OncoGenex' Candidate Progresses - Analyst Blog

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OGXI) recently announced that it is looking to move its oncology candidate, OGX-427, into a phase II study, Borealis-2, for the potential treatment of advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. The investigator-sponsored, randomized, controlled phase II study will enroll 200 patients suffering from advanced or metastatic bladder cancer whose disease has progressed following initial platinum-based chemotherapy treatment.

This study will evaluate OGX-427 plus Sanofi's (SNY) Taxotere (docetaxel) in improving survival compared to Taxotere alone.

OGX-427 is also in another clinical trial, Borealis-1. A randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study, Borealis-1 is designed to evaluate the potential survival benefit, safety and tolerability of combining OGX-427 with gemcitabine and cisplatin in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced bladder cancer.

OncoGenex will decide on a phase III study of OGX-427 in bladder cancer if one of these two studies shows a survival advantage.

The most advanced candidate in OncoGenex's pipeline is custirsen (phase III) under evaluation for the treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer in men and also for the treatment of patients with advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. OncoGenex has a global collaboration and license agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) to develop and commercialize the candidate. Another candidate, OGX-225, for the solid tumors indication is in pre-clinical development.

OncoGenex and Teva currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Right now, Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (FURX) looks more attractive with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).