Gold prices steady, holding sharp gains in wake of soft U.S. jobs data
Investing.com - Piper Sandler has reiterated an Overweight rating and $160.00 price target on Verona Pharma (NASDAQ:VRNA), now valued at $8.34 billion, as the company’s COPD treatment OHTUVAYRE continues its successful market launch. The target aligns with the broader analyst consensus, which remains highly bullish with targets ranging from $90 to $170.
The research firm noted that Verona Pharma stock has traded up approximately 95% in the first six months of 2025, with InvestingPro data showing a remarkable year-to-date return of 97.09%. The stock’s strong performance has been driven by OHTUVAYRE’s launch performance that has exceeded market expectations, supported by impressive gross profit margins of 94.95%.
Wall Street analysts project OHTUVAYRE will achieve sales of $91.8 million in the second quarter of 2025, with full-year 2025 sales estimated at $409.1 million, according to FactSet data cited by Piper Sandler.
Early refill data shows strong patient retention, with over 60% of total dispensed prescriptions in the first quarter of 2025 being refills, which the firm believes emphasizes the treatment’s favorable real-world profile.
Piper Sandler expects the second half of 2025 to provide greater insight into refill patterns as OHTUVAYRE approaches the one-year mark since its approval and launch, with the firm maintaining its bullish outlook on the drug’s blockbuster potential.
In other recent news, Verona Pharma has been the subject of several analyst updates and developments regarding its COPD treatment, Ohtuvayre. Jefferies increased its price target for Verona Pharma to $110, citing strong sales of Ohtuvayre, which generated $71 million in the first quarter of 2025. Piper Sandler also raised their price target to $160, maintaining an Overweight rating, and highlighted the drug’s continued success in the COPD market. Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its Overweight rating with a $100 price target, expressing optimism about Ohtuvayre’s potential to become a franchise worth over $4 billion at peak sales.
H.C. Wainwright raised their price target for Verona Pharma to $90, following mixed results from competitors’ trials, and forecasted Ohtuvayre sales to reach $389 million this year. The firm expects sales to rise to $731.6 million by 2026. Piper Sandler reiterated a $76 price target and noted Verona Pharma’s expansion of its sales team and promotional efforts for Ohtuvayre. Analysts see the potential for significant growth as the launch progresses. These developments reflect growing confidence among analysts in Verona Pharma’s market position and the performance of its flagship product, Ohtuvayre.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.