Roche Reports Positive Data From Tecentriq Combination Study

Roche Holding (SIX:ROG) AG’s (OTC:RHHBY) member, Genentech, announced that the phase III IMpower150 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), with or without Avastin has met its co-primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). The study is being conducted in people with stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who had not been treated with chemotherapy for their advanced disease.

According to the evaluation, combination of Tecentriq and Avastinalong with chemotherapy provided a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death compared to Avastin plus chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced non-squamous NSCLC.

Per the company, the initial results from the co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) were encouraging and it expects to provide the results for the next overall survival in the first half of 2018. Meanwhile, Further, the company is also evaluating the combination in a broad range of other cancers.

So far this year, shares of Roche have gained 2% compared with the industry’s growth of 14.4%.

In another release, the company also announced encouraging results from phase III HAVEN 3 study evaluating Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh) in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years or older) with hemophilia A without inhibitors to factor VIII. The study met both its primary and secondary endpoints. The study showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the number of treated bleeds over time in people receiving Hemlibra prophylaxis every week compared to those receiving no prophylaxis. Hemlibra is the first product to show superior efficacy to factor VIII prophylaxis. Hemlibra was recently approved in the United States for patients who have developed resistance to clotting factors.

The positive results bode well for the company and can lead to potential approval in these indications which might boost revenues for the company.

We note that Roche has a strong presence in the oncology market. Also, it company dominates the breast cancer space owing to the strong demand for its HER2 franchise drugs like Herceptin, Perjeta and Kadcyla.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Roche carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked health care stocks in the same space include Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP) , Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) and Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ:CORT) . While Sucampo sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Ligand and Corcept carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Sucampo’searnings per share estimates have moved up from $1.01 to $1.12 for 2017 and from $1.06 to $1.19 for 2018 over the last 30 days. The company delivered positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 15.63%.

Ligand’s earnings per share estimates have climbed $3.68 to $3.70 for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company pulled off positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 8.22%. The share price of the company has increased 38.1% year to date.

Corcept’searnings per share estimates have moved up from 45 cents to 47 cents for 2017 and from 77 cents to 88 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company delivered positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 14.32%. The share price of the company has increased 153.3% year to date.

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