Citius Oncology partners with Cardinal Health for LYMPHIR distribution

CRANFORD, N.J. - Citius Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTOR), a subsidiary of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXR), has entered into a distribution services agreement with Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH), a prominent player in the Healthcare Providers & Services sector with a market capitalization of $36.93 billion and annual revenue exceeding $222 billion. According to InvestingPro analysis, Cardinal Health’s stock has delivered an impressive 60% return over the past year and currently trades near its 52-week high. The collaboration aims to support the U.S. commercial launch of LYMPHIR™, an FDA-approved immunotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

LYMPHIR is a recombinant fusion protein therapy specifically designed for patients with Stage I-III CTCL who have undergone at least one prior systemic treatment. The treatment was approved by the FDA in August 2024, following its regulatory approval in Japan for CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in 2021. Citius Oncology acquired exclusive rights to develop and commercialize LYMPHIR in all markets outside of Japan and certain parts of Asia.

Leonard Mazur, Chairman and CEO of Citius Oncology and Citius Pharmaceuticals, expressed confidence in Cardinal Health’s distribution capabilities to ensure efficient and reliable access to LYMPHIR for healthcare providers and patients. Cardinal Health will act as an authorized distributor of record, providing specialty pharmaceutical distribution services for Citius Oncology. InvestingPro analysis indicates Cardinal Health’s strong market position is supported by 43 consecutive years of dividend payments and robust cash flows that sufficiently cover interest payments. Healthcare investors can access detailed analysis of over 1,400 stocks, including Cardinal Health, through InvestingPro’s comprehensive Research Reports.

CTCL, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, manifests as skin lesions and can significantly affect the quality of life due to severe pain and pruritus. The disease may progress slowly over years but can become highly malignant and spread to lymph nodes and internal organs at later stages. There is currently no curative therapy for advanced CTCL, with allogeneic stem cell transplantation being an option for only a small fraction of patients.

The press release also included important safety information about LYMPHIR, including a boxed warning for capillary leak syndrome (CLS) and other potential adverse reactions such as visual impairment, infusion-related reactions, hepatotoxicity, and embryo-fetal toxicity. Healthcare professionals are advised to monitor patients for signs and symptoms of CLS and other adverse effects during treatment.

The information provided in this article is based on a press release statement from Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For investors interested in the healthcare sector, InvestingPro offers extensive financial metrics, Fair Value calculations, and expert insights across the healthcare industry. The platform currently shows Cardinal Health trading slightly below its Fair Value, making it an interesting case study for value investors exploring the healthcare services sector.

In other recent news, Cardinal Health reported strong first-quarter 2025 earnings, surpassing expectations with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.35, compared to the forecasted $2.17. Despite slightly missing revenue forecasts, the company has raised its full-year EPS guidance, indicating confidence in future growth. Wells Fargo analysts have upgraded Cardinal Health stock to Overweight, citing improved valuation and a strong industry backdrop. They have also increased the company’s price target to $179, based on anticipated earnings growth and strategic mergers and acquisitions.

Additionally, Evercore ISI analysts raised the price target for Cardinal Health to $175, maintaining an Outperform rating. They noted the company’s expected fiscal year 2026 EPS guidance of approximately $9.05 to $9.25, reflecting a 12-14% growth from the fiscal year 2025 midpoint guidance. In a move to deliver value to shareholders, Cardinal Health announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.5107 per share, sourced from the company’s capital surplus.

Citi analysts have also raised their price target to $157, maintaining a Neutral rating, following Cardinal Health’s solid earnings report. The company’s pharmaceutical segment showed significant growth, driven by strategic acquisitions and client expansions. Despite challenges in the Global Medical Products Distribution segment, Cardinal Health anticipates double-digit EPS growth in fiscal year 2026, with the Pharma and Other segments expected to be the primary contributors.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.