Genzyme Corporation (GENZ) recently reported positive results from a randomized phase III study that was conducted with Campath (alemtuzumab) in combination with Fludara (fludarabine phosphate) in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients.  The company reported that patients treated with Campath and Fludara (FluCAM) experienced a significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS), compared to patients receiving only Fludara. The study was designed to detect at least a 50% overall improvement in PFS in the FluCAM arm compared to the Fludara arm.  Although the company did not disclose full results, Genzyme announced that the trial’s independent data safety monitoring board, in a pre-planned interim analysis, determined that the study achieved its primary endpoint and recommended early closure of the trial.  We look forward to detailed results from the study in December at the American Society of Hematology. Impressive PFS results could help the combination ...

Cephalon (CEPH) shares are currently trading at 9.6x our 2009 EPS estimate of $5.90 (fully-diluted). The shares declined significantly early last year on concerns regarding the growth prospects of Provigil and Fentora.The FDA complete response letter on Fentora for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid tolerant patients with chronic pain conditions also hit the stock hard. The letter asked the company to implement and show the effectiveness of proposed enhancements to the current Fentora risk management plan.Given these setbacks, investor focus has shifted to the company's emerging oncology pipeline, Amrix, and the switching of users to Nuvigil. Amrix should be a major contributor to revenues going forward.Cephalon has also made significant progress with its oncology pipeline. We saw encouraging phase III results on oncology candidate Treanda at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, and were pleased to see ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - April 28, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Dynavax Technologies Corp. (DVAX),Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS), Wilmington Trust Corp. (WL), Micromet Inc. (MITI) and Embraer (ERJ).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Dynavax Surge Not Warranted

In early morning trading, Dynavax Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: DVAX) shares shot up dramatically (36%). However, we don't see a clear reason for that.

The surge may be related to two pieces of news: phase III Heplisav data and the swine

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On Friday April 24, 2009, Micromet Inc. (MITI) held a briefing for investors and financial analysts in New York to provide an update on the company's drug development pipeline.A key highlight of the presentation was the announcement that a rapid path to market has been identified in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for the company's lead drug candidate BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) with a registration trial planned for 2010. This was in addition to a dose escalation study which is currently underway of blinatumomab for non Hodgkin's lymphoma, with final results expected to be reported at the American Society of Hematology meeting in December.MITI also provided an update on MT110, which is currently in a phase 1 dose-escalating clinical trial in patients with lung or gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, pre-clinical data for the company's EGFR BiTE Antibody, presented at the recent annual meeting of the ...

Biopharmaceutical company Micromet Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI) develops proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, and bases its discoveries on its proprietary antibody platform, BiTE. Yesterday the company released first interim data from a phase 2 clinical trial of BiTE antibody blinatumomab for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The company presented the clinical results at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology December 6 to 9 in San Francisco. The results showed that ALL patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) after chemotherapy have a “significantly worse prognosis” than those without MRD. In Micromet’s phase 2 clinical trials, blinatumomab for ALL patients with the BiTE antibody was able to eliminate MRD.

Micromet senior vice president and Chief Medical Officer Carsten Reinhardt, M.D. said the positive results may pave the way for advancements to combat ALL. “The level of response to blinatumomab in ALL patients

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