Finding a Niche for Celgene's Otezla

By Brian Orelli, PhD – Mar 29, 2014 at 11:00AM

NASDAQ: CELG

Celgene

Celgene's Otezla isn't going to beat antiinflamatory drugs from AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen on efficacy, but the biotech can still find a niche for its new psoriatic arthritis drug.

Celgene's (CELG) new psoriatic arthritis drug Otezla isn't going to beat the current offerings from AbbVie (ABBV -1.03%), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ -0.69%), and Amgen (AMGN -0.19%) on an efficacy basis.

But it doesn't have too. Unlike Humira, Remicade, Enbrel, and the rest of the injected or infused biologics, Otezla is taken orally, giving Celgene a distinct advantage over AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen.

That doesn't mean Otezla will be an instant blockbuster though. As Fool contributor Brian Orelli and health-care bureau chief Max Macaluso discuss in the video below, Celgene needs to find a sweat spot, positioning Otezla between oral generics and the biologics doctors are comfortable prescribing.

Brian Orelli has no position in any stocks mentioned. Max Macaluso, Ph.D., owns shares of Celgene. The Motley Fool recommends Celgene and Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.