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Investing.com - H.C. Wainwright has reiterated its Neutral rating on Ventyx Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:VTYX), a clinical-stage biotech currently trading near its 52-week high at $3.86, following the company’s release of topline results from its Phase 2 trial of VTX3232 in patients with obesity and elevated cardiovascular risk. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears slightly undervalued based on its Fair Value assessment.
The double-blinded trial enrolled 175 patients randomized across four treatment groups: monotherapy placebo, VTX3232 30 mg daily, combination semaglutide weekly (titrated to 1 mg) plus placebo, or combination semaglutide weekly plus VTX3232 30 mg daily, for a 12-week treatment period.
Patient baseline characteristics were balanced across all treatment arms with mean weight of 100 kg, BMI of 36 kg/m2, and liver fat of 8.2%. Mean IL-6 and hsCRP at baseline were 3.7 ng/L and 4.1 mg/L respectively, with hsCRP levels exceeding the 2 mg/L threshold associated with greater risk of future cardiovascular events according to the American College of Cardiology.
The study showed VTX3232, both alone and in combination with semaglutide, demonstrated a benign safety profile relative to placebo, with no clinically meaningful changes to lipid parameters. Key endpoints of the study included safety, changes in hsCRP levels, inflammatory biomarkers, weight, body composition, and liver fat.
H.C. Wainwright maintains its Neutral stance on Ventyx as it awaits additional details around next steps of development, including potential new Phase 2 trials in ASCVD, AFid and/or heart failure, while noting that recurrent pericarditis data for the company’s VTX2735 candidate remains on track for release this year.
In other recent news, Ventyx Biosciences announced positive topline results from its Phase 2 study of VTX3232, an oral NLRP3 inhibitor, in patients with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. The study revealed significant reductions in key cardiovascular risk markers, with a 78% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) at week 12 for those treated with VTX3232 monotherapy, compared to a 3% increase in the placebo group. The study included 175 participants and evaluated the effects of VTX3232 alone or with semaglutide, focusing on safety and inflammation. Furthermore, Ventyx Biosciences received a Buy rating from Clear Street, which set a price target of $11.00. Clear Street highlighted upcoming catalysts for NLRP3 inhibitors in the fourth quarter of 2025 as potential drivers for valuation and partnership opportunities. These developments suggest significant progress in Ventyx’s research and a positive outlook from analysts.
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