On Tuesday, H.C. Wainwright adjusted its outlook on Caribou Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:CRBU), decreasing its price target to $9.00, falling from the previous target of $24.00. Despite this change, the firm maintains a Buy rating on the biotechnology company's shares.
The revision follows the recent presentation of updated results from the ANTLER trial at the annual ASCO meeting. Caribou Biosciences showcased findings from its CB-010 therapy, which demonstrated a 76.1% objective response rate (ORR) and a 45.7% complete response rate (CR) across three different dose levels.
The median duration of response (mDOR) stood at 5.0 months for the intention-to-treat population. In second-line large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients, the ORR was 75% with a 50% CR rate and a mDOR of 4.8 months.
These results indicate a decline in efficacy when compared to previous data, where CB-010 achieved a 94% ORR and 69% CR rate, with 44% of patients maintaining CR at six months. Subgroup analysis had shown even higher rates of ORR and CR, with half of the patients maintaining CR at the six-month mark.
In comparison, a competing therapy, Yescarta by Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), which is not rated by H.C. Wainwright, reported an 83% ORR and 65% CR, with a mDOR of 26.9 months in a similar patient group during the ZUMA-7 trial. Given the competitive landscape and the recent data, H.C. Wainwright has reduced the probability of approval for CB-010 from 30% to 20% and for CB-011 from 40% to 20%.
The firm's reiteration of the Buy rating, alongside the reduced price target, reflects a recalibration of expectations for Caribou Biosciences' lead therapies in the context of their development stages and the current market competition.
In other recent news, Caribou Biosciences has been in the spotlight with various developments. The company's CB-010 treatment strategy of partial HLA-matching has been showing promising results, according to Citi, which reiterated its 'Buy' rating on the company's stock. However, Evercore ISI downgraded Caribou Biosciences from Outperform to In Line, citing strategic challenges the company faces.
Moreover, the FDA has cleared Caribou Biosciences' Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CB-010 in lupus nephritis and extrarenal lupus. The company's Phase 1 GALLOP clinical trial is slated to commence by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, H.C. Wainwright raised its price target for Caribou Biosciences to $24 from $23, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock, following the company's Q4 2023 financial results.
The company's operations are expected to be funded into Q1 2026, based on its current cash reserves. As these developments unfold, analysts from various firms continue to monitor and provide their assessments of the company's progress.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of H.C. Wainwright's revised outlook on Caribou Biosciences, current metrics from InvestingPro paint a detailed picture of the company's financial health and market performance. Caribou Biosciences holds a market capitalization of $193.73 million, which is reflective of investor valuation in the context of its industry. Notably, the company's revenue has experienced substantial growth over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, with a striking increase of 127.41%. However, this growth contrasts with a quarterly revenue decline of 30.64% in Q1 2024, indicating potential volatility in the company's earnings.
Two InvestingPro Tips offer additional insights. Firstly, Caribou Biosciences is in a relatively strong liquidity position, holding more cash than debt on its balance sheet. This could provide the company with a buffer against funding challenges in the short term. Secondly, the stock's Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests it is currently in oversold territory, which might interest bargain-seeking investors. However, it's important to note that the company has been quickly burning through cash, which is a critical factor for potential investors to consider.
To further explore these metrics and discover additional InvestingPro Tips, interested readers can visit the dedicated page for Caribou Biosciences at InvestingPro. There are 15 additional tips available that could guide investment decisions. For a more comprehensive analysis, use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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