Yahoo Finance Rigel (RIGL) Gets EMA Acceptance for Thrombocytopenia Drug
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. RIGL announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted its Marketing Authorization Application (MAA), seeking approval for Tavalisse (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adult patients. The validation was received last week, which initiated the MAA review process.
Rigel expects a decision from the Committee on Human Medicinal Products in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company plans to enter into partnership with third parties to commercialize Tavalisse in Europe and Asia.
In April 2018, Tavalisse was approved by the FDA and was commercially launched in the United States in the following month. Now, the company is diligently trying to pursue a European commercial collaboration next year and make the drug available for patients suffering from chronic ITP.
Shares of the company went up 1.6%, following the announcement of the news. However, the stock has lost 20.1% year to date compared with the industry’s decrease of 6.1%.
Tavalisse, an oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, is the company’s first approved product indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic ITP who were not responding to any previous treatment. It is the first and only FDA approved drug for the treatment of thrombocytopenia.
In the second quarter of 2018, Tavalisse generated $1.8 million of net sales in the United States.
Notably, Rigel is also conducting phase II studies of fostamatinib in autoimmune hemolytic anemia and IgA nephropathy, and a phase I study for its interleukin receptor associated kinase (IRAK) program. The company has several other candidates, which are being clinically developed with its partners — BerGenBio AS, Daiichi Sankyo and Aclaris Therapeutics ACRS.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Rigel Pharmaceuticals currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector are Endo International plc ENDP and United Therapeutics Corporation UTHR, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Endo International’s earnings estimates have moved 0.8% north for 2018 and 0.7% for 2019 over the past 60 days. The stock has skyrocketed 116.8% so far this year.
United Therapeutics’ earnings estimates have been revised 3.6% upward for 2018 and 2.3% for 2019 over the past 60 days.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>
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
United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (RIGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Endo International plc (ENDP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (ACRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
