On Wednesday, H.C. Wainwright maintained a Buy rating and a $20.00 stock price target for Poseida Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ:PSTX), in light of recent transactions within the pharmaceutical industry involving drug candidates for B-cell malignancies.
The firm's decision follows an announcement on October 29 by GSK (LON:GSK) plc about its acquisition of global rights to CMG1A46 from Chimagen Biosciences. CMG1A46, a dual CD19/CD20-targeted T cell engager (TCE), has shown promise in preclinical studies for rapid and deep B cell depletion and is currently in a Phase 1 study for leukemia and lymphoma.
GSK intends to develop this molecule for B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. Chimagen stands to receive a $300 million upfront payment and up to $550 million in milestone payments.
In a similar vein, Merck recently acquired full rights to CN201, another CD19-targeted TCE from Curon Biopharmaceutical, for a $700 million upfront payment and potential milestone payments of up to $600 million. CN201 is in Phase 1 and Phase 1b/2 clinical trials for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Merck is also looking to repurpose CN201 for both B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
The analyst from H.C. Wainwright pointed out that these deals by GSK and Merck underscore the pharmaceutical industry's growing interest in repurposing B-cell malignancy drug candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. This trend supports the firm's positive outlook on Poseida Therapeutics, as reflected in the reiterated Buy rating and 12-month price target.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent InvestingPro data and tips offer additional context to H.C. Wainwright's bullish stance on Poseida Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PSTX). Despite the company's current financial challenges, including negative gross profit margins and a lack of profitability over the last twelve months, there are some positive indicators that align with the analyst's optimistic outlook.
InvestingPro data shows that Poseida's market capitalization stands at $237.94 million, with a price-to-book ratio of 3.91. This valuation could be seen as relatively modest for a biotech company with promising drug candidates, especially in light of the recent high-value transactions in the B-cell malignancy space mentioned in the article.
An InvestingPro Tip highlights that Poseida holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which is crucial for a biotech company in the development stage. This financial position could provide the company with the runway needed to advance its pipeline without immediate funding concerns.
Another relevant InvestingPro Tip indicates that Poseida's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, suggesting a solid near-term financial footing. This liquidity could be particularly important as the company navigates the capital-intensive process of drug development and potential commercialization.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 5 additional tips that could provide further insights into Poseida's financial health and market position.
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