Agios Impresses With Leukemia Drug: Investor Beware

Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO-$43.35) moved substantially higher in price last month after reporting Phase 1 data demonstrating that its cancer metabolism drug AG-221, a first-in-class inhibitor of IDH2 mutations, generated promising clinical activity, including complete remissions in several patients whose blood cancers harbored the IDH2 mutation. 

What has investors excited is that in addition to being well-tolerated, a “substantial” reduction of plasma 2-HG was achieved: Called an “oncometabolite” for its role in cancer metabolism, the metabolite 2-hydroxygluturate (2HG) is a by-product of the mutated IDH2 gene. The initial findings support the theory that inhibiting mutant forms of IDH2 suppresses the growth of these 2HG-producing tumor cells.

Investors are making the quantum leap – based on a small safety/dosing trial – that curtailing 2-HG supply will normalize gene expression….

Continue reading at PropThink: AGIOS, OF 2013 IPO CLASS, IMPRESSES WITH EARLY ONCOLOGY ASSET

Editor David J Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.