Concert Pharmaceuticals: JZP-386

JZP-386 is the deutered enhanced version of sodium oxybate or commercial drug known as Xyrem, which is manufactured by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.  The drug was approved in 2002 for cataplexy in narcolepsy, and 2005 for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy.  The patents run from 2019 through 2024 at the latest.  Xyrem is administered twice daily as a liquid dose, once before bed and again after about four hours of sleep. Xyrem has a side effect profile that includes headaches, dizziness, nausea, and potentially more serious side effects in higher doses such as convulsions, respiratory depression, coma and death, according to Xyrem prescribing information.   Concert is currently in a phase 1 trial to evaluate the deutered Xyrem version called JZP-386, compared to Xyrem, with a readout on the trial any day now.  The goal of the deutered version JZP-386, could be once daily dosing, lower dosing, or a reduction in side effects that currently exists with Xyrem. Concert would have a chance to receive royalties that run from mid single digits to low double digits, not to exceed 20% on a country-by-country basis, and licensed product-by-licensed product basis. The patent for JZP-386 runs from 2030 to 2032, U.S. EU, and Japan. Thank you for reading.

Concert Pharmaceuticals - ($14.73)

Concert Pharmaceuticals (CNCE), is an interesting company, with a well established and cohesive management team.  The company description below is directly from the most recent 10-K. "We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company applying our extensive knowledge of deuterium chemistry to discover and develop novel small molecule drugs. Our approach starts with approved drugs, advanced clinical candidates or previously studied compounds that we believe can be improved with deuterium substitution to provide better pharmacokinetic or metabolic properties, thereby enhancing clinical safety, tolerability or efficacy. We believe our approach may enable drug discovery and clinical development that is more efficient and less expensive than conventional small molecule drug research and development".

The company is taking existing drugs, and potentially improving them with selective deuterium.  They plan on developing drugs in-house and through partnership with other companies.  Some quick facts below.

Quick Facts:
22 million shares outstanding
330 million market cap
75 million in cash

Intellectual Property:
AVP-786 (Otsuka) (2030 US), (2028 EU) 
AVP-923 (Otsuka) (2026 US), (2023 EU)
Rexulti (Otsuka) (2027 US), (2025 EU)
CTP-499 (2029 - 2030) U.S. EU, Japan
CTP-730 (2029 - 2034) U.S. EU, Japan
JZP-386 (2030 - 2032) U.S. EU, Japan
CTP-656 (2032) U.S.
Kalydeco (Vertex) (2027 US), (2025 EU)

As you can see above, the company has done a fine job of protecting their intellectual property with extended patent dates, which gives them enough time to get through clinical trials to commercialization, either in house or through partnership. A $280 million market cap puts CNCE in microcap territory (less than $300 million). Hard to find a microcap stock with this much future potential, with an established and cohesive management team in place. We'll have more to say about Concert Pharmaceuticals. Thank you for reading.