H.C. WAINWRIGHT MAINTAINS BUY RATING ON OKYO PHARMA STOCK

On Tuesday, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed a positive outlook on OKYO Pharma Ltd. (NASDAQ: OKYO), maintaining a Buy rating and a $7.00 price target. Currently trading at $1.10, with a market capitalization of $37.2 million, OKYO shows potential upside according to InvestingPro analysis, which indicates the stock is currently undervalued. The endorsement follows an announcement earlier this week that OKYO Pharma’s investigational drug, OK-101, now officially bears the name urcosimod. This new moniker reflects its potential role as a modulator of inflammatory and neuropathic pathways. InvestingPro subscribers can access additional insights, including 6 key investment tips and comprehensive financial analysis for OKYO Pharma.

Yi Chen, an analyst at H.C. Wainwright, highlighted urcosimod’s unique properties and its recent progress in clinical trials. Urcosimod, identified as a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist, targets the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor. This receptor is present on immune cells within the eye, which are implicated in inflammation, and also on neurons and glial cells in the dorsal root ganglion.

The drug has shown promise in a Phase 2 trial for dry eye disease (DED), demonstrating favorable safety, tolerability, and statistically significant improvements in symptoms like stinging, burning, and ocular pain. These symptoms are also characteristic of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), a condition for which urcosimod is currently undergoing a Phase 2a trial. Results from this trial are expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Chen’s commentary underscores the dual functionality of urcosimod, designed to address both anti-inflammatory needs and pain modulation. The positive outcomes from the Phase 2 DED trial serve as a foundation for the ongoing research in NCP.

The reiteration of the Buy rating and the $7.00 price target by H.C. Wainwright signals confidence in the potential of OKYO Pharma’s urcosimod. With an upcoming earnings report scheduled for February 26, 2025, and a beta of -3.37 indicating strong counter-market movements, investors should note that OKYO has maintained relatively low price volatility despite market fluctuations. The market will be watching closely for the topline data from the Phase 2a NCP trial, which could further validate the therapeutic benefits of urcosimod and influence OKYO Pharma’s market position.

In other recent news, OKYO Pharma Limited, a biopharmaceutical company, has announced significant progress in its drug development. The company’s lead drug candidate, formerly known as OK-101, has been officially named "urcosimod" by the United States Adopted Name (USAN) Council. This marks a key milestone as urcosimod advances through clinical trials. The drug is designed to modulate inflammatory and neuropathic pathways, crucial in treating neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and dry eye disease (DED).

H.C. Wainwright has maintained its Buy rating on OKYO Pharma, with a price target of $7.00. This follows the company’s announcement that its Phase 2 trial of urcosimod for treating NCP is on track, with top-line results expected in Q4 2025.

In addition, OKYO Pharma executives have shown confidence in the company’s prospects by acquiring additional shares. CEO Gary S. Jacob purchased 10,000 shares and Panetta Partners Limited, associated with Executive Chairman Gabriele Cerrone, bought 20,000 shares. These are recent developments that highlight the company’s ongoing progress in the biopharmaceutical industry.

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