We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
AstraZeneca's Calquence Shows Promise as Coronavirus Treatment
Read MoreHide Full Article
Data published in Science Immunology, a peer-reviewed journal, on AstraZeneca’s (AZN - Free Report) BTK inhibitor drug, Calquence (acalabrutinib) showed that it reduced markers of inflammation and improved clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients. The company is conducting global clinical studies to support the claim.
Published data showed that treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with Calquence improved laboratory markers of inflammation and decreased oxygen requirements observed in most patients, over a 10-14 day treatment course. This data has been peer-reviewed but remains to be validated by clinical studies.
Based on these findings, AstraZeneca is conducting a global clinical program — CALAVI, comprising of two phase II studies — to assess the potential of Calquence for treating exaggerated immune response (cytokine storm) associated with COVID-19 infection in severely ill patients.
Please note that Calquence is approved to treat previously treated mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia indication (in frontline as well as relapsed/recurrent disease setting).
AstraZeneca’s shares have increased 8% so far this year against the industry’s decrease of 1.3%.
One study of the CALAVI program will evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding Calquence to best supportive care (“BSC”) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are not on assisted ventilation and not admitted in the intensive care unit (“ICU”) compared to BSC alone. Another study will evaluate the same regimen in patients who are admitted in the ICU with more severe respiratory complications.
The company hopes that adding Calquence to BSC may reduce the need to place patients on ventilators and also improve their chances of survival.
Several other large pharma companies are also evaluating their marketed drugs to treat respiratory complications associated with COVID-19, which is also the need of the hour.
Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has an agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to evaluate its JAK inhibitor, Olumiant, as a potential treatment for hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Roche (RHHBY - Free Report) and Regeneron (REGN - Free Report) /Sanofi have already initiated phase III clinical studies to evaluate their IL-6 receptor antagonists, Actemra and Kevzara, respectively, in severe COVID-19 patients.
Please note that Olumiant, Actemra and Kevzara are approved for rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder. These drugs are also being predicted to reduce overactive inflammatory response in the lungs leading to improvement in coronavirus-infected patients.
Several other large and small pharma/biotech companies are developing treatments or vaccines to fight the pandemic, which has infected nearly seven million people across the globe.
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Image: Bigstock
AstraZeneca's Calquence Shows Promise as Coronavirus Treatment
Data published in Science Immunology, a peer-reviewed journal, on AstraZeneca’s (AZN - Free Report) BTK inhibitor drug, Calquence (acalabrutinib) showed that it reduced markers of inflammation and improved clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients. The company is conducting global clinical studies to support the claim.
Published data showed that treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with Calquence improved laboratory markers of inflammation and decreased oxygen requirements observed in most patients, over a 10-14 day treatment course. This data has been peer-reviewed but remains to be validated by clinical studies.
Based on these findings, AstraZeneca is conducting a global clinical program — CALAVI, comprising of two phase II studies — to assess the potential of Calquence for treating exaggerated immune response (cytokine storm) associated with COVID-19 infection in severely ill patients.
Please note that Calquence is approved to treat previously treated mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia indication (in frontline as well as relapsed/recurrent disease setting).
AstraZeneca’s shares have increased 8% so far this year against the industry’s decrease of 1.3%.
One study of the CALAVI program will evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding Calquence to best supportive care (“BSC”) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are not on assisted ventilation and not admitted in the intensive care unit (“ICU”) compared to BSC alone. Another study will evaluate the same regimen in patients who are admitted in the ICU with more severe respiratory complications.
The company hopes that adding Calquence to BSC may reduce the need to place patients on ventilators and also improve their chances of survival.
Several other large pharma companies are also evaluating their marketed drugs to treat respiratory complications associated with COVID-19, which is also the need of the hour.
Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has an agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to evaluate its JAK inhibitor, Olumiant, as a potential treatment for hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Roche (RHHBY - Free Report) and Regeneron (REGN - Free Report) /Sanofi have already initiated phase III clinical studies to evaluate their IL-6 receptor antagonists, Actemra and Kevzara, respectively, in severe COVID-19 patients.
Please note that Olumiant, Actemra and Kevzara are approved for rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder. These drugs are also being predicted to reduce overactive inflammatory response in the lungs leading to improvement in coronavirus-infected patients.
Several other large and small pharma/biotech companies are developing treatments or vaccines to fight the pandemic, which has infected nearly seven million people across the globe.
AstraZeneca PLC Price
AstraZeneca PLC price | AstraZeneca PLC Quote
Zacks Rank
AstraZeneca currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>