Ohr Pharmaceutical Provides Update On Squalamine Study
Zacks Investment Research | Apr 11, 2017 06:09AM ET
Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc. (NASDAQ:OHRP) , announced it plans to amend the ongoing MAKO Study evaluating Squalamine (also known as OHR-102) in wet form of age-related macular degeneration (wet-AMD) so that it can obtain efficacy analyses by the end of calendar 2017 or early 2018. About 200 patients are enrolled in the study.
These patients will continue to receive their assigned study treatment of monthly Lucentis (developed by Genentech) and either Squalamine or placebo drops twice daily, and undergo scheduled visits and assessments through nine month. The primary endpoint of the study will be an assessment of visual acuity at nine months.
In fact, Ohr Pharmaceutical’s shares declined 37% following the news release. Ohr Pharmaceutical’s share price shows that the company has underperformed the Zacks classified Medical Drugs industry year to date. The stock is down 52.6% compared with industry’s fall of 0.2%.
We note that squalamine lactate ophthalmic solution, 0.2%, is the company's lead drug candidate which is currently being studied using an eye drop formulation in an ongoing study for the treatment of the wet-AMD.
The company expects to get efficacy data by end of 2017 or early next year with the goal of confirming the benefits seen in the prior phase II IMPACT study. The results from the IMPACT study showed the ability of topical OHR-102 given in combination with anti-VEGF injections to improve visual function in patients with wet AMD over anti-VEGF treatment alone.
The ongoing study has enrolled the patient population identified from the IMPACT study that has the greatest potential to benefit from Squalamine combination therapy.
The company also stated that it is fully funded into 2018 including the completion of its ongoing study and the data readout. On Apr 10, Ohr Pharmaceutical closed its public offering of common stock and warrants. The company sold an aggregate 20,250,032 shares of common stock at a price to the public of 70 cents per share.
Investors also received warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 14,175,059 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.00. The company plans to utilise the proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including the completion and data readout of the ongoing clinical study investigating Squalamine in wet-AMD.
Get The News You Want
Ohr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price
Ohr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. QuoteZacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Ohr Pharmaceutical currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include Heska Corp. (NASDAQ:HSKA) , Retrophin, Inc. (NASDAQ:RTRX) and Galena Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:GALE) . All the three companies carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see .
Heska’s earnings estimates moved up from $1.53 to $1.65 for 2017 and from $1.90 to $2.01 for 2018, over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in all of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 291.54%. Its share price increased 40.7% year to date.
Retrophin’s loss estimates narrowed from 85 cents to 72 cents for 2017 and from 67 cents to 53 cents for 2018, over the last 30 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in three of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 80.55%.
Galena Biopharma‘s loss estimates narrowed from $2.27to 58 cents for 2017 and from $92 cents to 73 cents for 2018, over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in two of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 53.83%.
Looking for Ideas with Even Greater Upside?
Most of Zacks’ investment ideas are short-term, directly based on our proven 1 to 3 month indicator. In addition, I invite you to consider our long-term opportunities. These rare trades look to start fast with strong Zacks Ranks, but carry through with double and triple-digit profit potential. Starting now, you can look inside our home run, value, and stocks under $10 portfolios, plus more.Zacks Investment Research
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.