ANTH's (ANTH) Blisibimod Completes Dosing In Phase III Study

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANTH) recently announced the completion of dosing in a phase II study, BRIGHT-SC. The study evaluated key pipeline candidate blisibimod for treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Please note that blisibimod was acquired from Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) in Dec 2007.

Anthera’s share price movement shows that the stock has significantly underperformed the Zacks classified Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry so far this year. Specifically, the stock lost 37.5% during this period compared with the industry’s increase of 2.8%.



The BRIGHT-SC study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that was initiated in Jun 2013. The study was initiated to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of blisibimod in IgA nephropathy. In Jun 2016, an interim analysis of the BRIGHT-SC study was conducted and the results showed a tendency toward lower proteinuria in blisibimod versus placebo-treated patients.

However, the study did not meet the pre-defined statistical primary endpoint of complete or partial response at Week 48. Subsequently, there was again a tendency toward slowing proteinuria progression with blisibimod. Hence, the company elected to continue the study until the majority of patients had the opportunity to complete two years of treatment.

The study was conducted in a total of 57 patients. In fact, 42 of 57 patients completed at least 60 weeks of evaluation and 21 completed assessments through at least 104 weeks. Anthera is likely to report top-line data in the third quarter of 2017.

We note that Anthera is also developing blisibimod for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in a phase III program.

We remind investors that the company has a mid-stage development candidate, Sollpura, which it acquired from Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in Jul 2014. The candidate is being developed for the treatment of patients suffering from low digestive enzyme levels or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to cystic fibrosis or other potential diseases. The company initiated a phase III SOLUTION study on Sollpura in the third quarter of 2015. In Dec 2016, the company announced that the study narrowly missed the primary endpoint of a change in the Coefficient of Fat Absorption (CFA) non-inferiority margin. However, Sollpura achieved the statistical criterion for nitrogen absorption. However, Anthera reported positive data from the extension phase of the SOLUTION study in Mar 2017.

The company currently has no approved products. Hence, the successful development of these candidates is crucial for it.

Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider

Anthera currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Investors may also consider another stock in the health care sector is Heska Corporation (NASDAQ:HSKA) , which has the same Zacks Rank as Anthera. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Heska’s earnings per share estimates increased from $1.53 to $1.65 for 2017 and from $1.90 to $2.01 for 2018, over the last 60 days. The company posted positive surprises in three of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 291.54%.

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