Enanta Soars 92% as RSV Drug's Promise Outweighs Trial Miss
Investors focus on reduced hospitalizations and faster recovery in zelicapavir's Phase 2b results, signaling a path to Phase 3.
Shares of Enanta Pharmaceuticals (ENTA) skyrocketed as much as 91.9% in a dramatic session, as investors looked past a missed primary endpoint and embraced promising secondary data from its Phase 2b study of an antiviral pill for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The study evaluated zelicapavir in high-risk adults, and while it technically failed to meet its main goal related to the time it took for symptoms to lessen, the market seized on more compelling clinical outcomes. According to , the drug demonstrated significant benefits that could pave the way for a pivotal Phase 3 trial.
Investors rallied behind data showing a starkly lower hospitalization rate for patients taking zelicapavir. Only 1.7% of patients in the treatment group required hospitalization, compared to 5.0% in the placebo group. Furthermore, the drug showed a clinically meaningful improvement in recovery, with patients on the whole recovering two days faster than those on placebo. The treatment also exhibited a robust antiviral effect, leading to a faster time to an undetectable viral load.
The market's reaction underscored a willingness to look deeper into clinical data for signs of a viable product. Despite the initial headline miss, as the positive details emerged, focusing on the drug's potential to address a significant unmet need in vulnerable populations.
Scott T. Rottinghaus, Enanta's Chief Medical Officer, highlighted the significance of the findings. He noted that this was the first time an RSV antiviral treatment had demonstrated such a clear benefit in high-risk adult outpatients, underscoring zelicapavir's potential to reduce both symptom duration and severe outcomes. The in a field with few effective treatments.
Enanta plans to present the full data from the study at a future medical conference. The strong market response suggests investors believe the positive secondary endpoints provide a clear and compelling path forward for zelicapavir's development, positioning Enanta as a key player in the race for an effective RSV therapeutic.