Stock report on AEZS from broadstreetalerts.com
Aeterna Zentaris is certainly the Speculator.
Summary:
Aeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical company, engaged in the development and commercialization of novel treatments in oncology, endocrinology, and women's health. The company’s product pipeline includes MACRILEN, which completed the Phase 2 trial for use in the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency; and zoptarelin doxorubicin, which is in Phase 3 clinical study in endometrial cancer (ZoptEC) of the compound in women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial cancer. It is also developing two oncology compounds, including an Erk inhibitor and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-disorazol Z product candidates, which are in pre-clinical development.
Recent News and Analysis
The company recently announced it has reached its goal of recruiting 500 patients for its pivotal Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) clinical study with zoptarelin doxorubicin in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. The trial is being conducted in over 120 sites in North America, Europe and Israel. The primary efficacy endpoint is improvement in overall survival. Following its first pre specified interim analysis last April, a Data and Safety Monitoring Board recommended that the ZoptEC Phase 3 study continue as planned. A second interim analysis is expected during Q4, 2015 at approximately 192 events, with the final analysis planned at an anticipated 384 events. The trial is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. In addition to the developments in ZoptEC, the company has three drug candidates in pre-clinical studies, and has moved Macrilen into Phase 3 trials for the evaluation of adult growth hormone deficiency.
Shares of AEZS have retreated dramatically over the past year, falling from a high of $1.54 to as low as $0.20. The drop started when Aeterna Zentaris’ Macrilen drug was not approved by the FDA in Nov 2014. Shares of AEZS have been falling ever since. It is believed the company has reached a bottom and should begin an upward trend. This, of course, is with the assumption that the ZoptEC trials are successful and obtain approval in the future. Chances of this appear higher as it was last reported that the analysis of the drug by the FDA recommended continuing with the next set of trials.
Verdict
AEZS is certainly the speculator in this trio of companies. It is trading at a significant discount to the 52 – week high and certainly has the potential to reach those levels again. However, success rides heavily on the success of the Phase 3 trials for ZoptEC. If unsuccessful in Phase 3 trials, the company does have several more drug candidates which it can continue to develop and hope for a home run.
