Alnylam (ALNY) to Continue Phase III Study on Patisiran

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY announced that the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has recommended the continuation of the phase III APOLLO study on patisiran without any modification. However, the committee also stated that it will periodically meet to monitor the overall safety of the candidate through the course of the study.

Note that patisiran, an experimental RNAi therapeutics targeting transthyretin (TTR), is being evaluated for the treatment of hereditary TTR-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR) with polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN), also known as familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP).

Top-line data from the study are expected in mid 2017.

ALNYLAM PHARMA Price

ALNYLAM PHARMA Price | ALNYLAM PHARMA Quote

The committee met at Alnylam’s request following its decision to discontinue the development of revusiran in the phase III ENDEAVOUR study due to an imbalance in mortality in patients dosed with the candidate, compared to placebo. Revusiran was being evaluated for the treatment of patients with hATTR with cardiomyopathy (hATTR-CM), also known as familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (FAC).

We remind investors that Alnylam has a worldwide collaboration agreement with Sanofi SNY for the development and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics - patisiran and revusiran.

Investors should note that hATTR represents high unmet need due to the lack of treatment options, with approximately 10,000 people affected with FAP and at least 40,000 people suffering from FAC in the world.

Meanwhile, given that Alnylam has no approved product in its portfolio, successful development of patisiran would allow the company to launch its first product.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

A couple of better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are Incyte Corporation INCY and Geron Corporation GERN. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Incyte’s earnings estimates for 2016 and 2017 were up a respective 29.5% and 11.5% over the last 60 days. The company has beaten earnings estimates thrice in the last four quarters with an average surprise of 335.16%.

Geron has delivered a positive earnings surprise in each of four trailing quarters, bringing the average beat to 20.78%.

Confidential from Zacks

Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
SANOFI-AVENTIS (SNY): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GERON CORP (GERN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
INCYTE CORP (INCY): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
ALNYLAM PHARMA (ALNY): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research