Acceleron, Celgene Present Myelodysplastic Syndromes Data

Acceleron Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:XLRN) and partner Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) announced updated preliminary phase II data from the ongoing 3-month base and long-term extension studies on luspatercept in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Data were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Note that year-to-date share price movements show that while Acceleron performed in line with the Zacks classified Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry, Celgene outperformed the same. Specifically, Celgene lost 1.8% year-to-date compared to a drop of 25.6% for the industry.

However, both the stocks have reacted favorably to Trump’s victory. Acceleron surged approximately 29%, while Celgene saw 8.5% growth in its share price compared to the 2.8% for the industry following the election results.

Patients in the base study were treated with luspatercept for three months, while the long-term extension study involved patients who received treatment with luspatercept for up to an additional five years.

Preliminary data on erythropoiesis-stimulating agent treatment-naive MDS patients showed that 60% of patients when treated with luspatercept experienced increased hemoglobin levels, while 75% of the patients eligible for transfusion independence achieved the same in the 3-month base study. In the extension study, 81% of patients had increased hemoglobin levels and 80% achieved transfusion independence. In addition, response rates were encouraging in ring sideroblast (RS)-negative MDS patients.

The latest study results are impressive. We note that Acceleron and Celgene are jointly developing luspatercept under a global collaboration. The companies are exploring possibilities of expanding the program to include additional MDS patient populations.

ACCELERON PHARM Price

Currently, enrollment in the phase III MEDALIST study on patients with very low, low or intermediate risk MDS with RS, who require red blood cell transfusions, is underway. Enrollment is also ongoing in the phase III BELIEVE study in beta-thalassemia patients.

CELGENE CORP Price

Celgene carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while Acceleron is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.

Other Key Picks

A couple of other favorably ranked stocks in the health care sector are Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP) and Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNDA) . Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Sucampo’s earnings estimates increased from $1.03 to $1.22 for 2016 and from $1.30 to $1.58 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 35.55%.

Vanda’s loss estimates narrowed from 68 cents to 52 cents for 2016, while its earnings estimates increased from 16 cents to 22 cents for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in three of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 56.65%. Its share price has surged almost 68% year to date.

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