HAYWARD, Calif. - Benitec Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: BNTC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced the appointment of Kishen Mehta to its Board of Directors last Monday. Mehta, a portfolio manager at Suvretta Capital, joins following a $40 million private investment in Benitec by Suvretta Capital in April.
The addition of Mehta is part of Benitec's strategy to strengthen its governance as it progresses with the Phase 1b/2a study of BB-301, a gene therapy candidate for Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD). Jerel A. Banks, M.D., Ph.D., Benitec's CEO, expressed confidence that Mehta's expertise in investing and corporate strategy will be valuable as the company prepares for potential regulatory strategies and commercial launch of its products.
Mehta brings over 15 years of financial industry experience and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He has a background in healthcare investment strategies, and prior roles include positions at Surveyor Capital and Adage Capital, as well as an M&A analyst at Evercore Partners (NYSE:EVR).
BB-301, the treatment in question, is designed to silence and replace faulty genes and is currently under investigation for its potential to treat OPMD. Benitec's proprietary platform aims to combine RNA interference with gene therapy for sustained silencing of disease-causing genes.
This news is based on a press release statement from Benitec Biopharma Inc.
In other recent news, Benitec BioPharma has made significant strides with its lead product candidate, BB-301. The biotechnology company's gene therapy has shown encouraging first-patient data in the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), a rare disease with approximately 15,000 patients across North America and Europe.
Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Benitec BioPharma, assigning an Overweight rating due to the firm's confidence in the success of BB-301, and set a price target of $30.00.
JMP Securities also expressed confidence in the biotech firm, maintaining a Market Outperform rating and increasing the price target from $10.00 to $16.00 following the positive interim clinical data from the BB-301 trial. Furthermore, Benitec BioPharma secured $40 million through a private investment in public equity deal led by Suvretta Capital Management, with funds to be allocated to advance the clinical development and potential commercialization of BB-301.
These recent developments reflect the ongoing progress of Benitec BioPharma, particularly in OPMD treatment. However, the company's advancements do not guarantee future success, and investors should continue to monitor the company's progress closely.
InvestingPro Insights
As Benitec Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: BNTC) welcomes Kishen Mehta to its board of directors, investors may be looking at the company's financial health and market performance to understand its potential trajectory. With a market capitalization of $65.48 million, Benitec is positioned as a niche player in the biotechnology industry. According to InvestingPro Tips, the company is not expected to be profitable this year and analysts foresee a sales decline in the current year.
Despite these challenges, Benitec has seen a significant price uptick with a 116.41% year-to-date total return, and a strong return of 72.4% over the last year. These metrics suggest that while the company faces headwinds, its stock has been performing well in the market. Additionally, Benitec holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and has liquid assets that exceed its short-term obligations, which may offer some financial flexibility as it continues to develop its gene therapy candidate, BB-301.
InvestingPro Tips also highlight that the company's price is currently at 65.33% of its 52-week high, with a previous close at $6.99. For investors seeking more in-depth analysis, there are additional tips available on InvestingPro, which can be accessed at https://www.investing.com/pro/BNTC. These insights may prove valuable for those considering an investment in Benitec, especially considering the recent positive price momentum. Interested readers can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.