Yahoo Finance Deciphera (DCPH) to Prioritize Key Pipeline Drugs, Cut Jobs
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. DCPH has announced a corporate restructuring plan to prioritize the development of select clinical programs, streamline commercial operations, reduce expenses and extend its cash runway.
The company will focus on the development of its pipeline candidates, vimseltinib and DCC-3116, while discontinuing the rebastinib program. A phase III study on rebastinib for treating patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer was expected to begin in 2022.
Deciphera plans to initiate the phase III MOTION study evaluating vimseltinib for the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumor. A phase I study is evaluating DCC-3116 as a single agent and in combination with trametinib for the treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic tumors driven by mutations in RAS/RAF genes.
The company will streamline commercial operations for its sole marketed drug, Qinlock (ripretinib), in the United States and focus on commercialization efforts on a select number of key European markets for the medicine.
Shares of the company were up 12.1% on Tuesday following the announcement of the news. However, the stock has declined 84.9% so far this year compared with industry’s decrease of 15.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Qinlock is approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (“GIST”) who have received prior treatment with three or more kinase inhibitors, including Novartis’ NVS Gleevec (imatinib).
Novartis has lost the patent protection for Gleevec, which faces increasing generic competition in major markets.
Deciphera will now focus on commercialization plans for Qinlock on a select number of key European markets like Germany and France. In November 2021, the European Commission approved Qinlock for the treatment of fourth-line GIST.
In the first nine months of 2021, Qinlock generated sales worth $63.7 million. The approval in Europe should boost sales in future quarters.
Also, the company will stop the further clinical development of Qinlock including a phase Ib/II study of the same in combination with Mektovi (binimetinib), an approved MEK inhibitor, in patients with post-imatinib GIST, which was expected to begin shortly.
Deciphera will reduce its current workforce by approximately 35% or almost 140 positions. The changes in the clinical development programs and the restructuring efforts are expected to bring a significant reduction in the company’s operating expenses and extend the cash runway into 2024.
The company expects a one-time cash charge of around $32 million in the fourth quarter, resulting from the workforce reduction and discontinuation of the rebastinib study.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Deciphera currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector include Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. SRPT and vTv Therapeutics Inc. VTVT, both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Sarepta Therapeutics’ loss per share estimates have narrowed 31.3% for 2021 and 26% for 2022, over the past 60 days.
Earnings of Sarepta Therapeutics have surpassed estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, and missed the same on the other two occasions.
vTv Therapeutics’ loss per share estimates have narrowed 21.7% for 2021 and 2.9% for 2022, over the past 60 days.
vTv Therapeutics’ earnings have surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same on the other occasion.
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
Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (SRPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
vTv Therapeutics Inc. (VTVT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (DCPH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
