Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY)‘s Gemzar is the primary product in the market right now. Coupled with Roche‘s Tarceva, this is a treatment that gives best results in the current scenario.
In advanced pancreatic cancer, Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) also competes with Sutent from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Afinitor from Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS).
Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) has a group of oncology products for the treatment of cancer. Afinitor is a marketed medicine used to treat an advanced pancreatic disease called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pancreatic NET) in adults. Afinitor reported sales of $303 million, up 114% in constant currency, due to increased volume growth across all indications including pancreatic NET therapy.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) also develops and markets medicines for the treatment of cancer. Sutent is an oncology product primarily used to treat pancreatic NET tumor that have progressed and cannot be treated with surgery. In first quarter of 2013, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported sales of $13.5 billion, down 9% year over year, resulting from the loss of exclusivity of Lipitor in 2012 and the impact of purchasing patterns of Prevnar/Prevenar 13 in various markets. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.54, down 5% compared to the same period last year. During the first quarter, Sutent reported sales of $302 million, a marginal growth of 1% year over year.
Celgene’s prospects for Abraxane
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) is already in the competitive market with Abraxane, currently targeting breast and lung cancer, likely to be part of pancreatic cancer therapy in coming years. The company also announced Abraxane’s therapeutic properties in pancreatic cancer therapy at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Annual Meeting. As per the study, Abraxane, along with Gemcitabine, demonstrated statistically significant results in survival of patients suffering from metastatic pancreatic cancer compared to Gemcitabine alone.
Abraxane continued a significant sales growth of $123 million in 1Q13, up 18% YoY compared to the same period last year; due to increased sales volume in both the U.S. and international markets. The increase in domestic sales was due to higher sales for non-small cell lung cancer therapy during 4Q12.
Figure3:
Furthermore, Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) reported net product sales of $1.43 billion in 1Q13, up 15% compared to the same period in 2012; primarily driven by increased sales of Revlimid, Vidaza, and Abraxane. Adjusted net income in 1Q13 was $592 million, or $1.37 diluted per share, up 22% compared to $484 million in 1Q12. Also, adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 27% from $1.08 to $1.37 for the same period.
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), offering a wide range of products in cancer therapies, is an investor favorite. With the new prospects of Abraxane in the pancreatic cancer market, Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) will definitely enhance its product pipeline as well as sales growth in future.
The article Celgene’s Abraxane: A Therapy for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Kanak Kanti De.
Kanak Kanti De has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Celgene. Kanak is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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