The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Roche, Poseida Therapeutics, Merck, AstraZeneca and Novartis

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – December 2, 2024 – Zacks.com announces the list of Stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Roche RHHBY, Poseida Therapeutics PSTX, Merck MRK, AstraZeneca AZN and Novartis NVS.Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:Pharma Stock Roundup: Pipeline Successes and MoreThis week, Roche announced that it will acquire its existing partner, Poseida Therapeutics for $9 per share in cash, representing a total equity value of approximately $1.0 billion. Merck and AstraZeneca’s late-stage studies, evaluating the expanded use of their new drugs, met their respective goals. The European Commission approved Novartis’ breast cancer drug Kisqali (ribociclib) for a broad population in early breast cancer.Here's a recap of the week’s most important stories.MRK’s Study of Winrevair in Advanced PAH SucceedsMerck announced positive top-line data from a phase III study, ZENITH, evaluating its pulmonary arterial hypertension (“PAH”) drug, Winrevair (sotatercept), for more advanced disease – those with WHO Group 1 functional class (FC) III or IV at high risk of mortality. The study met its primary endpoint of time to first morbidity or mortality event, which could be either all-cause death, lung transplantation or PAH hospitalizations. In the study, treatment with Winrevair added to background PAH therapy led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of morbidity or mortality events compared to placebo.Based on the overwhelming efficacy seen in the study, an independent data monitoring committee (DMC) recommended the study be stopped early. The DMC also recommended that patients with this advanced form of PAH be offered the opportunity to get Winrevair through an open-label extension study.Winrevair was approved to treat PAH WHO Group 1 in the United States in March based on data from the STELLAR study.NVS’ Kisqali Gets EU Nod for Early Breast CancerThe European Commission (EC) granted approval to Novartis’ breast cancer drug Kisqali (ribociclib) for a broader patient population. Kisqali can now be prescribed in the EU in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) for the adjuvant treatment of adults with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer (EBC) at a high risk of disease recurrence. The approval is based on data from the phase III NATALEE study. Kisqali was approved for EBC patients in the United States by the FDA in September 2024. Kisqali is already approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in several countries.Roche to Buy CAR-T Cell Therapy Maker PoseidaRoche announced a definitive agreement to acquire Poseida Therapeutics, a biotech making allogeneic pre-clinical and clinical-stage CAR-T therapies across areas like hematological malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune disease. Roche and Poseida already have a collaboration deal to develop off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapies for hematological malignancies. Roche will acquire Poseida for $9.00 per share in cash at closing plus a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) for up to an aggregate of $4.00 per share in cash, adding up to a deal value of approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.Roche also announced that its phase III SKYSCRAPER-01 study, evaluating tiragolumab combined with Tecentriq in a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) indication, did not achieve its primary endpoint of overall survival at the final analysis.AZN’s Truqap Combo Improves PFS in Prostate Cancer StudyAstraZeneca’s phase III study evaluating Truqap in combination with J&J’s Zytiga (abiraterone) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer met its primary endpoint of radiographic progression-free survival(rPFS). Data from the CAPItello-281 study showed that the Truqap combination led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in rPFS compared to abiraterone and ADT with placebo in patients suffering from this aggressive form of prostate cancer. Truqap is presently approved for treating HR-positive (or ER-positive), HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index rose 3.7% in the past five trading sessions.In the last five trading sessions, all the stocks were in the green. AbbVie rose the most (9.1%).In the past six months, while AbbVie rose the most (17.2%), Novo Nordisk declined the most (20.0%).(See the last pharma stock roundup here: Pharma Stock Roundup: EU Nod for PFE’s Hympavzi, NVS Ups Sales View)What's Next in the Pharma World?Watch this space for regular pipeline and regulatory updates next week.AstraZeneca, Novartis, Merck and Roche have a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.0 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +44.9%, +48.4% and +55.2% per year.Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.See Stocks Free >>Media ContactZacks Investment Research800-767-3771 ext. 9339support@zacks.comhttps://www.zacks.comPast performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.Must-See: Solar Stocks Poised to SkyrocketThe solar industry stands to bounce back as tech companies and the economy transition away from fossil fuels to power the AI boom.Trillions of dollars will be invested in clean energy over the coming years – and analysts predict solar will account for 80% of the renewable energy expansion. This creates an outsized opportunity to profit in the near-term and for years to come. But you have to pick the right stocks to get into.Discover Zacks’ hottest solar stock recommendation FREE.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis Report Novartis AG (NVS): Free Stock Analysis Report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY): Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (PSTX): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks