Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
And yet, it'll be its middle child that will get all the glory for now.
Arcalyst was approved to treat cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, but sales have never amounted to much -- $6 million in the second quarter -- because CAPS is an ultra-orphan disease that few people have. Splitting CAPS patients with Novartis'
The drug could have gained some traction if it had been approved to prevent gout flares, but the FDA panned that idea last week. Regeneron was light on the details beyond that it was rejected, which we knew was coming. Investors should assume that the expansion plans for Arcalyst are dead until further notice.
Zaltrap will certainly sell better than Arcalyst. Even as a second-line indication there will be patients that fail Roche's Avastin or Eli Lilly
But sales of Zaltrap won't contribute to Regeneron's profits initially because under its partnership agreement with Sanofi
That leaves Regeneron's macular degeneration drug, Eylea, as the immediate future of the biotech. No pressure, kid.
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