Pipeline gap looms for Immunex

Immunex Corp.'s two recent clinical setbacks could leave it with a weak middle in its product pipeline. The company discontinued a Phase II/III trial of its Enbrel etanercept in patients with chronic heart failure and its Nuvance inhaled soluble interleukin-4 receptor missed its primary end point in two one-month Phase II trials in patients not using inhaled steroids (see BioCentury, March 26). With only two products besides Nuvance in Phase II, and nothing in Phase I, IMNX will need expansion of indications for Enbrel and other marketed products to provide immediate growth.

IMNX hasn't given up on exploring Enbrel for CHF, and Nuvance is in a three-month Phase II trial in patients using inhaled steroids, which will be reported in the third quarter. But if Nuvance should fail, the company has only two cancer compounds in Phase II - Mobista Flt-3 ligand and Avrend CD40L, and neither is expected to be a blockbuster. Everything else is in preclinical studies...