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On Wednesday, Baird analyst Jack Allen adjusted the price target for Fate Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FATE) stock to $4.00, a reduction from the previous $5.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the company. The reevaluation follows the release of Fate Therapeutics’ financial results for the first quarter of 2025 and updates on its pipeline, which matched market expectations. According to InvestingPro data, five analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, with price targets ranging from $2.50 to $12.00.
The company’s management is actively progressing its lead product, FT819, an IPSC-derived allogeneic CD19 CAR-T therapy aimed at treating various autoimmune diseases. Currently, the United States clinical sites are concentrating on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and there are plans to expand the program outside of the United States soon. InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains a strong liquidity position with a current ratio of 8.81, though it’s quickly burning through cash with negative free cash flow of $123.6 million in the last twelve months.
Allen noted that additional data from the FT819 program is scheduled to be presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) conference on June 11. Despite this upcoming event, Allen expressed a tempered expectation for investor excitement, citing the highly competitive nature of the autoimmune cell therapy market.
Fate Therapeutics has been working diligently on developing treatments in a field where many companies are vying for a leading position. The upcoming presentation at EULAR represents an opportunity for the company to showcase its research and potential advancements in its product pipeline.
Investors and industry observers will be looking forward to the data presentation in June to gauge the progress and potential impact of FT819 on the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The current focus on expanding the clinical program to international sites indicates the company’s commitment to broadening the reach and study of its therapies.
In other recent news, Fate Therapeutics reported fourth-quarter 2024 revenue of $1.86 million, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $1.58 million. The company’s adjusted earnings per share were -$0.44, aligning with Wall Street forecasts. Fate Therapeutics is advancing its FT819 off-the-shelf CAR T-cell product candidate for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and has initiated dose expansion using a fludarabine-free conditioning regimen. The U.S. FDA granted FT819 a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation, expediting its development for SLE treatment. Stifel analysts recently revised their outlook, reducing the price target from $5.00 to $3.00 while maintaining a Hold rating, reflecting adjusted expectations for FT819’s potential in treating SLE. Jefferies also lowered its target to $8.00 from $10.00 but retained a Buy rating, noting promising data and management changes. The company ended the quarter with $306.7 million in cash and investments, expected to fund operations through 2026. Fate Therapeutics continues to focus on advancing its lead clinical programs in autoimmunity and oncology.
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