Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced positive results from the phase III study, S-TRAC, (Sunitinib Trial in Adjuvant Renal Cancer) on Sutent.
The randomized, double-blind trial evaluated Sutent in comparison to placebo in the adjuvant setting in patients who are at high risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Results showed that the trial met the primary endpoint of improving disease-free survival as determined by a blinded independent central review in RCC patients with a high risk of recurrence after surgery. Adjuvant therapy is expected to lower the risk of recurrence in patients suffering from early-stage cancer.
Pfizer expects to report full efficacy and safety data from the trial at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Oct 2016.
We note that Sutent is approved for advanced RCC, imatinib-resistant or -intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumors and advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. As per the information provided by the company, RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for around 90% of all kidney cancers. The product’s sales increased 22% operationally (excluding currency impact) year over year in the first quarter of 2016, primarily driven by price increases in the U.S., as well as strong demand in most markets.
The RCC market is already pretty crowded. Note that the FDA had approved Exelixis, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:EXEL) Cabometyx in Apr 2016 for the treatment of advanced RCC in patients who received prior anti-angiogenic therapy. In Nov 2015, the FDA approved Opdivo for the same indication.
Pfizer currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably placed stocks in the healthcare sector include Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) and Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) . Both stocks carry the same rank as Pfizer.
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EXELIXIS INC (EXEL): Free Stock Analysis Report
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