Stifel Talks 5 Biotech Stocks

Stifel analyst Brian Klein published abstracts Thursday from the 2015 ASCO annual meeting.

Klein’s following comments along with current ratings were intended to provide investors with “meaningful insight into ongoing clinical activities for various investigational agents.”

Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ARIA - Buy

“Updated results for brigantinib in ALK+ NSCLC should help derisk the ongoing registrational ALTA trial; in particular we highlight this agent's compelling clinical activity in patients with brain metasteses, which we believe could help to differentiate brigantinib from other second-line ALK-targeting agents (Zykadia).”

Clovis Oncology Inc CLVS - Buy

“Investigators will present updated results from the open-label Phase 1/2 trial of rociletinib at this year's ASCO. While the abstract suggests a diminished ORR in the T790M-positive population compared to previously reported data (48% vs. 67%), we believe this level of response activity will be sufficient for accelerated approval in the setting of a meaningful PFS (> 6 months at a minimum). In addition we note rociletinib's activity in T790M-negative patients provides a meaningful addressible patient population
not currently targeted by other agents.”

Curis, Inc. CRIS - Hold

“In our view disappointing activity for CUDC-907, particularly in comparison to other investigational agents now in the clinic, as well as an unappealing safety/toxicity profile, if confirmed at ASCO, should lead the company to shelve this program to focus on other pipeline candidates.”

Exelixis, Inc. EXEL - Hold

“Data in NSCLC supports cabozanitinib activity but at the cost of potentially excessive toxicity. We believe data in this indication and others to be presented at ASCO, will support our contention that 60 mg is too intolerable for patients, which could bode poorly for the ongoing Phase 3 METEOR trial which employs this dose in relatively healthy RCC patients.”

Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. INFI - Hold

“Data in a small cohort of treatment-naive CLL patients demonstrates compelling single agent activity of duvelisib, which could further improve with combination trials.”