Pfizer’s Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Pain Could Make Sarepta the DMD King
Pfizer released initial clinical data from its Phase 1b gene therapy study for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. While these results did not necessarily live up to expectations, there is a winner in this.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE | PFE Price Prediction) has released initial clinical data from its Phase 1b gene therapy study for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). While these results did not necessarily live up to expectations, there is a winner in this: Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SRPT). A couple of analysts looked at these results as well and are decidedly for Sarepta over Pfizer.
Janney Capital suggested serious safety concerns, including two severe adverse effects that required hospital readmission due to severe gastrointestinal side effects and admission to a pediatric intensive care unit due to acute kidney injury with complement activation. Overall, four of the six patients treated in the study experienced nausea and vomiting, which caused transient weight loss.
The study has been paused because of the safety signals and after protocol changes. Pfizer is waiting for the final ethical review outcome to resume patient dosing.
Pfizer clearly has a plan to move forward with the guidance on the initiation of a randomized, placebo-controlled global Phase 3 study in the first half of 2020. Based on the data so far, Janney sees Sarepta leading in the race, in both timeline and quality of the clinical data.
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Separately, Baird analyst Brian Skorney says Pfizer’s data related to its experimental therapy for patients with DMD falls short on both safety and efficacy. Again Skorney noted the two patients in the trial who experienced severe adverse effects and had to be hospitalized.
Shares of Pfizer closed Friday at $43.32, in a 52-week range of $36.00 to $46.47. The consensus price target is $45.57.
Sarepta closed up 17% at $151.95 per share. The 52-week range is $95.21 to $165.87, and the consensus analyst target is $204.35.
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Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.
His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.
When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.
