Legend Biotech stock poised for growth with compelling data on Carvykti

Published 30/09/2024, 17:46
Legend Biotech stock poised for growth with compelling data on Carvykti

On Monday, Scotiabank reiterated its Sector Outperform rating on Legend Biotech Corp. (NASDAQ: LEGN), with a steady price target of $76.00. The endorsement follows the recent announcement of clinical trial results for the company's cancer treatment, Carvykti.

The CARTITUDE-4 trial, reported last Friday, showed a 45% reduction in the risk of death when using Carvykti compared to the standard of care for treating second-line or later multiple myeloma patients. The trial's findings also highlighted that the median overall survival (OS) has not been reached, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.55, and 76% of patients were alive after 30 months.

The analyst from Scotiabank expressed a positive outlook on the drug's market potential, citing its cost-effectiveness and the strong case for using Carvykti as a first-line treatment in multiple myeloma cases. Expectations for the drug's demand are projected to bolster third-quarter worldwide sales to approximately $252 million, indicating a robust quarter-over-quarter sales growth of around 35%, according to the firm's model.

The report further anticipates that capacity expansions will significantly contribute to an increase in sales starting in the fourth quarter, aligning with management's guidance. The financial performance of Carvykti is set to be disclosed in the earnings report of Legend Biotech's partner, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ™), on October 15. The sustained confidence in Legend Biotech's stock underscores the promising results from the recent trial and the expected positive impact on the company's financial growth.

In other recent news, Legend Biotech has been in the spotlight due to significant developments. The company reported strong second-quarter revenues of $186 million, primarily driven by its cancer treatment drug, Carvykti. BMO Capital, Piper Sandler, and H.C. Wainwright maintained their positive ratings, highlighting the promising results from the company's Carvykti therapy and its potential for significant sales growth.

The therapy has shown a statistically significant overall survival benefit in its 34-month Cartitude-4 study data. This favorable profile positions Carvykti as a leading CAR-T therapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Legend Biotech also received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration for Carvykti, further strengthening its position in the market.

Despite speculations around potential mergers and acquisitions, Legend Biotech reassured investors that the Biosecure Act is not expected to significantly impact its operations. Analyst firms Scotiabank, TD Cowen, and BTIG have revised their price targets to $70.00, $67.00, and $91.00 respectively, all maintaining a positive outlook.

InvestingPro Insights

Legend Biotech's recent clinical trial success for Carvykti aligns with several key financial metrics and insights from InvestingPro. The company's revenue growth is particularly noteworthy, with InvestingPro data showing a substantial 176.93% increase in the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. This impressive growth rate supports Scotiabank's optimistic outlook on Carvykti's market potential and projected sales increase.

However, investors should note that Legend Biotech is currently not profitable, with a negative gross profit margin of -30.76% in the same period. This aligns with an InvestingPro Tip indicating that the company suffers from weak gross profit margins. Despite this, another InvestingPro Tip highlights that analysts anticipate sales growth in the current year, which could be driven by the promising results of Carvykti.

It's worth noting that Legend Biotech's market capitalization stands at $8.94 billion, reflecting investor confidence in the company's potential. For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips for Legend Biotech, providing a deeper understanding of 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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