On Tuesday, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and $65.00 stock price target for Jasper Therapeutics (NASDAQ:JSPR). The firm's endorsement follows Jasper's recent presentation of six-week data from the SPOTLIGHT study, which is focused on the efficacy of briquilimab in treating chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU).
The study evaluated the drug's performance in 15 patients with conditions including cold urticaria (ColdU) and symptomatic dermagraphism (SD). These individuals were administered a single subcutaneous dose of either 40 mg or 120 mg of briquilimab.
The participants in the SPOTLIGHT study were observed to have more severe baseline conditions than those in a comparative Phase 1 study by Celldex (NASDAQ:CLDX) for their drug barzolvolimab. Specifically, baseline TempTest scores for ColdU were 20.8 and FricTest scores for SD were 3.9 for the 120 mg dose group, versus 18.9 and 3.5, respectively, in the barzolvolimab study.
Moreover, the mean baseline tryptase level, a marker for mast cell activation, was 7.6 ng/ml in the SPOTLIGHT study, in contrast to a median of 4.2 ng/ml in the barzolvolimab study.
The results of the SPOTLIGHT study revealed promising outcomes. In the 40 mg cohort, one patient achieved complete response (CR) and two patients partial response (PR), culminating in a 100% overall response rate. The 120 mg group experienced even more encouraging results, with 10 patients reaching CR (83%) and one patient achieving PR (8%), resulting in a 92% overall response rate. This data suggests a dose-response relationship, with increased efficacy observed at the higher 120 mg dose.
A highlight of the study included the observation of serum tryptase levels. A significant reduction of approximately 66% was noted by Day 7 in the 120 mg cohort, with levels gradually rising through Day 45, yet remaining below baseline. At Day 43, the study reported that 6 CRs and 1 PR were still ongoing, indicating a 60% CR durability at the six-week mark.
H.C. Wainwright's continued support for Jasper Therapeutics is backed by these recent study findings, which demonstrate briquilimab's potential in treating CIndU. The firm stands by its Buy rating and $65 price target for the company's stock.
In other recent news, Jasper Therapeutics has been making significant strides in its clinical trials, with promising preliminary results from the SPOTLIGHT Phase 1b/2a study on briquilimab for treating Chronic Inducible Urticaria (CIndU). The initial data reveals a positive clinical response in most participants and a favorable safety profile. Analyst firms such as Oppenheimer, BTIG, TD (TSX:TD) Cowen, and others have maintained positive ratings on the company, highlighting the potential of briquilimab.
In addition, Jasper Therapeutics has received clearance from Health Canada to commence a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for briquilimab as a potential treatment for asthma. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has registered a trademark for Jasper's proprietary Jasper c-Kit Mouse™ model, which has been instrumental in the clinical development of briquilimab.
The company plans to present initial Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) data from the BEACON study and full SPOTLIGHT study results in the first half of 2025. These recent developments reflect Jasper Therapeutics' ongoing efforts to advance treatments for chronic diseases.
InvestingPro Insights
Jasper Therapeutics' (NASDAQ:JSPR) recent positive data from the SPOTLIGHT study aligns with several key insights from InvestingPro. The company's stock has shown a strong performance over the past year, with InvestingPro data indicating a 90.09% price total return. This impressive gain likely reflects investor optimism about Jasper's pipeline, including briquilimab's potential in treating chronic inducible urticaria.
However, it's important to note that Jasper is still in the development stage and faces financial challenges typical of early-stage biotech companies. An InvestingPro Tip highlights that the company is "quickly burning through cash," which is consistent with the significant research and development expenses associated with clinical trials like SPOTLIGHT. Moreover, Jasper is "not profitable over the last twelve months," with an adjusted operating income of -$68.15 million for the last twelve months as of Q2 2023.
Despite these financial hurdles, another InvestingPro Tip reveals that Jasper "holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet," suggesting a degree of financial stability as it pursues its clinical development programs. This could be crucial for supporting ongoing and future trials of briquilimab.
For investors considering Jasper Therapeutics, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips that could provide further insights into the company's financial health and market position. These tips, along with real-time metrics, can help in making more informed investment decisions in the dynamic biotech sector.
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