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On Thursday, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed its positive stance on Alumis Inc (NASDAQ: ALMS), maintaining an Overweight rating on the company’s shares. The stock, currently trading at $4.37, has seen a significant decline of over 60% in the past six months and is near its 52-week low of $4.24. The firm’s confidence in Alumis follows a series of investor meetings in New York, which included insights from CEO Martin Babler and CFO John Schroer, as well as discussions with Dr. Andrew Blauvelt, a recognized psoriasis expert. According to InvestingPro, analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with price targets ranging from $17 to $29.
Dr. Blauvelt recently presented Phase 2 data on ESK-001, Alumis’s Tyk2 inhibitor, which is being developed as a treatment for psoriasis. The data, which was shared at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) earlier in March, has contributed to Cantor Fitzgerald’s optimistic outlook on the drug’s potential market impact.
The firm believes ESK-001 could become a leading therapy in the oral psoriasis drug market, which is valued at over $2 billion. The medication is expected to compete with, and potentially grow alongside, JNJ’s icotrokinra. The analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald are particularly encouraged by the drug’s positioning and its ability to capture a significant share of the market.
Furthermore, the anticipated merger of Alumis with SLRN, expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, is seen as a strategic move by Cantor Fitzgerald. The merger is projected to provide Alumis with sufficient capital to advance ESK-001 through Phase 3 trials for psoriasis and Phase 2 trials for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Additionally, the funding will support the development of another brain penetrant Tyk2 inhibitor, A-005, through Phase 2 proof of concept data in multiple sclerosis (MS). InvestingPro data shows the company maintains a strong financial health score of 2.0 (FAIR), with a robust current ratio of 6.01, indicating solid short-term liquidity.
Cantor Fitzgerald’s analysis suggests that post-merger, and with an estimated 100 million shares outstanding, Alumis will have a cash reserve of approximately $600 million. This figure significantly surpasses the company’s current market value of $237.76 million, indicating a strong financial position to support its developmental pipeline. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with 12 additional ProTips available to subscribers, including detailed insights on cash burn rate and profitability metrics.
In other recent news, Alumis Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.73 per share for 2024, which exceeded analysts’ predictions of a $1.39 per share loss. The company’s research and development expenses amounted to $87.2 million, while general and administrative costs were $11.4 million, both surpassing forecasted figures. Despite the larger-than-expected loss, H.C. Wainwright maintained its Buy rating for Alumis but adjusted the 12-month price target from $19 to $15. Alumis also presented promising clinical data for its psoriasis treatment, ESK-001, at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting, showing significant improvement in PASI scores over 52 weeks. This positive data led H.C. Wainwright to uphold a $19 price target for Alumis earlier, reflecting optimism about the drug’s market potential. Furthermore, Alumis announced a new Severance and Change in Control Plan to provide financial stability for employees in case of certain terminations. Lastly, Alumis revealed plans to present new data on its multiple sclerosis therapy, A-005, highlighting its potential as a novel treatment for neuroinflammatory diseases.
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