Latest news with #IonisPharmaceuticals
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Morgan Stanley Upgraded This Biotech Stock to a Buy
Sitting at a market cap of $6.8 billion, Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) is a U.S.-based biotech company that develops RNA-targeted therapeutics to treat diseases caused by genetic or biochemical dysregulation. Ionis has many approved products in the market, most in collaboration with large pharmaceutical companies. However, it independently launched its sole product, Tryngolza, in December of last year. The drug had a blockbuster performance following its commercial launch. IONS stock has surged 21.5% year-to-date, outperforming the market. Based on the biotech's strong second-quarter results, Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Ulz upgraded the stock to a "Buy" with about 45% upside potential, based on the target price of $62. More News from Barchart Find Winning Momentum Trades With This Moving Average Stock Screener Tariffs, Earnings and Other Can't Miss Items this Week Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 27 Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. Ulz cited a combination of strong operational performance and promising future catalysts as reasons for his bullish stance on Ionis. Let's take a look at what those drivers are, and whether Ionis stock is truly a 'Buy' now. Why Did Morgan Stanley Upgrade IONS Stock? According to Michael Ulz, the launch of Tryngolza was the standout factor in Ionis' second quarter earnings, exceeding not only Wall Street's expectations but also initial internal sales forecasts. Its robust commercial debut shows Ionis' management's strong execution capabilities and solidifies investor confidence in the company's strategic direction. Tryngolza (olezarsen) is used to treat familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), a rare and life-threatening genetic lipid disorder in adults, in combination with diet. It was the drug's second full quarter on the market, with net product sales of $19 million in Q2. Management emphasized in the Q2 earnings call that physicians are prescribing it to a large number of patients, indicating increased confidence in the drug. Furthermore, approximately 60% of patients are covered by commercial insurance and 40% by government programs, with more than 90% paying no out-of-pocket costs, contributing to the drug's success. Crucially, with a positive opinion from the European CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use), Ionis is planning to expand Tryngolza's reach throughout Europe. This will lay the groundwork for significant international expansion. The company also earned a royalty revenue of $70 million from the following products, among others: Spinraza (nusinersen) — for spinal muscular atrophy in partnership with Biogen (BIIB) Wainua (eplontersen) — for ATTRv PN, co-commercialized with AstraZeneca (AZN) Total revenue in the second quarter increased by an impressive 100.8% year-on-year to $452 million. The company also reported a profit of $0.70 per share, up from a loss of $0.45 per share in the year-ago quarter. Morgan Stanley's Ulz also mentioned many upcoming events that could boost the stock, including the anticipated Phase 3 readouts for severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and other pipeline updates scheduled for 2026. Furthermore, early feedback from key opinion leaders on the upcoming Phase 3 CORE/CORE2 data for Olezarsen to treat patients with sHTG has been overwhelmingly positive, adding to the sense of optimism. The company expects topline data from the trial in September of this year. Notably, Ionis has an extensive late-stage pipeline, with many in Phase 2-3 clinical development. Donidalorsen is expected to be approved in August for hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare but well-known genetic condition that causes painful swelling episodes. Management believes Donidalorsen has the potential to significantly broaden the company's footprint, as up to 20% of HAE patients switch prophylactic therapies each year, indicating dissatisfaction with current options. Furthermore, ION582 is beginning a Phase 3 trial to determine its efficacy for Angelman syndrome (AS), a serious and rare neurodevelopmental disorder. With a successful drug launch under its belt and multiple potential catalysts on the horizon, Morgan Stanley believes Ionis is well-positioned for continued growth. Management is also confident that the company's current momentum will lead to long-term revenue growth and positive cash flow. For the full year, Ionis expects revenue to increase by 17% to 20%, to $825 million to $850 million, while analysts predict $869.6 million in revenue. What Are Other Analysts Saying About IONS Stock? Aside from Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, Needham, Raymond James, and H.C. Wainwright analysts also maintain a 'Buy' rating for IONS stock. Furthermore, H.C. Wainwright has raised the target price to $65 from $50. Separately, Wells Fargo analyst Yanan Zhu maintained a 'Buy' rating and a target price of $77 for IONS after the company's strong second-quarter performance, which the firm says reflected both top-line momentum and operational discipline. Zhu also highlighted the company's strategic execution, specifically the successful launch of Tryngolza. Looking ahead, Zhu expects additional upside from several key catalysts, including upcoming pivotal trial readouts and potential regulatory milestones. These developments could further strengthen the company's pipeline and unlock long-term value for shareholders. Overall, on Wall Street, IONS remains a 'Moderate Buy.' Of the 23 analysts covering the stock, 15 rate it a 'Strong Buy,' two say it is a 'Moderate Buy,' five rate it a 'Hold,' and one suggests a 'Strong Sell.' The average target price of $57.77 suggests an upside potential of 35% from current levels. Additionally, the Street-high estimate of $83 suggests the stock has an upside potential of 93% over the next 12 months. With successful products and a robust pipeline approaching key milestones, Ionis appears to be on track to become a multi-product, multibillion-dollar biotech leader, which explains analysts' optimism for the stock. Ionis is developing a long-term, growth-oriented business model capable of delivering transformational therapies to patients while providing strong returns to investors, making it a compelling biotech stock for the long haul. On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
CNBC
23-07-2025
- Health
- CNBC
Ionis Pharmaceuticals founder Stanley Crooke on the fight against rare diseases
Stanley Crooke, Ionis Pharmaceuticals founder and n-Lorem founder, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the fight against rare diseases, the development of ASO technology, and more.
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Ionis to hold second quarter 2025 financial results webcast
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) announced today that it will host a live webcast on Wednesday, July 30 th at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results and progress on key programs. The webcast may be accessed at A replay will be available for a limited time at the same address. About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For three decades, Ionis has invented medicines that bring better futures to people with serious diseases. Ionis currently has six marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology, and select areas of high patient need. As the pioneer in RNA-targeted medicines, Ionis continues to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing. A deep understanding of disease biology and industry-leading technology propels our work, coupled with a passion and urgency to deliver life-changing advances for patients. To learn more about Ionis, visit and follow us on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Barclays Upgrades Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) Stock, Raises PT
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) is one of the Barclays upgraded the company's stock to 'Overweight' from 'Equal Weight' with a price objective of $57, an increase from the prior target of $51, ahead of the Tryngolza Phase 3 CORE/CORE2 data in severe hypertriglyceridemia, as reported by The Fly. The firm expects greater than 90% probability of the trial hitting the primary endpoint and expects a high probability that it will hit all key second biomarker endpoints. A scientist in a laboratory making a breakthrough discovery in biotechnology. Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) also announced that its partner, Biogen, shared positive topline results from Phase 1 study of salanersen (ION306/BIIB115), which is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that is being developed for potential treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). While leveraging the same mechanism of action as SPINRAZA® (nusinersen), but designed to achieve greater potency, salanersen can achieve high efficacy and enable once-yearly dosing. In Q1 2025, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)'s revenue rose by 10% as compared to the same period of last year, thanks to the increased commercial revenue, which includes new TRYNGOLZA product revenue after the approval in late December and higher SPINRAZA and WAINUA royalty revenue. While we acknowledge the potential of IONS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ionis Pharmaceuticals upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
Barclays upgraded Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $57, up from $51, ahead of Tryngolza Phase 3 CORE/CORE2 data in severe hypertriglyceridemia due likely in September. After having spoken with three key opinion leaders and doing a deep dive on historical clinical trials, natural history data, and statistical analysis, the firm sees a greater than 90% probability that the trial will hit the primary endpoint and sees a high probability it will hit all key second biomarker endpoints, the analyst tells investors. Don't Miss TipRanks' Half-Year Sale Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week.
