On Monday, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Instil Bio Inc (NASDAQ:TIL) shares with a Market Perform rating. Instil Bio, which went public with an initial public offering as a company specializing in cellular therapy for tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, has recently expanded its portfolio.
In August 2024, Instil Bio in-licensed two molecules, SYN-2025 and IMM27M, from ImmuneOnco. The deal included an upfront payment of $50 million and potential milestones that could exceed $2 billion.
The newly acquired molecules, SYN-2025, a PD-L1 X VEGF bispecific, and IMM27M, a next-generation anti-CTLA-4 antibody, share a class with therapies developed by Summit and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX). However, they present key differences, such as targeting PD-L1 instead of PD-1 and featuring an ADCC-enhanced Fc region, which is not present in competing molecules.
Despite these distinctions, JMP Securities has expressed a cautious stance due to limited clinical data available. The best objective response rate reported was 46% in a study of 23 patients. With the scarcity of clinical results, the firm has applied a low probability of success (POS) of 20% to Instil Bio's prospects.
Investors and analysts are advised to look forward to the results of an ongoing Phase 1b trial. This study, which is examining the monotherapy in second line or higher treatments, is expected to provide more data in the second half of 2025. JMP Securities has indicated that it will re-evaluate its position on Instil Bio following the release of this trial's results.
In other recent news, Instil Bio has been the subject of several analyst notes. Baird has consistently reaffirmed an Outperform rating on the company's shares, with a maintained price target of $180.00.
This confidence is primarily based on the development progress of Instil Bio's SYN-2510, a potential challenger to current PD-1/L1 inhibitors in the market. H.C. Wainwright has also raised its price target for Instil Bio to $120.00, reflecting a positive outlook for the company's cancer treatment, SYN-2510.
However, Jefferies downgraded its stock rating from Buy to Hold following Instil Bio's decision to halt the clinical development of its ITIL-306 program. Instil Bio also plans to close its UK operations by the end of 2024, with estimated costs reaching up to $5.5 million.
Instil Bio's recent developments include an exclusive license agreement with ImmuneOnco Biopharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize antibodies targeting PD-L1 and VEGF, a deal potentially worth up to $2.1 billion for ImmuneOnco based on future milestones. Additionally, Instil Bio has secured a 15-year lease with AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) Pharmaceuticals for its facility in Tarzana, California.
In governance news, R. Kent McGaughy, Jr. and Dr. Gwendolyn Binder were reelected to the company's board of directors, and Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent InvestingPro data and tips offer additional context to Instil Bio's current market position and financial health, which is particularly relevant given JMP Securities' cautious stance on the company.
InvestingPro data shows that Instil Bio's market capitalization stands at $187.18 million, reflecting its status as a relatively small biotech company. This aligns with the article's focus on the company's recent expansion and the potential impact of its newly acquired molecules.
Two key InvestingPro Tips are especially pertinent to the article's discussion:
1. Instil Bio is "quickly burning through cash," which is consistent with the company's recent $50 million upfront payment for in-licensing new molecules and its ongoing clinical trials.
2. "Analysts do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year," supporting JMP Securities' cautious outlook and low probability of success assessment.
These insights, along with 11 additional tips available on InvestingPro, provide a more comprehensive view of Instil Bio's financial situation and market performance. For investors interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers a wealth of additional data and insights to inform investment decisions in this volatile biotech stock.
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