H.C. Wainwright maintains Unicycive Buy rating, $7.50 target

Published 11/04/2025, 12:26
H.C. Wainwright maintains Unicycive Buy rating, $7.50 target

On Thursday, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and $7.50 price target for Unicycive Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UNCY), following the company's presentation of new data at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings in Boston, MA. Currently trading at $0.53, the stock sits well below analysts' price targets, which range from $3 to $9. InvestingPro data reveals the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, though it's currently burning through cash rapidly. The data pertained to Unicycive's oxylanthanum carbonate (OLC), a treatment for hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and suggested a reduced pill burden compared to other therapies. With a market capitalization of $63.5 million and significant stock price volatility (Beta of 2.15), investors seeking deeper insights can access additional analysis through InvestingPro, which offers 8 more exclusive tips about UNCY's performance and prospects.

Unicycive showcased the patient-reported outcomes from its pivotal study, which involved 80 patients from the open-label Phase 2 UNI-OLC-201 study completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire compared their experiences with OLC to their prior phosphate binders. The findings, which were presented in a poster titled "Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Pivotal Clinical Study of Hyperphosphatemia: Oxylanthanum Carbonate Reduces Pill Burden by Half and Improves Adherence," indicated that OLC could significantly decrease the number of pills patients need to take, potentially enhancing adherence to the treatment regimen.

The presentation also included results from a patient survey conducted by the NKF with support from Unicycive. The combined data from the study and the survey underscored OLC's potential as a competitive option in the hyperphosphatemia therapy market, primarily due to its lower pill burden.

The analyst at H.C. Wainwright commented on the significance of these findings, stating that they collectively highlight OLC's key competitive advantage among hyperphosphatemia treatments. The firm's maintained Buy rating and price target reflect their continued confidence in the potential market performance of Unicycive's product.

Unicycive Therapeutics is engaged in the development of therapies for kidney diseases, with a focus on treatments that can improve the quality of life for patients with CKD. The recent data presentation at the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings represents a positive step forward in the clinical development of OLC and its positioning in the treatment landscape for hyperphosphatemia. Despite showing a 43% price increase over the past six months, InvestingPro's Financial Health Score indicates a weak overall position, with a score of 1.4 out of 5. The company's next earnings report is expected on May 20, 2025.

In other recent news, Unicycive Therapeutics is making strides with its lead drug candidate, Oxylanthanum Carbonate (OLC), as it awaits a critical decision from the FDA by June 28, 2025. The company is preparing for a potential commercial launch of OLC in late 2025, with analysts at H.C. Wainwright raising the stock's price target to $7.50 due to these upcoming milestones. Benchmark also maintained a Speculative Buy rating with a $3.00 target, reflecting anticipation around FDA approval. Unicycive's preclinical data suggests that OLC, alone or combined with tenapanor, may enhance phosphate management in dialysis patients, addressing a significant unmet need. The company is seeking to improve patient adherence with OLC's lower pill burden, as current treatments have high non-adherence rates. Unicycive's CEO, Dr. Shalabh Gupta, emphasized the importance of patient-centered approaches in managing hyperphosphatemia, a condition with serious health implications. The global market for hyperphosphatemia treatments presents substantial opportunities, with North America accounting for a significant portion. Additionally, Unicycive is developing UNI-494 for acute kidney injury, which has completed a Phase 1 trial.

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