JPMorgan cuts Prime Medicine stock rating to neutral

Published 19/05/2025, 22:10
JPMorgan cuts Prime Medicine stock rating to neutral

On Monday, JPMorgan analysts adjusted their stance on Prime Medicine (NASDAQ:PRME), downgrading the stock from Overweight to Neutral. The stock, currently trading at $1.33, has seen a significant decline of nearly 78% over the past year, though it showed some resilience with an 18.7% gain in the past week. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company currently appears undervalued based on its Fair Value metrics. The downgrade follows a series of strategic shifts announced by the company, including a deprioritization of its CGD program, a change in leadership with CFO Allan Reine appointed as the new CEO, and a reduction in workforce by 25%.

Prime Medicine’s initial patient treatment with Prime editor PM359 demonstrated a compelling proof-of-concept. With a market capitalization of $203 million and analyst price targets ranging from $5 to $18, the market remains divided on the company’s potential. JPMorgan’s analysis indicates that the re-evaluation of the addressable CGD market—where a significant portion of patients have undergone allo-transplant—does not justify the investment returns. The company’s internal pipeline is now focusing on in-vivo liver treatments, specifically for Wilson’s disease and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD), which present larger total addressable markets (TAMs) and more certain editor delivery methods.

The Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for treatments targeting Wilson’s disease and AATD are anticipated in the first half of 2026 and mid-2026, respectively. Prime Medicine also plans to extend its research beyond liver treatments, exploring lung delivery mechanisms to enable Prime editors for Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Despite these strategic realignments being seen as sensible, the analysts note that the new clinical catalyst outlook is postponed beyond the company’s current cash runway, which lasts into the first half of 2026. InvestingPro data reveals a weak overall financial health score of 1.73, with the company maintaining a current ratio of 4.78. With net cash at approximately $1 per share and a beta of 1.9 indicating higher volatility than the market, JPMorgan anticipates that Prime Medicine’s stock will trade within a narrow range until there is more clarity on the development timelines and the reach of its key pipeline programs. For deeper insights into Prime Medicine’s financial health and growth prospects, including exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis, check out the full Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Prime Medicine has announced several strategic shifts and updates. The company is refocusing its efforts on liver-directed prime editing programs, specifically targeting Wilson’s disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), with initial clinical data expected in 2027. This strategic move follows promising results from its prime editing asset, PM359, for Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), although the CGD program is being deprioritized. Prime Medicine is also undergoing leadership changes, with Allan Reine stepping in as CEO and Jeff Marrazzo becoming Executive Chair of the Board.

Additionally, Prime Medicine plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 25% to extend its financial runway into the first half of 2026. Analysts have responded to these developments with adjustments in price targets: Chardan Capital Markets lowered its target to $12, Jefferies to $9, and Citi maintained its target at $10, all while keeping a Buy rating. The company’s focus on advancing high-value in vivo programs is seen as a strategic effort to optimize operations and concentrate on promising therapeutic avenues. Prime Medicine is also engaged in arbitration with Beam Therapeutics over rights to its AATD program, asserting confidence in its development plans.

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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