing agreement with the U.S. Government to supply up to 500,000 additional doses of AZD7442 - a long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination in late-stage development, for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We stress . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to …

Prohost Letter #444

Prohost Letter #444 The End of the Year Issue was delayed because our 2020 Prohost Portfolio stocks’ targets for the year failed to materialize; nobody not even the authorities were capable of predicting the pandemic, which continues to plague the world. As 2021 approached, we were unable to the End of the Year issue on time as we lacked the information required for the fair …

Compugen: Why the Great Expectations from this Firm

The Compugen Story For those who are still asking about the value of Compugen’s (CGEN) discoveries our answer is that the best story written about this firm is its own autobiography.   We believe Compugen's accomplishments are extremely valuable in improving the treatment of cancers. As small as the firm is, Compugen . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe …

Compugen: More Highlighted News

Compugen Exclusive License Agreement with AstraZeneca In April 2018 Compugen (CGEN) and AstraZeneca (AZN) entered into . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log in.

Acquisitions that Make Sense

Acquisitions  AstraZeneca Acquires Alexion Pharmaceuticals AstraZeneca (AZN) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) entered into a definitive agreement for . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log in.

Moderna’s Future Growth

Moderna Inc COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Moderna Inc (MRNA) announced the completion of the case accrual for the first interim analysis of Phase 3 COVE study of mRNA-1273, its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The firm announced a significant increase in the rate of case identification across sites in the last week. As a result, the Company expects the first interim analysis will include substantially more than 53 …

Tracking the News from AstraZeneca About Experimental Vaccine, AZD1222, for COVID-19

News from AstraZeneca About COVID-19 Vaccine, AZD1222 From AstraZeneca (AZN) we learned that its COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222, which is being developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has produced a similar immune response in older and younger adults. A spokesman from the firm stated that the results have further built the body of evidence for the safety and immunogenicity of AZD1222. On October 23, 2020 AstraZeneca’s …

We Continue to Track the COVID-19 Vaccines. See Also: CRISPR Therapeutics Immuno-Oncology Results are Good.

The Latest on the COVID-19 Vaccines AstraZeneca (AZN): After pausing for more than a month, AZN is expected to resume its Phase 3 US study of its COVID-19 vaccine. The trial was paused after a patient, who received the vaccine, developed an illness suspected to be a serious spinal inflammatory condition known as transverse myelitis. The patient was . . . This content is for …

Gilead Sciences Could Acquire Immunomedics at $20 Billion. See Also: AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial Resumed

Gilead Sciences News Is Not Just Gossip Real news, not just gossip, is spreading today about Gilead Sciences (GILD) nearing a deal to acquire the biotech firm Immunomedics (IMMU) for $20 billion. Immunomedics current market value is around $10 billion which means that Gilead is buying it at double its value. The deal could be announced on Monday, if not sooner, if the talks go …

The Small Firm Whose Stock Soared in Yesterday’s Market

Firms' with COVID-19 Vaccines Stock Performance A look at the stock performance of the COVID-19 vaccine firms that have demonstrated early, promising and even good news regarding their prophylactic effect. The outcome was as follows:    Moderna (MRNA): was down over 12% after an analyst at J.P.Morgan downgraded the company to neutral from overweight, overvaluation . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please …

A Potential Merger Between AstraZeneca Plc and Gilead Sciences?

AstraZeneca Plc and Gilead Sciences Potential Merger News spread through the media announcing that AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) has approached Gilead Sciences (GILD) regarding a possible, potential merger. People familiar with the subject (we don’t know who they are) believe that such a merger, if it materializes, would be the highest healthcare business deal on record. As told, the story recounts that AstraZeneca got in touch …

Questions & Answers

The Week in Review #51 Questions & Answers About CytomX Q: Is there any reason for the CytomX stock selloff that occurred in early May? In order to answer this question we need to explain CytomX’s (CTMX) Probody therapeutics. These novel treatments are designed to remain inactive until they are activated only . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe …
Prohost Letter #439

Prohost Letter #439

Prohost Letter #439 The Coronavirus Outbreak - COVID-19 The news announced that the coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) outbreak would affect not only people’s health and survival but the world’s economy, Wall Street’s performance, and especially the international giant industrial firms that are committed to China. British AstraZeneca (AZN
Why Moderna Stock Is Boosted in Today’s Bad Stock Market Day

Why Moderna Stock Is Boosted in Today’s Bad Stock Market Day

Coronavirus On January 7, 2020, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified in humans in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Additional cases have been found in the United States and in a growing number of countries around the world.    Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can lead to respiratory illness, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronaviruses are …
Prohost Letter #438 ~ The End of the Year Issue 2019

Prohost Letter #438 ~ The End of the Year Issue 2019

Prohost Letter #438 End of the Year Issue  2019 Happy New Year 2020 The NASDAQ reached 9000 for the first time in the market history on December 30, 2019. However, on the last trading day of 2019, the Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 8,945.99 after giving back 60.62 points or 0.7%. During the departed year, however, the stock exchange was boosted by the outperformance of …
The Week in Review #48 ~ Holiday Edition

The Week in Review #48 ~ Holiday Edition

The Week in Review #48 Holiday Edition ******************** Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! We Wish You a Happy New Year Filled with Excellent Health, Peace of Mind, Prosperity and Happiness What a Year for Biotechnology What happened in the biotech sector toward the end of 2019 is briefed in this Review as we focus on the performance of our picked firms’ stocks’ prices. We will …
This Past Week

This Past Week

The Week in Review #43 This Past Week After hearing hints about the trade war between China and the United States being avoided the market reversed course from faltering to flying at the speed of light. This trade war replaced all important factors that would usually affect the market performances. Unemployment is the lowest since 1969 and is expected to cause a bullish market, but …
AstraZeneca and Vertex Both Have Good News

AstraZeneca and Vertex Both Have Good News

AstraZeneca: Farxiga for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction  AstraZeneca (AZN) has good news. Many of them are extremely positive. However, the firm’s stock is still struggling to get this pharmaceutical company out of the oversold territory where it has been living since the beginning of the year.    Among the recent good news came the results from a Phase 3 trial using AstraZeneca’s SGLT2 inhibitor …
News From Four Biotech Companies and Several Treatments

News From Four Biotech Companies and Several Treatments

AstraZeneca and Merck PARP Inhibitor Lynparza The AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK) PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib) has been granted approval in Europe for first-line maintenance monotherapy . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log in.
The FDA approves the first ever postpartum depression product. Positive results from Dermira’s atopic dermatitis product Lebrikizumab

The FDA approves the first ever postpartum depression product. Positive results from Dermira’s atopic dermatitis product Lebrikizumab

News We Loved to Hear  The First and Only Approval of a Specific Product for Postpartum Depression ZULRESSOTM The FDA granted approval of Sage Therapeutics’ (SAGE) ZULRESSOTM (brexanolone) injection. A product for the treatment of the condition known as postpartum depression (PPD). This makes Zulresso the first and only medicine specifically approved by the FDA to treat PPD; the most common medical complication of childbirth. The product …
Halozyme signs another license agreement this time with argenx

Halozyme signs another license agreement this time with argenx

Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) and argenx (ARGX) announced a global collaboration and license agreement offering argenx the right to use Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology to develop multiple subcutaneous product formulations for current or future argenx product candidates. The agreement provides argenx exclusive access to ENHANZE® for any product targeting the human neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, including argenx's lead asset efgartigimod (ARGX-113) and up to two additional targets, potentially shortening …
Merck’s superior accomplishments

Merck’s superior accomplishments

Merck (MRK) announced its Q4 2018 financial results. The firm outperformed itself and delighted us with regard to picking its stock on time. Merck compensated those who bet on it the day it was added to the Prohost Portfolio that comprises only the biotech and bio-pharmaceutical companies with solid scientific fundamentals. The press release issued regarding Merck's financial results started with Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and …
End of the Year Decisions Part 2

End of the Year Decisions Part 2

Prohost Letter #427 End of the Year Decisions ~ Part 2 As a result of the unexpected volatility in the stock market, we carefully reassessed each and very stock we picked for the Prohost Portfolio. Consequently, we had to change many of our 2019 targets in all 7 tables which represents the whole portfolio of companies we believe are offering lucrative investment opportunities. On January 3, …
AstraZeneca: Excellent collaborations. Moderna Therapeutics: Turning public. Will Prohost add it to its Portfolio as promised?

AstraZeneca: Excellent collaborations. Moderna Therapeutics: Turning public. Will Prohost add it to its Portfolio as promised?

In the NEWS AstraZeneca (AZN) announced a collaboration with Cancer Research UK to launch a center of excellence in genetic screening, cancer modelling and big data processing aimed at accelerating the discovery of new cancer medicines. During the announcement of the news, Mene Pangalos, the firm’s Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicines & Early Development, said, the best science doesn’t happen in isolation, which is why AstraZeneca …
AstraZeneca: Advancing and improving Stage III lung cancer treatments

AstraZeneca: Advancing and improving Stage III lung cancer treatments

Stage III (locally-advanced) NSCLC is commonly divided into three sub-categories: IIIA, IIIB and IIIC, defined by how much the cancer has spread locally and the possibility of surgery. The difference between Stage III and Stage IV disease (cancer (metastasized to distant organs)) is that Stage III is treated now with curative intent. The majority of Stage III NSCLC patients are diagnosed with unresectable tumors. It …
Amgen and AstraZeneca have in hand a very much needed Asthma drug

Amgen and AstraZeneca have in hand a very much needed Asthma drug

In the Week in Review posted yesterday on our website that is experiencing several attempts on its life, we wrote about some firms, including Amgen. In the Amgen’s article we tried to let the reader recognize the importance of Amgen’s (AMGN) asthma product tezepelumab and how it differs from all other asthma drugs on the market, including the conventional tablets, inhalers and infusions. The Novel …
What is looking good in the aggressive portfolio

What is looking good in the aggressive portfolio

The Week in Review #29 PROHOST AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO  - The aggressive portfolio hosts biotech firms with solid scientific fundamentals and prominent scientists whose stocks have plummeted following some setbacks. A setback could be a failure of an investigational product to meet the endpoints of its clinical trial or that the small biotech firm has taken long to achieve its goals . . . This content …
AstraZeneca and Genentech Checkpoint Inhibitors improve survival in two different Lung Cancers

AstraZeneca and Genentech Checkpoint Inhibitors improve survival in two different Lung Cancers

ASTRAZENECA AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Checkpoint Inhibitor Imfinzi significantly improved Overall Survival (OS) for Stage III Non-Small Cell Cancer Imfinzi (durvalumab) achieved positive overall survival (OS) results for the Phase III PACIFIC trial in patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancer did not progress following platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation. An Independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that the trial met the second of two primary …
The FDA Approves AstraZeneca Checkpoint Inhibitor Imfinzi® for a Lung Cancer. A Probable Partnership Agreement Between Arbutus and Roivant

The FDA Approves AstraZeneca Checkpoint Inhibitor Imfinzi® for a Lung Cancer. A Probable Partnership Agreement Between Arbutus and Roivant

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AstraZeneca (AZN) Checkpoint inhibitor drug Imfinzi® (durvalumab) for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Explaining the importance of this approval, Scott J. Antonia, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Thoracic Oncology Department at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida and investigator …
Acorda’s Attempted Rally. See Also: Amgen, Merck and AstraZeneca

Acorda’s Attempted Rally. See Also: Amgen, Merck and AstraZeneca

Acorda (ACOR) stock was up around 10% reaching over $28 in premarket trading. The stock is trading now around $27 with its gains oscillating between $2 – $2.20. The enthusiasm for ACOR seems to be about rumors that Biogen (BIIB) or possibly other Asian drug makers might have demonstrated the interest in Acorda. What’s going on with Acorda? In June 2017, the stock rallied on news about positive clinical trial …
Must Read News. See Also: A New Immunotherapy Combination by Incyte and AstraZeneca

Must Read News. See Also: A New Immunotherapy Combination by Incyte and AstraZeneca

Amgen (AMGN) and Kirin Holdings (Kirin) announced an agreement upon, which Kirin-Amgen, a joint venture between the two companies, will redeem Kirin’s shares in the joint venture and as a result, Kirin-Amgen will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen. The Kirin-Amgen joint venture was established in 1984 as a 50-50 joint venture between Amgen and Kirin to fund the global development of Epogen® (epoetin alfa). The scope of …
Will NewLink Genetics’ IDO Inhibitor Improve the Efficacy of AstraZeneca’s Checkpoint Inhibitor in Treating Pancreatic Cancer?

Will NewLink Genetics’ IDO Inhibitor Improve the Efficacy of AstraZeneca’s Checkpoint Inhibitor in Treating Pancreatic Cancer?

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) checkpoint PD-L1 inhibitor Imfinzi and NewLink Genetics’ (NLNK) IDO inhibitor indoximod will be combined and tested in Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials together with the standard of care chemotherapy treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer. AstraZeneca and NewLink Genetics will jointly fund the phase 2 trial of the combination that  NewLink will be sponsoring  It is a Phase 2  trial that will be …
Prohost Letter #413

Prohost Letter #413

Prohost Letter #413 FROM BIOTECH TO BIOPHARMA - New research, new findings, new discoveries of trustworthy and doubtful biomarkers more understanding of genomics and proteomics, in addition to more breakthrough diagnostic procedures, are all gifts of the life-science revolution. This revolution started with molecular biology, the discovery of the DNA and its functions, which was the prelude to genomic understanding, gene sequencing, and genetic engineering and …
An Approval for Celgene and Two Breakthrough Designations for AstraZeneca

An Approval for Celgene and Two Breakthrough Designations for AstraZeneca

CELGENE Good news from Celgene (CELG) announced  that the FDA approved the firm’s targeted drug Idhifa (enasidenib) for adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) mutations. Good news also announced that the FDA approved the RealTime IDH2 companion assay, which pinpoints the IDH2 mutations. Richard Pazdur, MD, of the FDA Office of Hematology and Oncology Products, said in a statement. …
The Value of Sangamo, Merck and AstraZeneca News

The Value of Sangamo, Merck and AstraZeneca News

GENE EDITING Sangamo Biosciences: Is it a Comeback? Genome editing allows the creation of therapeutics that can modify the genome in a living cell, providing unprecedented reach that would help the creation of treatments for genetic diseases. The dream about emerging solutions through genome editing techniques, which could correct genetic mutations causing diseases seems to be turning into reality. Among the innovative firms in this …
Prohost Letter #405

Prohost Letter #405

Prohost Letter #405 Synthetic Biology (3) We have already decided upon becoming shareholders the day synthetic biology firm called Synthetic Genomics turns public. We reiterate that firms specialized in synthetic biology are numerous private and publicly traded. Some are promising, others are walking in place and a few have plummeted. With the general underperformance of synthetic biology stocks, many shareholders abandoned ship. Investors felt that …
The FDA Manufacturing Issues. Why Portola Rallied but is Still Way Undervalued

The FDA Manufacturing Issues. Why Portola Rallied but is Still Way Undervalued

MANUFACTURING ISSUES?!  Why PORTOLA Stock Rallied? On Aug. 17, 2016, we learned that the FDA sent a Complete Response Letter (CRL) to Portola Pharmaceuticals (PTLA) regarding its Biologics License Application (BLA) for AndexXa™ (andexanet alfa), which is an antidote important for the safety use of several new Factor Xa inhibitors anticoagulants aimed at replacing Coumadin (warfarin). The Factor Xa inhibitors anticoagulants have many advantages over …
Prohost Letter #403 Part 2

Prohost Letter #403 Part 2

Prohost Letter #403 Part 2 Continued From Wednesday Instead of continuing yesterday article about Agenus, we decided to post it all so that the reader can find it in one place. Important changes and additions have been made especially under the headline “Near-­Term Priorities, Possibilities and Catalysts”, which are important to read. Learning More About AGENUS Since its inception, Agenus (AGEN), previously known as Antigenics, …
Is Prohost Still Cautious About Investing in Clovis Oncology?

Is Prohost Still Cautious About Investing in Clovis Oncology?

The FDA announced what made Clovis Oncology (CLVS) shareholders believe that the bad times might have ended for the firm and a new era is beginning. The announcement was about the FDA decision not to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for drug rucaparib aimed at treating advanced ovarian cancer. The regulatory agency had already granted rucaparib a …
Gilead and Genmab Agreement. A Quick Look at Moderna

Gilead and Genmab Agreement. A Quick Look at Moderna

GILEAD & GENMAB To Access Genmab’s (GEN) bispecific antibody technology, Gilead (GILD) signed a new agreement with Genmab. The King of HIV treatment objective is to use its exclusive license from Genmab to produce an HIV bispecific monoclonal antibody therapeutic. Gilead is paying around $5 million in upfront payment and up to $277 million in milestones. Genmab will also be entitled to one-digit royalty of …
Array: Selumetinib Negative Results Are No Match to Its Binimetinib Positive Results

Array: Selumetinib Negative Results Are No Match to Its Binimetinib Positive Results

We do expect some selling of Array today after AstraZeneca’s announced negative results from Phase 3 SELECT-1 trial of the MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy as 2nd-line treatment for KRAS mutation-positive (KRASm) locally-advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results did not meet the trial’s primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), and did not demonstrate overall survival (OS). These results, …
Coming from AstraZeneca and Juno: News That Makes a Big Difference

Coming from AstraZeneca and Juno: News That Makes a Big Difference

Important news is the news that informs about successful achievements that make a difference in treating life-threatening diseases, chronic diseases and diseases with no available treatments. Sometime you might not have a personal interest in one, or another or even all the mentioned firms in the news. For investors in the biotech sector, however, it is good to know the successful treatments that might be …
Disrupting the Capability of Cancer Cells to Repair Their Damaged DNA. See Also: Underestimated Biotech Firms

Disrupting the Capability of Cancer Cells to Repair Their Damaged DNA. See Also: Underestimated Biotech Firms

Underestimating the Value of Drugs that Disrupt the DNA Repair Mechanisms in Cancer Cells. AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said that while DNA damage response was under-recognized by investors, oncologists were already “very excited” by its potential of the drugs targeting DNA repair mechanisms inside cancer cells. According to AstraZeneca, drugs that disrupt the DNA repair mechanisms inside cancer cells are showing tangible promise for …
Prohost Letter #395

Prohost Letter #395

Prohost Letter #395 On the Road TO DEFEATING CANCER - Results of cancer treatment with novel immunotherapy drugs suggest that the hope of conquering cancer has improved from doubtful to conceivable. Immunotherapy treatments are scoring unprecedented successes against a wide variety of malignancies, including liquid cancers, solid cancers, cancers with DNA mutations caused by viruses and other cancer-causing agents. The two Immunotherapy approaches are currently occupying …
Who Will End Up Acquiring Medivation? Abbott Acquires St Jude. See Also: Alnylam

Who Will End Up Acquiring Medivation? Abbott Acquires St Jude. See Also: Alnylam

Medivation is a Target for Acquisition The Question is: Who Will Acquire Medivation? Sanofi has made a bid to acquire Medivation for $9.3 billion (£6.37B). Sanofi is expected to pay $52.50 per share in cash for Medivation. Why Medivation? Sanofi's chief executive Olivier Brandicourt said, "Thanks to Medivation's excellent prostate cancer treatments, we believe that a merger with Medivation would benefit patients and, at the same time, create value …
TapImmune and Loxo Oncology Have Interesting News

TapImmune and Loxo Oncology Have Interesting News

The AACR 2016 meeting presentations differed substantially from previous meetings. The  2016 meeting has brought near certainty that, indeed, defeating cancer is a reachable objective. The road is lengthy, but the speed in analyzing the data and acting upon them towards improvement is unprecedented. You will find the most important information about the AACR cancer meeting in the upcoming Prohost Letter. In the NEWS TAPIMMUNE …
Prohost Letter #393

Prohost Letter #393

Prohost Letter #393 IMMUNOTHERAPY - PROHOST PORTFOLIO - NEW PICKS? - A Brief Reminder of the CAR T –TCR Immunotherapy Approaches In this issue we continue our journey inside the territory of cancer immunotherapy. We remind that in the Prohost Letter issue #391, we dealt with the immunotherapy based on genetically engineered T Cells, enabling them to seek out, attack and neutralize cancer cells. The immune system’s T …
Breakthrough Drugs of the Week

Breakthrough Drugs of the Week

Recent Breakthrough Designated Products CANCER Acute Myeloid Leukemia PKC412 (midostaurin) developed by Novartis AG (NVS) is an oral, multi-targeted kinase inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3 mutations. It is also being studied for aggressive systemic mastocytosis/mast cell leukemia. FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) is a cell-surface receptor for tyrosine kinase, which has a role in the upsurge of certain blood cell types. The drug has positive data …
Prohost Letter #390

Prohost Letter #390

Prohost Letter #390 COMPANIES USING CRISPR GENE EDITING TOOLS - The Firms Launched with CRISPR Patents Either Pending or Disputed! What Does This Mean? What are these Firms’ Priorities? But First: A Reminder In the last issue, Prohost #389, we pinpointed the gene editing technologies and techniques and demonstrated the difference between gene editing, which is genetic engineering, i.e., making changes in the genes themselves, and antisense …
Astrazeneca Selects Mirati Therapeutics Drug for Its Cancer Immunotherapy Combination

Astrazeneca Selects Mirati Therapeutics Drug for Its Cancer Immunotherapy Combination

In The NEWS IMMUNOTHERAPY MIRATI THERAPEUTICS Mirati Therapeutics (MRTX) is an oncology company focusing on genetic and epigenetic drivers of cancer. The firm’s clinical stage product candidates include MGCD265, a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor that is in Phase 1b clinical development trials for the treatment of solid tumors, including lung, head and neck, and gastric cancers; MGCD516, a kinase inhibitor, which is in Phase 1 clinical …
Prohost Letter #375 Part 1

Prohost Letter #375 Part 1

Prohost Letter #375 Part 1 BIOTECHNOLOGY: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA STATE- OF-THE-ART APPROACHES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC AND DEADLY DISEASES ARE IN HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS We are encouraged by some novel treatments for chronic diseases and cancer and we are optimistic about results coming from their early- and late-phase trials. Picking advanced therapeutics is the magic word Sesame in the formula “Open Sesame”, which, …