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On Thursday, H.C. Wainwright resumed coverage on Acurx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACXP), issuing a Buy rating with a price target of $8.00, significantly above the current trading price of $0.37. With analyst targets ranging from $1.50 to $12.00, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued. Matt Keller, an analyst at the firm, highlighted the company’s potential to impact the anti-infectives market with its novel class of antibiotics.
Acurx Pharmaceuticals, with a market capitalization of $8.22 million, is focused on developing antibiotics for infections caused by bacteria that have developed resistance to existing treatments, a concern identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a priority. The company’s lead asset, ibezapolstat (IBZ), is currently advancing towards critical late-stage Phase 3 studies after showing promising results in earlier clinical trials. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a healthy current ratio of 1.93 and holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet.
IBZ, a DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitor, has been designed to combat Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections by halting bacterial DNA replication and growth. Keller notes the significance of this approach, as C. diff is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. The company is also working on ACX-375C, another DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitor targeting a range of Gram-positive bacteria on the WHO/CDC Priority Pathogen List, including strains resistant to current antibiotics such as VRE, MRSA, and Streptococcus.
The optimism from H.C. Wainwright is backed by Acurx’s experienced management team and its defined therapeutic strategy. The firm’s endorsement comes as Acurx prepares to take its lead candidate through the pivotal trials necessary for potential regulatory approval and market entry.
Investors and industry observers are closely watching Acurx’s progress, as the successful development of ibezapolstat could offer a new solution to the growing challenge of antibiotic-resistant infections. While the stock has experienced a significant decline of 83.66% over the past year, the company’s work aligns with global health priorities and addresses a pressing medical need, positioning it as a company to watch in the biopharmaceutical sector. Discover more insights about ACXP and access comprehensive analysis of 1,400+ stocks with a InvestingPro subscription, including detailed financial health scores and expert research reports.
In other recent news, Acurx Pharmaceuticals reported a narrower-than-expected loss for the first quarter of 2025, with an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.11, surpassing the forecasted -$0.38. The company managed to reduce its net loss to $2.1 million, down from $4.4 million in the previous quarter, thanks to significant cost reductions in research and development as well as administrative expenses. Acurx’s cash position improved to $4.6 million, up from $3.7 million at the end of 2024. The company highlighted progress in its antibiotic development program, particularly for the treatment of C. Difficile Infection (CDI), receiving positive regulatory feedback. Despite these developments, the company’s stock experienced a pre-market decline. Analysts have noted that Acurx Pharmaceuticals is exploring alternative regulatory pathways and additional funding to support its ambitious research and development agenda. The company is focused on advancing its Phase III clinical trials for ibezafolstat, a promising treatment for CDI. Acurx Pharmaceuticals’ management remains optimistic about identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to continue their clinical trial program.
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