Agenus stock maintains Buy rating at H.C. Wainwright after positive bot/bal data

Published 08/07/2025, 12:46
Agenus stock maintains Buy rating at H.C. Wainwright after positive bot/bal data

Investing.com - H.C. Wainwright has reiterated a Buy rating and $25.00 price target on Agenus Inc . (NASDAQ:AGEN), representing nearly 380% upside from the current price of $5.18, following updated results from the company’s Phase 1 trial of bot/bal in refractory MSS-CRC patients. According to InvestingPro data, the stock has shown strong momentum with an 89% gain year-to-date.

The expanded data, presented at ESMO-GI on July 4, included 123 patients treated with bot/bal combination therapy, showing a two-year survival rate of 42% and median duration of response of 16.6 months. The overall response rate was 20%, with median overall survival of 20.9 months and median progression-free survival of 4 months. For investors tracking this $142 million market cap biotech company, InvestingPro offers comprehensive analysis with 10+ additional investment tips and detailed financial metrics.

Agenus also announced on July 1 that the FDA has aligned with the company’s proposed two-arm study design for its global randomized Phase 3 registrational BATTMAN trial of bot/bal in fourth-line and beyond MSS-CRC patients.

The expanded cohort data demonstrated consistent efficacy despite including 46 additional patients compared to the original 77-patient population. Fourth-line and beyond patients (n=37) showed an approximately 19% overall response rate and 43% two-year survival rate.

Safety and tolerability of the bot/bal combination remained consistent with previously reported data, with no new safety signals, no treatment-related deaths, and manageable immune-related side effects observed in the trial.

In other recent news, Agenus Inc. has reported promising results from its colorectal cancer trial, where its combination therapy of botensilimab and balstilimab achieved a 42% two-year survival rate among patients without active liver metastases. The trial data, presented at the 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress, showed a 20% objective response rate and a 69% disease control rate. Additionally, Agenus has entered into a strategic collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences, valued at approximately $141 million, which includes the sale of its biologics facilities in California for an upfront payment of $75 million. This partnership will accelerate the clinical development of Agenus’ therapies and establish Zydus’ presence in the U.S. biologics manufacturing market. H.C. Wainwright analysts have upgraded Agenus’ stock from Neutral to Buy, citing this collaboration as a key factor. Agenus has also announced a research partnership with Noetik to develop AI-powered predictive biomarkers for its immunotherapy combination. This collaboration aims to enhance treatment precision and efficacy by identifying patients most likely to benefit from the therapy. These developments reflect Agenus’ ongoing efforts to advance its cancer treatment pipeline and expand its global footprint.

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