H.C. Wainwright maintains buy rating on Axsome stock after settlement

Published 02/06/2025, 12:36
H.C. Wainwright maintains buy rating on Axsome stock after settlement

On Monday, H.C. Wainwright analysts reiterated a Buy rating and maintained a $180.00 price target on Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:AXSM) stock, representing significant upside from its current price of $105.16. The $5.19 billion market cap company, which InvestingPro data shows is currently trading below its Fair Value, has impressed analysts with its 91.49% gross profit margins. This decision follows Axsome’s recent settlement agreement with Hetero Labs Ltd., an Indian generic drug manufacturer, regarding patent litigation over Axsome’s branded product SUNOSI (solriamfetol).

The litigation was initiated after Hetero submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the FDA, seeking approval to market a generic version of SUNOSI in the United States. Under the settlement terms, Axsome will grant Hetero a license to sell its generic version of SUNOSI starting on or after March 1, 2040, or September 1, 2040, if pediatric exclusivity is granted. This agreement is subject to FDA approval and other customary conditions. The company has demonstrated strong commercial execution, with InvestingPro showing remarkable revenue growth of 72.16% over the last twelve months.

As part of the legal process, Axsome and Hetero will submit the settlement agreement for review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Other similar patent litigations involving Axsome and different parties regarding SUNOSI are still pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Axsome previously reached settlements with Unichem Laboratories (NSE:UNLB) Ltd. and Hikma Pharmaceuticals (OTC:HKMPY) PLC, preventing them from marketing their generic versions of SUNOSI until 2042 and September 2040, respectively. Analysts at H.C. Wainwright expressed confidence that no generic version of solriamfetol will enter the U.S. market until 2040.

In other recent news, Axsome Therapeutics reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, which showed a loss of $1.22 per share, beating the forecasted loss of $1.30. The company’s revenue totaled $121.46 million, slightly below the expected $121.58 million. Axsome also secured a $570 million credit facility from Blackstone (NYSE:BX) to enhance its financial position, allowing the company to retire a previous term loan with Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC). In terms of analyst activity, H.C. Wainwright lowered Axsome’s price target to $180 from $200, maintaining a Buy rating despite the earnings miss, while BofA Securities increased the price target to $176, also maintaining a Buy rating.

Additionally, Axsome reached a settlement with Hetero Labs over a patent dispute regarding the drug SUNOSI, allowing Hetero to market a generic version starting in 2040, pending regulatory approval. This settlement is part of Axsome’s broader strategy to protect its intellectual property. The company is also preparing to launch SYMBRAVO for migraine treatment and has reported positive results from its Phase 3 trial. The financial and strategic moves reflect Axsome’s efforts to bolster its market position and operational agility as it continues to develop treatments for central nervous system disorders.

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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