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Investing.com - Needham downgraded Clearside Biomedical (NASDAQ:CLSD) from Buy to Hold with a price target of $3.00 on Thursday, citing the company’s difficulties in securing funding for its CLS-AX program. The small-cap biotech, currently valued at $48.57 million, has seen its stock decline over 30% in the past year amid significant volatility (Beta 2.05).
Clearside Biomedical announced it has hired an investment bank to explore strategic alternatives to advance its SCS platform and pipeline after struggling to secure funding or partnerships for its phase 3 development in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). According to InvestingPro data, despite impressive gross profit margins of 89.45%, the company faces significant financial challenges with revenue declining 55.47% over the last twelve months.
The company’s CLS-AX asset, which is phase 3 ready, had demonstrated potential for flexible quarterly to biannual dosing in patients with wAMD based on results reported in October 2024.
Needham noted that Clearside has been exploring funding and partnership opportunities since those phase 2b trial results were announced last October.
The downgrade reflects Clearside’s limited options to secure adequate funding and uncertainty regarding the future development path for CLS-AX and the company’s operations.
In other recent news, Clearside Biomedical has announced plans to explore strategic alternatives, such as asset sales, licensing, or potential mergers, to advance its Suprachoroidal Space delivery platform. The company has engaged Piper Sandler to assist in evaluating these options and is implementing cost-cutting measures, including transitioning all employees to consulting roles and pausing internal R&D programs. Clearside’s primary asset, CLS-AX, is poised for Phase 3 trials in wet age-related macular degeneration after successful FDA alignment. Recent financial disclosures revealed a first-quarter revenue of $2.3 million and a net loss of $8.2 million, which was better than expected. Analysts at H.C. Wainwright have adjusted their price target for Clearside to $5, maintaining a Buy rating, while JMP Securities and Stifel have reaffirmed their targets at $5 and $8, respectively. The company continues to seek capital to support its Phase 3 program and has sufficient cash to fund operations into late 2025. Additionally, Clearside’s collaborations with companies like Aura Biosciences and Bausch + Lomb highlight the commercial potential of its technology. Despite the strategic review, no agreements have been reached, and the company has not set a timeline for the process.
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