Vertex (VRTX) to Start Clinical Study on mRNA-based CF Therapy
Vertex Pharmaceuticals VRTX announced that the FDA cleared its investigational new drug (IND) application seeking approval to start clinical studies on VX-522, an investigational mRNA-based therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) indication.
VX-522 is designed to treat the underlying cause of CF lung disease in patients for whom a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator is not beneficial. Following the IND clearance, Vertex plans to start a single ascending dose clinical study in adult CF patients with a CFTR genotype not responsive to CFTR modulator therapy in the coming weeks.
A leader in the CF space, Vertex’s main focus is on developing and strengthening of its CF franchise. The company’s portfolio consists of four medicines, all targeting the CF indication. These include Trikafta/Kaftrio, Symdeko (marketed as Symkevi in Europe), Orkambi and Kalydeco. During the third quarter of 2022, Vertex generated total revenues (entirely from CF product sales) worth $2.33 billion, up 18% year over year.
Shares of Vertex have gained 43.1% in the year so far against the industry’s 19.0% decline.
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Management estimates that more than 83,000 patients worldwide are affected by CF, a rare multi-organ disease affecting the lungs, liver, pancreas, GI tract, sinuses, sweat glands and reproductive tract. It is caused by the lack of or defects in the CFTR protein, which leads to poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cells in a number of organs.
Per Vertex, its four CF medicines target the majority of the 83,000 patients living with CF across the world. Management estimates that VX-522, if approved, could benefit around 5,000 CF patients who still cannot benefit from its four marketed CF medicines.
VX-522 is being developed by Vertex in collaboration with Moderna MRNA. Both Vertex and Moderna entered into a collaboration in 2016 to discover and develop mRNA therapeutics for CF. Per the terms of collaboration, Vertex is responsible for leading the preclinical and clinical development of therapies under this collaboration. Moderna is responsible for mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) process development and manufacturing. Moderna is also eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of potential products resulting from this collaboration.
While CF is one of the main focus areas of Vertex, the company is also focused on expansion beyond the CF space. Currently, Vertex has a rapidly advancing mid- and late-stage clinical pipeline across seven disease areas beyond CF like acute pain, sickle cell disease (SCD), beta-thalassemia, APOL1-mediated kidney diseases (AMKD), alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and cell therapy for type I diabetes.
The company is focused on exa-cel, a gene-therapy developed in partnership with CRISPR Therapeutics CRSP in two devastating diseases — SCD and thalassemia. Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics initiated a rolling biologics license application (BLA) filing with the FDA last month, which is expected to be completed by first-quarter 2023. If approved, exa-cel will be Vertex’s first non-CF product and CRISPR Therapeutics’ first marketed product.
Vertex has already completed discussions on exa-cel for both SCD and TDT indications with European regulatory authorities. Based on these discussions, management intends to submit the regulatory filings in the European Union and the United Kingdom by this year’s end.
Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics entered into a collaboration agreement in 2015. Apart from exa-cel, both companies are working on developing therapies for cystic fibrosis as well as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1).
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Price
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Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Vertex currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).A better-ranked stock in the overall healthcare sector is Kamada KMDA, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the past 30 days, estimates for Kamada’s 2022 loss per share have narrowed from 14 cents to 7 cents. During the same period, the earnings estimates per share for 2023 have risen from 26 cents to 42 cents. Shares of Kamada have declined 31.8% in the year-to-date period.
Earnings of Kamada beat estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed the mark twice, witnessing a negative earnings surprise of 62.50%, on average. In the last reported quarter, Kamada’s earnings beat estimates by 433.33%.
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