Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB), United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR), Repros Therapeutics Inc (RPRX): This Week in Biotech

Trius Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRX) reported what I felt was phenomenal data for its late-stage acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection drug, Tedizolid, on Monday — yet the stock barely moved. In trials, the ABSSSI drug handily mopped the floor with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)‘s Zyvox, meeting both its primary endpoint of reducing lesion size, and secondary endpoints of a sustained clinical response and positive investigative assessment at the end of the therapy. Tedizolid, an oral medication, can be administered in just six days compared with Zyvox’s 10-day regimen, which makes it a clear choice to outperform both domestically and overseas. This is a name I think you should have on your Watchlist.

Finally, ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:ZIOP) imploded, with shares falling 62% on the week after the company announced it would be discontinuing its late-stage drug Palifosfamide for the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. The independent data monitoring committee suggested that Ziopharm follow-up with existing patients to see if there was an improvement in overall survival, but when it was apparent that there wasn’t a statistical advantage to Palifosfamide over the placebo in terms of progression-free survival, Ziopharm’s management decided to pull the plug on the drug altogether with regard to metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Instead, Ziopharm plans to focus entirely on its synthetic biology programs which are much earlier along in the development process.

The article This Week in Biotech originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Sean Williams.

Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.

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