Harmony stock downgraded amid risks in next-gen formulations and OX2R program

Published 15/10/2024, 12:24
Harmony stock downgraded amid risks in next-gen formulations and OX2R program

On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs reaffirmed its Sell rating on shares of Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:HRMY) with a steady price target of $28.00. The evaluation came after a group investor event which included top executives from Harmony Biosciences.

The discussion at the event centered on the company's clinical and commercial prospects for new formulations of pitolisant, a treatment for narcolepsy. Additionally, the recent developments in Harmony's preclinical OX2R agonist program and the potential of EPX-100 for epilepsy were highlighted.

The management team, including President and CEO Jeffrey Dayno, Chief Commercial Officer Jeffrey Dierks, and CFO Sandip Kapadia, provided insights into their strategic approaches. They focused on the extension of the pitolisant life cycle through pitolisant-GR/HD and the commercial strategy for EPX-100 in addressing Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes (DS/LGS).

The conversation also touched upon the acquisition of OX2R agonist BP1.15205, which Harmony's management believes could be best-in-class for treating narcolepsy. The executives expressed confidence in the potential commercial value of this acquisition and EPX-100, underlining their commitment to advancing these treatments.

In addition to discussing product strategies, Harmony's management team conveyed their ongoing efforts in seeking business development opportunities. They aim to further enhance the company's pipeline and leverage the financial flexibility provided by the successful Wakix franchise. Harmony Biosciences appears to be actively pursuing growth avenues while managing its existing portfolio of treatments.

In other recent news, Harmony Biosciences has seen significant developments, with Raymond James resuming coverage with an Outperform rating and a $40 price target. The dismissal of the Citizen's Petition and the expansion of the drug Wakix's label for pediatric use have been highlighted as growth opportunities. Mizuho Securities raised Harmony Biosciences' price target to $52, influenced by the inclusion of revenue projections for EPX-100 and the high dose of pitolisant. The company also reported a 29% rise in Q2 net sales for its product WAKIX, reaching $172.8 million.

Piper Sandler reaffirmed its Overweight rating on Harmony Biosciences, following the company's investor day, while Goldman Sachs reiterated its Sell rating, citing the need for further clinical validation of the company's pipeline. Harmony Biosciences also presented a comprehensive pipeline update at its Investor Day event, highlighting new data and developments in its treatment programs for sleep disorders and rare neurological diseases.

The company's CEO, Jeffrey M. Dayno, M.D., highlighted the potential to generate over $3 billion in annual revenue. Harmony Biosciences maintains a solid financial position with $434.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, and is on track to meet its 2024 net revenue guidance of $700 million to $720 million.

InvestingPro Insights

Despite Goldman Sachs' Sell rating, Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:HRMY) demonstrates strong financial performance according to InvestingPro data. The company's revenue growth of 31.52% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 aligns with management's focus on expanding their product pipeline and commercial strategies. This growth is complemented by a robust gross profit margin of 79.41%, indicating efficient cost management in their drug development and commercialization efforts.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Harmony's management has been aggressively buying back shares, which could signal confidence in the company's future prospects. Additionally, the company operates with a moderate level of debt, providing financial flexibility for their ongoing research and development initiatives, including the pitolisant life cycle extension and the advancement of EPX-100 for epilepsy.

It's worth noting that while Goldman Sachs maintains a Sell rating with a $28.00 price target, InvestingPro's Fair Value estimate stands at $41.81, suggesting potential upside. Investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis can access 6 additional InvestingPro Tips for HRMY, offering deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.

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

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