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On Friday, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and a $15.00 price target for Abeona Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ABEO) stock. The firm highlighted the potential of Abeona's adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) platform, known as AIM, which features engineered AAV capsids with tissue-specific targeting capabilities. This technology is designed to deliver gene therapies directly to specific organs and tissues.
The reiteration of the positive outlook follows an announcement on Thursday by Beacon Therapeutics, a privately owned ophthalmic gene therapy company within the Syncona portfolio. Beacon revealed its plans to assess Abeona's patented AAV204 capsid for potential gene therapies targeting ophthalmology indications.
The AAV204 capsid, part of the AIM capsid library licensed by Abeona from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has demonstrated efficacy in reaching the macular and optic nerve after para-retinal administration. It has also shown success in transducing both inner and outer retina layers following intravitreal administration in animal models.
According to the terms of the agreement, Beacon will have a 12-month period to evaluate the AAV204 capsid for certain eye-related diseases. H.C. Wainwright suggests that this partnership could expand and hasten the development of new pipeline programs utilizing the AIM vector platform.
The endorsement of Abeona's stock by H.C. Wainwright comes amid a broader push in the biotechnology sector to develop targeted gene therapies. The firm's maintained price target of $15 per share reflects confidence in the company's technology and its potential applications in the treatment of ophthalmological conditions.
In other recent news, Abeona Therapeutics has made significant strides in its operations. The biopharmaceutical company has recently announced a partnership with Beacon Therapeutics to explore the potential of a novel gene therapy technology for treating eye diseases. This collaboration centers on Abeona's patented AAV204 capsid, which has shown promise in preclinical studies for targeting the retina.
Financial services company, Stifel, has initiated coverage of Abeona Therapeutics, assigning a 'buy' rating with a price target of $21.00. Stifel's optimism is primarily based on the potential of Abeona's therapy, Prademagene zamikeracel, a treatment for a rare genetic skin disorder.
However, Abeona has faced challenges with the FDA requesting additional data for its Biologics License Application (BLA) for this therapy. Despite this, the company anticipates resubmitting the BLA in the third quarter of 2024.
In a separate development, Abeona has set terms for a $75 million stock offering, expected to close in May 2024. The proceeds will be used to fund preparations for the BLA resubmission, commercialization efforts for its product candidate, and other general corporate purposes. These are some of the recent developments in the company's operations.
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