Fed governors may dissent against Powell amid Trump pressure - WSJ’s Timiraos
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ:CORT), a pharmaceutical company that has delivered an impressive 137% return to investors over the past year, announced Monday that its CATALYST trial of Korlym in patients with hypercortisolism and difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes met its primary endpoint, showing significant improvement in blood glucose control. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a robust financial position with a market capitalization of $7.9 billion and an exceptional gross profit margin of 98%.
Patients receiving Korlym showed a 1.47 percent reduction in hemoglobin A1c compared to a 0.15 percent decrease in the placebo group. Those receiving the highest dose (900mg) experienced a 2.01 percent improvement. The treatment also led to significant reductions in body weight (5.1 kg) and waist circumference (5.1 cm) compared to placebo. These promising clinical results come as Corcept demonstrates strong business execution, with revenue growing at 31% year-over-year and maintaining healthy liquidity with a current ratio of 3.07, as reported by InvestingPro.
The CATALYST study, which screened 1,057 patients with difficult-to-control diabetes at 36 U.S. sites, found that 24 percent had hypercortisolism, a condition characterized by excessive cortisol activity. These patients were eligible for the treatment phase, where 136 participants were randomized to receive either Korlym or placebo for 24 weeks.
"CATALYST shows that these patients should be screened for hypercortisolism and that treatment with a cortisol-directed therapy can confer significant clinical benefits," said John Buse, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of North Carolina’s Diabetes Center, according to the company’s press release.
Common adverse events in patients receiving Korlym included hypokalemia, fatigue, and nausea, consistent with the medication’s known safety profile.
Hypercortisolism, also known as Cushing’s syndrome, can cause hypertension, central obesity, elevated blood sugar, fatigue, and cognitive disturbances. Korlym is approved to control hyperglycemia secondary to hypercortisolism in adult patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome who have type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance and have failed surgery or are not surgery candidates.
The study results were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in Diabetes Care.
In other recent news, Corcept Therapeutics reported first-quarter earnings per share of $0.17, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.14, though revenue fell short at $157.2 million against the anticipated $177.9 million. Despite the revenue miss, Corcept maintains its 2025 sales guidance for Korlym, projecting sales between $900 million and $950 million, reflecting significant growth potential. The company also presented positive data from its Phase 3 ROSELLA trial at the ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting, showing that relacorilant in combination with nab-paclitaxel achieved a 30% reduction in the risk of disease progression in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. The trial’s results were published in The Lancet and have sparked regulatory applications in the U.S. and Europe. Analysts from H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed their Buy rating and $145 price target for Corcept, citing the potential impact of the ROSELLA study results. Meanwhile, Piper Sandler maintained an Overweight rating with a $131 price target, highlighting the potential for transformative growth due to expanding markets for Corcept’s treatments. At its 2025 annual meeting, Corcept announced the election of nine directors and ratified Ernst & Young LLP as its accounting firm. The company’s management continues to emphasize strategic growth and market expansion in its key therapeutic areas.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.