Pfizer Provides Final Update On Phase II Talazoparib Study

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced data from its phase II study, ABRAZO, which is evaluating talazoparib in advanced breast cancer patients with germline BRCA 1/2 positive (gBRCA+) mutations, showing anti-tumor activity. The results were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

Talazoparib is a poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, which is being investigated for cancer types with deficiencies in DNA damage repair (DDR).

Shares of Pfizer have underperformed the Zacks classified Large Cap Pharma industry so far this year. The stock has gained 0.2% during the period, while the broader industry witnessed an increase of 11.4%.

The phase II study evaluated safety and efficacy of talazoparib in patients with heavily pretreated gBRCA+ advanced breast cancer in two cohorts.

One cohort investigated talazoparib in patients who developed disease progression after responding to prior platinum-based chemotherapy, achieving a 21% objective response rate (ORR). Another cohort treated patients with at least three lines of non-platinum-based therapy and subsequently developed disease progression. This cohort achieved a 37% ORR.

The candidate is also being evaluated in an open-label, randomized phase III study, EMBRACA to compare the safety and efficacy of talazoparib versus protocol-specific physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients who have locally advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer with gBRCA+ mutations.

Talazoparib was added to Pfizer’s pipeline with the acquisition of cancer-focused biopharma company Medivation, Inc.

The breast cancer market provides immense commercial potential. We note that Novartis AG’s (NYSE:NVS) Kisqali has been recently approved while the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted in favor of approval of Puma Biotechnology, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:PBYI) neratinib in May 2017. Moreover, Eli Lilly and Company’s (NYSE:LLY) abemaciclib is in late stages of development. The oncology market is attracting a lot of attention with several companies inking deals and working on bringing their candidates to this high-revenue potential market.

Pfizer, Inc. Price

Pfizer, Inc. Price | Pfizer, Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank

Pfizer currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>>