Citi maintains neutral rating for Pfizer stock citing licensing agreement

Published 02/06/2025, 10:50
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On Monday, Citi analysts reiterated a Neutral rating for Pfizer stock (NYSE: NYSE:PFE), maintaining a price target of $25.00. Currently trading at $23.49, the pharmaceutical giant offers a substantial 7.32% dividend yield. According to InvestingPro analysis, Pfizer shows signs of undervaluation, supported by strong fundamentals and a "GOOD" Financial Health Score. This decision follows the recent Pfizer licensing agreement and the presentation of promising phase II data by 3SBio at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference. As a prominent player in the pharmaceuticals industry, Pfizer maintains robust financials with $62.5 billion in revenue over the last twelve months.

3SBio’s bispecific antibody, SSGJ-707, which targets PD-1 and VEGF, showed strong results in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. In a study involving 77 treatment-naive patients, the 10 mg/kg Q3W dose achieved a 67.6% objective response rate (ORR) and a 97% disease control rate (DCR), demonstrating broad efficacy.

The safety profile of SSGJ-707 was noted to be manageable, with primarily lab abnormalities and side effects, further strengthening its potential. These results support the advancement of the drug into a phase III trial, marking it as a competitive option in the NSCLC treatment landscape.

Citi analysts highlighted the potential for combining SSGJ-707 with Pfizer’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform, which could offer differentiation opportunities against competitors. Despite the promising monotherapy data, the rating remains Neutral with a $25 price target.

In other recent news, Pfizer has made several strategic moves and announcements that could impact its future. Jefferies raised its price target for Pfizer to $33 while maintaining a Buy rating, following Pfizer’s exclusive global licensing agreement with 3SBio for the compound SSGJ-707. This compound, a PD-1/VEGF inhibitor, is expected to strengthen Pfizer’s position in the oncology market. Jefferies highlighted the potential synergies between ’707 and Pfizer’s existing Antibody-Drug Conjugates, with a promising $1.08 billion risk-adjusted peak sales projection. Meanwhile, Bernstein maintained a Market Perform rating with a $30 target, noting the significance of Pfizer’s $6 billion licensing deal for SSGJ-707, despite potential implications for its collaboration with Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SMMT).

Cantor Fitzgerald also maintained its Neutral rating with a $24 target, expressing concerns about the financial risks associated with the $1.25 billion upfront payment and additional milestone commitments related to the 3SBio agreement. In other developments, the FDA plans to require new trials for COVID-19 boosters for healthy individuals under 65, affecting Pfizer’s vaccine strategy. Guggenheim reiterated its Buy rating with a $23 target, suggesting minimal impact from the FDA’s new COVID-19 vaccine guidelines on Pfizer’s business. These recent developments reflect Pfizer’s ongoing efforts to navigate regulatory changes and expand its pipeline in a competitive pharmaceutical landscape.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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