Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shares tumble after conservatorship comments
MENLO PARK/GENEVA - AN2 Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANTX), a small-cap biotech company currently valued at $33.5 million, and the non-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) announced a collaboration to advance clinical development of AN2-502998, an oral drug candidate for chronic Chagas disease. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears undervalued at its current price of $1.11 per share.
The partnership aims to leverage DNDi’s extensive clinical trial network and expertise in Chagas disease research, particularly throughout Latin America and Spain. Startup activities for a Phase 1 first-in-human study of AN2-502998 are currently underway, with completion expected in the second half of 2025 and Phase 2 studies planned for 2026.
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6 to 7 million people worldwide, including approximately 300,000 in the United States. The disease can remain asymptomatic for years while silently causing irreversible damage to vital systems, particularly the heart and gastrointestinal tract. About 30% of patients with chronic infection develop serious manifestations that can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and other life-threatening conditions.
"By drawing upon DNDi’s deep expertise in Chagas disease clinical trials, our collaboration optimizes resources, supports rigorous scientific execution, and accelerates access to a potential breakthrough therapy across multiple geographies," said Eric Easom, Co-Founder, Chairman, President, and CEO of AN2 Therapeutics, according to the press release. The company maintains a strong financial position with a current ratio of 8.68, while InvestingPro rates its overall Financial Health as FAIR.
AN2-502998 is a boron-based small molecule from the benzoxaborole class that targets CPSF3, a key factor involved in messenger RNA processing in T. cruzi. This is the same target as acoziborole, which showed approximately 95% cure rate after a single oral dose in a Phase 2/3 study for human African trypanosomiasis, a related disease.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for adults with Chagas disease, making the development of new therapies a critical need for affected populations. With the company’s next earnings report scheduled for August 7, 2025, investors can access comprehensive analysis and additional insights through InvestingPro’s detailed Research Reports, available for over 1,400 US stocks.
In other recent news, AN2 Therapeutics, Inc. has faced several significant developments. The company revealed that its Phase 3 study of epetraborole for treating MAC lung disease did not meet the primary endpoint, raising concerns about the drug’s efficacy. As a result of this setback, AN2 Therapeutics has decided to halt further development of oral epetraborole for this indication. In light of these findings, JMP Securities has adjusted its outlook on AN2 Therapeutics, reducing the stock target from $5.00 to $2.00 while maintaining a Market Outperform rating. Despite these challenges, the company plans to focus on other potential uses of epetraborole, particularly for M. abscessus NTM and intravenous applications for melioidosis.
Additionally, AN2 Therapeutics has completed a 200-patient observational study on acute melioidosis, revealing a nearly 40% mortality rate by day 90 among confirmed cases, despite standard treatment. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted across three sites in melioidosis-endemic regions. The company is also advancing its pipeline with preparations for a Phase 1 study of AN2-502998, a treatment for chronic Chagas disease, expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. These developments underscore AN2 Therapeutics’ ongoing commitment to its boron chemistry platform and its efforts to address infectious diseases and expand into oncology.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.