The Life Sciences Report Interviews H.C. Wainwrigh

SAN FRANCISCO, CA --(Marketwired - May 25, 2017) - NASH is an epidemic in the U.S., with more than 100 million people believed to be affected. Yet no FDA-approved treatments are available, with the exception of liver transplantation for end-stage disease. In part two of his interview with The Life Sciences Report , Ed Arce, managing director in equity research and senior analyst covering companies in the biopharmaceuticals and specialty pharmaceuticals sectors for H.C. Wainwright, and organizer of the recent inaugural NASH Investor Conference, says that small companies are rushing to fill the pipeline, with numerous compounds in trials.

Included in this interview is: DURECT Corp. ( NASDAQ : DRRX )

TLSR: Are there small companies you would like to discuss?

EA: DURECT Corp. is a company that has an epigenetic regulator. This was something that was done in-house over a number of years. Even though this is quite early, it has a lot of potential because, unlike a lot of companies that will look at preclinical models -- often a mouse model or a rat model of NASH -- and use that as a basis for moving forward into clinical studies, DURECT has done a very thorough preclinical program with its compound.

DURECT looked at all the available preclinical models, not only in rats and mice but, also, in several other species. It has seen very consistent results in both NASH overall, as well as anti-fibrotic effects. So we're very eager to see what the impacts of this could be in the clinic. The company also released encouraging clinical data at EASL last month, in an early Phase 1b study.

Continue reading this interview: Small-Caps Rushing to Fill the NASH Treatment Pipeline

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Investors rely on The Life Sciences Report to share investment ideas for the biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics industries. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

DISCLOSURE:

The following companies mentioned in this interview are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: DURECT Corp. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor's fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Ed Arce: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I, or members of my immediate household or family, are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this interview: None. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. I had the opportunity to review the interview for accuracy as of the date of the interview and am responsible for the content of the interview.

Please see the end of the interview for the complete disclosure: Small-Caps Rushing to Fill the NASH Treatment Pipeline