Shares of two pharmaceutical companies, Zymeworks and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, sharply increased after they released successful primary results from late-stage clinical trials of a drug for treating certain types of cancer, reports MarketWatch.
Zymeworks' shares surged by 37% at the start of trading on the Nasdaq in the U.S. Jazz Pharmaceuticals' stock rose by 20.2%.
Zymeworks and Jazz Pharmaceuticals are developing the drug Ziihera. Its active ingredient is zanidatamab, which is used in combination with chemotherapy and blocks the growth of HER2 — a receptor protein whose levels significantly increase in certain types of cancer, provoking uncontrolled and rapid division of cancer cells.
In particular, Ziihera is aimed at treating conditions such as stomach cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and esophageal cancer. Recent clinical trial results confirm the overall benefit-risk balance of using Ziihera.
Currently, Ziihera is approved for use in the U.S., Europe, and China as a second-line therapy for the treatment of bile duct cancer. There can be several lines of therapy for cancer: the first line includes drugs that are considered the most effective and safest.
Zymeworks and Jazz Pharmaceuticals plan to submit an additional application for the drug's license in the first half of 2026, so that the drug can be used in first-line therapy.
Jazz plans to present the research results at a medical conference in the first quarter of 2026 and publish them in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, according to Barron’s.
The company also intends to apply for their inclusion in the clinical guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Head of Research and Development at Jazz, Rob Jacob Janone, is confident that the results "will change clinical practice."
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