H.C. Wainwright has adjusted its price target for Opthea Ltd. (NASDAQ: OPT), a biopharmaceutical company, reducing it to $12.00 from the previous $14.00, while reaffirming a Buy rating for the stock.
The firm's focus remains on Opthea's lead product candidate, sozinibercept, which is currently in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD (NASDAQ:AMD)).
Sozinibercept, also known as OPT-302, is being evaluated for its potential to enhance visual acuity and injection durability in wet AMD, a significant eye condition.
The Phase 3 COAST trial is testing sozinibercept in combination with aflibercept, and the Phase 3 ShORe trial is assessing it alongside ranibizumab. Results from these trials are anticipated in early and mid-2025, respectively.
The firm emphasized the importance of the upcoming pivotal trial results in 2025, which could demonstrate the advantages of sozinibercept combination therapy in maximizing visual outcomes for wet AMD patients.
The need for improved treatments is underscored by the number of patients who do not optimally respond to current anti-VEGF-A therapies.
The decision to lower the price target reflects updated revenue estimates for the commercial launch of sozinibercept, now expected in 2026. The adjustment was made despite positive outcomes from previous Phase 2b trials, which showed the potential superiority of the combination therapy approach.
In other recent news, Opthea has formed a global Medical Advisory Board (MAB) to guide the development of treatments for retinal diseases. The strategic move comes as the company prepares for Phase 3 topline data read-out of its two pivotal trials of sozinibercept in wet age-related macular degeneration.
The MAB, comprising, 10 retina specialists from various countries, will provide expert insights for Opthea's clinical development programs.
On another note, Optiva achieved the ISO 27001 Certification, a testament to its commitment to information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of H.C. Wainwright's revised price target for Opthea Ltd. (NASDAQ: OPT), current InvestingPro data and tips provide a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market performance. With a market capitalization of $464.66 million and a notable 37.14% increase in the stock price over the past month, Opthea's market presence is growing. This uptick aligns with the "InvestingPro Tip" highlighting a strong return over the last month, suggesting a positive investor sentiment.
However, it is important to note that the company's revenue for the last twelve months stands at $0.26 million with a significant decrease in revenue growth of -32.03%. Additionally, Opthea operates with a negative P/E ratio of -1.09 and is not expected to be profitable this year, which aligns with another "InvestingPro Tip" indicating the company's lack of profitability in the near term. Despite these challenges, the company's liquid assets do exceed its short-term obligations, offering some financial stability as it continues to invest in the development of sozinibercept.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, there are additional "InvestingPro Tips" available on the platform that can further inform investment decisions regarding Opthea Ltd. These insights can be especially valuable as the market anticipates the pivotal trial results in 2025, which could significantly impact the company's trajectory.
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