3 Top Healthcare Stocks After #ASH18

TL;DR

The American Society of Hematology conference (ASH) showcased new developments in healthcare, including promising data on CAR-T therapies, bispecific antibodies, and potential sickle cell disease treatments.

Transcript

Shannon Jones: Welcome to Industry Focus, the show that dives into a different sector of the stock market every day. Today is Wednesday, December 5th, and we're talking Healthcare. I'm your host, Shannon Jones, and I'm joined via Skype by healthcare guru Todd Campbell. Todd, how are you? Todd Campbell: I'm doing well, Shannon! I'm excited about tod... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ ASH is an important conference for healthcare professionals and investors to stay updated on advancements in hematology.
• 🤥 Liso-cel (JCAR017) showed promising response rates in CLL and may compete with existing therapies in the future.
• 💅 Bispecific antibodies, like REGN1979, offer a potential safer alternative to CAR-T therapies and may become a significant focus in 2019.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is ASH and why is it an important conference for the healthcare industry?

ASH is the American Society of Hematology annual conference, where scientific advancements, clinical trial results, and industry updates related to blood disorders and cancers are presented. It is important for healthcare professionals, researchers, and investors.

Q: What is CAR-T therapy, and how does liso-cel (JCAR017) stand out in the field?

CAR-T therapy involves reengineering a patient's T cells to target and destroy cancer cells. Liso-cel, developed by Celgene, is being studied for non-Hodgkin lymphomas and has shown potential safety advantages over existing CAR-T therapies.

Q: What are bispecific antibodies, and why are they gaining attention in healthcare?

Bispecific antibodies can simultaneously target multiple cell surface targets, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy. They are being explored as safer alternatives to CAR-T therapies, as they may not cause life-threatening cytokine release syndrome.

Q: What are the potential benefits of Vox (Voxelotor) in sickle cell disease treatment?

Vox is an oral therapy developed by Global Blood Therapeutics that aims to increase hemoglobin levels in sickle cell disease patients. It may reduce vaso-occlusive crises, delay disease progression, and potentially improve patient outcomes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Celgene presented data on Luspatercept and liso-cel, two potential treatments for blood cancers, with liso-cel showing remarkable response rates, particularly in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

• Regeneron highlighted the potential of bispecific antibodies, such as REGN1979, in targeting multiple cell surface targets simultaneously, showing a 100% response rate in follicular lymphoma.

• Global Blood Therapeutics demonstrated positive results with Vox (Voxelotor) in increasing hemoglobin levels in sickle cell disease patients, potentially improving their quality of life.