Piper Jaffray analyst Joshua Schimmer says his general impression is that Alnylam (ALNY) and Genzyme's (SYN) I.V. patisiran for TTR polyneuropathy is "potent and well tolerated" and may have stronger TTR knockdown than Isis Pharmaceuticals (ISIS) and GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) ISIS-TTR Rx. The data are incomplete, however, and the market opportunity may prove large enough for both drugs to be winners, particularly in the cardiomyopathy setting, Schimmer tells investors in a research note. He keeps a Neutral rating on Isis Pharmaceuticals.

After IGM Biosciences (IGMS) announced that the company's exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement with Sanofi (SNY) to create and develop IgM agonist antibodies will now focus exclusively on immunology and inflammation targets, Stifel analyst Stephen Willey said the firm believes the re-focusing of the collaboration away from oncology and exclusively to the three, yet-to-be-disclosed IAI targets "removes some longer-term economic optionality," but ultimately doesn't change the firm's thesis on the stock. The firm, which adds that Sanofi's decision aligns with its continued prioritization of IAI development opportunities and doesn't reflect anything aplitabart-related and notes that IGM now regains full control of these oncology programs and could potentially re-monetize these assets via future partnerships, would be buyers on related weakness. Stifel has a Buy rating and $25 price target on IGM Biosciences shares.

GSK announced positive results from the pivotal EAGLE-1 phase III trial for gepotidacin, a potential first-in-class oral antibiotic with a novel mechanism of action for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea in adolescents and adults. These results will be presented on 30 April 2024 at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ESCMID, Global in Barcelona, Spain. The results from EAGLE-1 are based on a primary endpoint of microbiological response at the Test-of-Cure visit 3-7 days after treatment. The trial showed that gepotidacin was non-inferior with 92.6% success rates when compared to 91.2% success rates for intramuscular ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin combined therapy, a leading combination treatment regimen for gonorrhoea. The safety and tolerability profile of gepotidacin in the EAGLE-1 trial was consistent with results seen in phase I and II trials. The most commonly reported adverse events in gepotidacin subjects were gastrointestinal. All AEs were mild or moderate except for one severe, unrelated event in each treatment arm and one unrelated serious event in the gepotidacin arm.