Minerva Neurosciences Gains on Positive Data on MIN-202 - Analyst Blog

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Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. (NERV) gained approximately 16.6% after the company announced encouraging preliminary results from a phase I study on its sleep disorder candidate, MIN-202, a selective orexin-2 antagonist.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, four-way crossover, single-dose phase I study evaluated the use of MIN-202 in patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and insomnia. Preliminary data from the study revealed that MIN-202 demonstrated a statistically significant effect on latency to persistent sleep and also resulted in prolonged total sleep duration by approximately 45 minutes.

Minerva Neurosciences also announced preliminary data on MIN-202 from a phase I multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers and a phase I bio-availability study. In both these studies, MIN-202 was well tolerated and hinted at advantageous pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features.

These encouraging preliminary results provide additional support for advancing MIN-202 into the next stage of clinical development.

We note that MIN-202 is being developed by Minerva Neurosciences in collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) undertaking. Minerva Neurosciences has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize MIN-202 in the EU, subject to royalty payments to Johnson & Johnson, and royalty rights for any sales outside the EU.

Meanwhile, Minerva Neurosciences has several other early-stage candidates in its pipeline including MIN-101 (phase IIb for the treatment of schizophrenia) and MIN-301 (preclinical development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease).

Minerva Neurosciences carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN). While Alexion carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), AMAG holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).


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