Dit was waarschijnlijk de reden voor de daling van vrijdagavond.
Vertex Pops As Analyst Questions Whether Rival Has 'Viable Drug'
ALLISON GATLIN3:00 PM ET
FacebookLinkedInTwitterShare Reprints
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) and Galapagos (GLPG) stocks diverged Friday as one analyst suggested that while Galapagos has an interesting molecular formula, it may not have a viable cystic fibrosis drug on its hands.
Autoplay: On | OffBy the closing bell on the stock market today, Vertex popped 3.5% to finish at 149.97, as Galapagos fell 2.7%, to close at 97.09. The biotechs made presentations Friday during the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Indianapolis.
"Galapagos has well-researched molecules that have intriguing activity in a variety of laboratory systems and molecular models for cystic fibrosis, but so far it is difficult to know if these molecules will actually make viable drugs," Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges said in a note to clients.
Both biotechs are working on triple-pill combinations to treat the genetic lung condition. Analysts mostly estimate Galapagos is several years behind Vertex, which already has four potential triple-pill combinations in midstage testing.
To catch up, Galapagos appears to be compressing and "attempting to outright skip over" many of the traditional aspects of clinical testing. That has raised some questions for investors, Porges said.
"Given their lack of progress with their combinations in the U.S., we don't foresee the sort of rapid development timeline for Galapagos' combinations in the U.S. that they are proposing and planning for Europe," he said.