Jefferies cuts Prime Medicine stock target to $9, maintains Buy

Published 19/05/2025, 16:24
Jefferies cuts Prime Medicine stock target to $9, maintains Buy

On Monday, Jefferies made a significant adjustment to the price target for Prime Medicine (NASDAQ:PRME), reducing it to $9.00 from the previous $13.00, while still upholding a Buy rating for the company’s stock. Currently trading at $1.32, the stock sits near its 52-week low of $1.11, having declined about 78% over the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, Prime Medicine, with a market capitalization of $203 million, appears undervalued based on its Fair Value metrics. The adjustment follows the company’s recent demonstration of effective proof-of-concept in restoring DHR in an adult patient with p47 Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD). This development has been seen as a validation of Prime Medicine’s prime editing platform, which the management considers to be the most versatile and safest gene-editing approach available.

The company has decided to shift its focus away from CGD, both p47 and X-linked CGD, as part of a strategic refocusing. This decision will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 25%. The move is intended to concentrate resources on advancing high-value in vivo programs, specifically targeting Wilson’s disease and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). With a healthy current ratio of 4.78 and beta of 1.9, InvestingPro data suggests the company maintains strong liquidity despite its strategic restructuring. These programs are expected to reach Investigational New Drug (IND) or Clinical Trial Application (CTA) stages in the first half of 2026 for Wilson’s disease and mid-2026 for AATD.

Clinical data from both the Wilson’s disease and AATD programs are anticipated to become available in 2027. This timeline suggests a long-term investment in the company’s technology and potential treatments. The focus on these programs reflects Prime Medicine’s commitment to bringing innovative therapies to market, targeting diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Analyst consensus remains optimistic, with price targets ranging from $6 to $18, significantly above current levels. For deeper insights into Prime Medicine’s financial health and growth prospects, including exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis, check out the detailed Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

The workforce reduction aligns with the company’s strategic priorities and is a move to optimize its operations towards the most promising avenues for therapeutic development. By doing so, Prime Medicine aims to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in bringing its gene-editing therapies from the laboratory to the clinic.

In other recent news, Prime Medicine has announced significant developments, particularly in its liver disease programs. The company is focusing on advancing treatments for Wilson’s Disease and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD), with plans to file regulatory applications by mid-2026 and initial clinical data expected in 2027. Leadership changes have also been made, with Allan Reine stepping in as CEO and Jeff Marrazzo becoming Executive Chair. Analysts have responded to these updates with Citi maintaining a Buy rating and a $10 price target, while Chardan Capital Markets adjusted its target to $16, also retaining a Buy rating. H.C. Wainwright and JMP Securities continue to support Prime Medicine with Buy ratings and $10 price targets, highlighting the potential of the company’s prime editing technology. The strategic refocus includes deprioritizing certain programs, like Chronic Granulomatous Disease, to extend financial resources into 2026. Additionally, the company is in arbitration with Beam Therapeutics over rights to the AATD program but remains confident in its position. Prime Medicine’s developments have been closely monitored by analysts, reflecting confidence in its innovative approach to genetic 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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