Latest news with #ProKidney
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ProKidney Corp (PROK) Completes Re-domestication to Delaware amid Kidney Therapy Advancement
ProKidney Corp. (NASDAQ:PROK) is one of the best high-return penny stocks to buy now. On July 16, the company confirmed the completion of its corporate domestication from the Cayman Islands to the state of Delaware. The change of jurisdiction and related restructuring took effect on July 1, 2025. A scientist wearing a lab coat and safety glasses conducting a research experiment related to biotechnology and kidney diseases. Following the domestication, each of the outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares of ProKidney Cayman was converted to one share of Class A or Class B common stock of ProKidney Delaware. In addition, the company amended and restated several material agreements, including the Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement, Lock-Up Agreement, and Exchange Agreement. The domestication comes as the US Food and Drug Administration confirms the use of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope, paving the way for the accelerated approval of the company's kidney disease therapy, rilparencel. The agency also agreed that data from the Phase 3 PROACT 1 trial can be used for both accelerated and full approval pathways. ProKidney Corp. (NASDAQ:PROK) is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing a cell therapy called rilparencel (also known as REACT) to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD). Their approach involves using a patient's kidney cells to potentially preserve kidney function and delay or eliminate the need for dialysis. While we acknowledge the potential of PROK 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: 10 Best Chemical Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires and 7 Most Undervalued Pot Stocks To Buy According To Analysts. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Biotech Stock Jumped Over 600% in Just Days After Releasing Promising Clinical Trial Data. And Its Market Cap Is Still Only $2 Billion. But Is It a Buy?
Key Points Shares of ProKidney surged last week after the company reported encouraging phase 2 trial data. Rilparencel is a cell therapy that could generate up to $900 million in revenue per year for the business. However, it could still be more than a year before phase 3 trial data comes out. 10 stocks we like better than ProKidney › Biotech stocks can be risky but exciting investments because they can soar quickly on positive news, such as a drug approval or simply the hope that they may soon have an approved treatment. They can drop just as quickly on negative news. One stock that has recently skyrocketed is ProKidney (NASDAQ: PROK). At the start of the month, it was firmly in penny stock territory, with a price of less than $0.60. But as of the end of last week, it was up over $4.50, having taken off in value on some encouraging developments. And yet, even despite soaring well over 600% in less than a week, its market cap remains at around $2 billion as I write this. What's behind the healthcare stock's impressive rally, and should you consider investing in ProKidney today? The catalyst behind ProKidney's surge On July 8, shares of ProKidney rose by 515%, and trading volumes also spiked, from 820,000 shares the previous day to more than 343 million. The reason for the bullishness is that the company released phase 2 trial results for rilparencel, a promising cell therapy it is developing as a treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes. There were no serious adverse events noted in the trial, and the data showed that the treatment has potential in helping preserve kidney function for people with CKD and diabetes. At its peak, analysts believe that rilparencel could generate $900 million in annual revenue. That may put the company on a path toward profitability, but it's by no means a sure thing since it first needs to obtain approval. And phase 3 trial data, which often can determine a treatment's likelihood of approval, is still likely more than a year away. The stock has dropped a bit since the July 8 surge. ProKidney is in good position to handle its ongoing cash burn The name of the game for biotech companies that are in the midst of developing drugs and treatments is to keep their costs down as low as possible, and to minimize the need for cash infusions. With minimal revenue, ProKidney is a cash-burning machine right now, and its expenses may rise, especially as it progresses in later-stage trials, which are larger and more costly to run. Through the first three months of the year, the company used up just under $30 million in cash for its day-to-day operating activities. The good news is that with cash and marketable securities totaling $328 million, the business appears to be well funded and in good shape to continue investing in its research and development without needing to issue shares anytime soon. Given its current resources, it has some runway. Is ProKidney stock a buy? Shares are up big of late, but a few years ago ProKidney reached highs of over $13 per share. (It closed Tuesday at $3.37.) Biotech stocks can go on roller-coaster rides as they struggle with burning cash. And while encouraging clinical trial results can have positive effects, they may not be enough reason for a stock's value to remain high. In the case of ProKidney, until and unless rilparencel obtains approval from regulators, this is going to remain a risky and volatile stock. And given its recent surge, some investors may be tempted to cash out on the excitement, especially since there's still plenty of risk. At a near $2 billion valuation, I would hold off on buying the stock right now since there could still be a lot of room for it to fall back down. The phase 2 results may have been encouraging, but that doesn't guarantee that phase 3 will also be positive and that approval for rilparencel is inevitable. It could still be a long road ahead for ProKidney before it proves to be a good growth stock. Unless you have a high risk tolerance, you may be better off simply waiting on the sidelines. Should you invest $1,000 in ProKidney right now? Before you buy stock in ProKidney, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and ProKidney wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $679,653!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,046,308!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Biotech Stock Jumped Over 600% in Just Days After Releasing Promising Clinical Trial Data. And Its Market Cap Is Still Only $2 Billion. But Is It a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ProKidney Just Set a New 52-Week High. Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold PROK Stock Here?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent epidemic. In this high-stakes space, biotechnology companies focused on reversing or slowing CKD progression are racing for a breakthrough. Successful clinical trials are not only scientific wins, but the catalysts that can ignite sector-wide rallies. Especially when the weapon isn't another pill, but cell therapy — an approach that could redefine kidney care as we know it. One such player that just jolted the market is ProKidney (PROK), a biotech making noise with bold science and even bolder stock moves. Once backed by SPAC king Chamath Palihapitiya, this overlooked biotech stock just pulled off a 515% surge thanks to impressive top-line data from its Phase 2 REGEN-007 trial. Its autologous cell therapy, rilparencel (REACT), significantly slowed kidney function decline. Shopify Stock is a Bargain - How to Make a 3.2% One-Month Yield with SHOP Tariffs, Inflation and Other Key Things to Watch this Week Stocks Set to Open Lower as Trump Ratchets Up Tariff Threats, U.S. Inflation Data and Big Bank Earnings Awaited Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. While some on Wall Street are optimistic, raising price targets and seeing real potential for accelerated approval, others remain skeptical, pointing to trial design gaps and warning that PROK stock may have sprinted too far, too fast. So, should investors ride the wave of optimism and snag shares? Or is this rally already baked into the price? Founded in 2015, ProKidney is a clinical-stage biotech tackling CKD with regenerative cell therapy. In 2022, it went public through a $2.6 billion SPAC merger with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings, backed by Chamath Palihapitiya. Its lead candidate, rilparencel, is a first-in-class minimally invasive autologous cell therapy designed to preserve or even improve kidney function, potentially delaying or eliminating the need for dialysis. Now in a Phase 3 trial, ProKidney is drawing attention as it reimagines what's possible for CKD patients. ProKidney went public at around $10 per share, but the stock soon lost momentum, slipping into penny territory. For a while, it stayed quiet. That was until July 2025 flipped the narrative. Following strong Phase 2 trial results for its CKD therapy, PROK stock skyrocketed more than 600% in just five days, hitting a 52-week high of $7.13 on July 9 before cooling to $4.34 — still a massive leap from $0.61 just two days earlier. Despite the breather, PROK stock is up 169% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The rally pushed its market capitalization from $177 million to over $1 billion. Plus, on July 8 alone, over 343 million shares changed hands, signaling aggressive buying interest. On May 12, ProKidney dropped its fiscal first-quarter 2025 numbers, and Wall Street liked what it saw. The stock jumped 15.8% in the next trading session — not bad for a clinical-stage biotech still chasing its first product approval. While technically still pre-revenue, the company logged $230,000 at the top line, with a per-share loss of $0.13, beating the Street's expectations and improving by nearly 19% year-over-year (YOY). R&D spending held steady at $27.3 million, with hiring and facility costs nudging higher, offset by lower clinical trial expenses due to the winding down of earlier-phase programs. General and administrative costs rose to $14.4 million, mainly from increased salaries and professional fees, typical for a company scaling up for a pivotal Phase 3. Importantly, ProKidney ended the quarter with a solid $328.5 million in cash, giving it runway through mid-2027. That's enough to push its lead therapy through late-stage testing. But if trial costs balloon, talks of dilution or partnerships could heat up. Analysts tracking the company anticipate its per-share losses to shrink by 21% YOY to $0.49 in fiscal 2025, then narrow another 4% to $0.47 in fiscal 2026. ProKidney's recent rally was more than just market noise. It was a reaction to meaningful clinical signals. The company's Phase 2 REGEN-007 trial revealed that rilparencel significantly slowed kidney function decline in patients with CKD and diabetes, and that's a big deal. Importantly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had previously indicated that rilparencel could qualify for accelerated approval if a validated surrogate endpoint showed strong results. That bar was seemingly met in Group 1 of the trial as it saw an annual improvement of 78% in 'eGFR slope' (the rate of kidney function decline), strengthening the case for regulatory momentum. With a critical FDA meeting scheduled this summer, Wall Street caught wind of the momentum, and the stock blasted off on renewed optimism. However, enthusiasm must be tempered. The trial had a small sample size, and while Group 1 showed promise, the 50% improvement in eGFR slope in Group 2 was 'not statistically significant,' raising questions about consistency and durability. Regulators may demand harder endpoints in Phase 3 instead of relying only on eGFR improvements. Meanwhile, competition is also heating up, with contenders like Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) racing forward in the same space. And as a small-cap biotech, with no product revenue yet, ProKidney remains highly volatile and vulnerable to both hype and setbacks. Wall Street is split on ProKidney's explosive run, with some eyeing a true biotech breakout while others question the substance behind the surge. Citi sees promise and took the bullish lane. The firm kept a 'Buy' rating and hiked PROK stock's price target from $6 to $9, calling the early Phase 2 data better than expected. Citi now sees a 60% probability of success for rilparencel. With statistically and clinically meaningful results, analysts believe the therapy could fast-track toward approval if Phase 3 holds up. But not everyone's buying the breakout. Bank of America stayed firmly in the skeptic camp, maintaining its 'Underperform' rating and $1 price target. The firm's concerns run deep — no sham comparator in the REGEN-007 trial, limited weight from open-label eGFR data, and uncertainty over which patients drove the results. Even more, the bank flagged ambiguity around the regulatory path and warned the Phase 3 timeline could stretch beyond ProKidney's cash runway. Analysts also questioned whether the market for rilparencel is large enough without exceptionally strong data. Evercore ISI struck a more measured tone. Analyst Jonathan Miller called the top-line results 'very intriguing,' but said they're still holding off on buying the stock. While the ongoing Phase 3 trial could be a major catalyst in kidney care, results are not expected any sooner. PROK stock has a consensus 'Moderate Buy' rating overall. Out of seven analysts covering the biotech stock, four recommend a 'Strong Buy,' two give a 'Hold,' and one analyst gives a 'Moderate Sell' rating. Amid the sharp climb this week, PROK stock has edged past its average price target. Meanwhile, Citi's Street-high target of $9 suggests shares could rally as much as 98%. ProKidney just lit up the biotech radar with a massive stock surge and promising trial data, but the hype comes with high-stakes risk. PROK stock's ride from penny status to a $1 billion valuation was fast, volatile, and fueled by future hopes, not current revenue. Analysts remain split, and FDA approval is still a ways off. If investors are in, they'll need to brace for turbulence as this is not a classic steady climber. The potential is real, but so are the risks. On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal 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 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ProKidney, Meta & EssilorLuxottica, Apple COO: Trending Tickers
Pharmaceutical stocks surged during Tuesday's session, with ProKidney (PROK) leading the charge after the company reported promising drug trial results. Ray Ban maker EssilorLuxottica ( shares pop after reports that Meta (META) has taken a $3.5 billion stake in the company, according to Bloomberg. Apple (AAPL) is in focus after announcing that COO Jeff Williams will transition out of his role, with Sabih Khan, Apple's senior vice president of operations, replacing him. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief: Market Sunrise here. Our first ticker today is not only trending, it's positively buzzing. It was up more than 1,000% at one point yesterday. Now, the Nasdaq listed ProKidney, aka Prock, ended the day at +515% on Tuesday. This incredible rise followed the release of positive results from a phase 2 clinical trial, raising hopes that the FDA may accelerate approval of Prock's cutting edge therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The data exceeded expectations from both analysts and management, for this reason, City raised its price target for Prock to $9 from $6. So, they think the value of this stock can still roughly double from here. Now, let's move on to the Paris Stock Exchange for our second trending ticker. Essilor Luxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban, Oakley and many of the world's most popular eyewear brands jumped by as much as 6% this morning. Let's look at our live market data, it's now at 252.80 up around 5.6% there. Investors are reacting to reports that Meta has bought a minority stake in the company as it looks to make new inroads into wearable technology devices, such as the Ray-Ban smart glasses heavily advertised by Mark Zuckerberg. Touting the success of those Ray-Ban smart glasses earlier this year, the CEO of Luxottica, Francesco Milleri, said they aim to produce as many as 10 million units per year. New AI powered devices under the brands of Oakley and Prada are also in the works as well. Now, Bloomberg reported that Meta has now acquired shares in Luxottica for which are worth around three and a half billion dollars, and is considering further investments. And finally, I think you need to know about Apple. I'd ask my colleagues in the gallery to please show me the stock chart since January. Now look at this. Apple is down, here it is, more than 16% since the start of the year. It's not a dramatic fall, but a gradual, painful struggle for this blue chip stock which hasn't wowed customers with new products for a while, and which is facing challenges from tariffs and global tensions. And now, to make things even more challenging, Apple is going through a major changing of the guard. The company's long time number two COO, Jeff Williams, is retiring. Apple named Sabih Khan as its new chief operating officer. This is only one of several key staffing changes during this tumultuous time for Apple. I mean just yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Meta had poached one of its, one of Apple's top AI chiefs. Still, there might be some promising news for Apple on the horizon. Now according to the Financial Times, Apple is in talks to buy the US rights to screen Formula 1, which comes off the success of its Formula 1 film. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
ProKidney: What's Happening With PROK Stock?
Turmeric capsules are on display on a table in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Luis ... More Boza/NurPhoto via Getty Images) ProKidney Corp. (NASDAQ: PROK) has seen significant volatility following encouraging Phase 2 clinical trial outcomes for its REGEN-007 study, which assesses rilparencel in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes. The study indicated considerable enhancements in kidney function: These findings mark a significant clinical milestone, as chronic kidney disease impacts millions globally and available treatment options are still limited. The positive trial results prompted a substantial market response, with the stock skyrocketing over 500% on July 8. Nevertheless, this surge should be viewed in context: despite this recent jump, the stock still sits over 70% below its 2023 peak of roughly $13. Current consensus price targets from analysts hover around $4.00, implying that the stock may be fairly valued at its present levels. Although peak sales forecasts of $900 million indicate potential for growth, these remain speculative until commercialization is approved. If you're seeking upside with a smoother experience than a single stock, consider the High Quality portfolio, which has outperformed the S&P and achieved over 91% returns since its inception. Additionally, see – WOLF Stock To $20? ProKidney currently holds a relatively stable financial standing. The company boasts a robust cash balance of $358 million, which represents 81% of its total assets. In addition, it carries a minimal debt load of merely $3.2 million, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio below 1%, reflecting a conservative capital structure. Nonetheless, specific financial issues require scrutiny. ProKidney has incurred operating expenditures totaling $185 million over the past year, and as a clinical-stage firm, it has no commercial products that generate revenue. The existing cash burn rate, while normal for companies at this development phase, will necessitate continuous observation. Beyond the financials, investing in ProKidney entails notable risks that potential investors must carefully evaluate. A significant concern is the uncertainty related to its Phase 3 trial; succeeding in Phase 2 does not ensure success in Phase 3 or subsequent regulatory approvals. The company also encounters competitive risks from other organizations developing therapies for chronic kidney disease. ProKidney's limited pipeline, which heavily relies on rilparencel and lacks alternative programs, introduces additional risk. Moreover, as a penny stock, it is vulnerable to substantial price fluctuations. For context, PROK stock plummeted 91% from a high of $13.78 on March 13, 2023, to $1.21 on November 17, 2023. Finally, its valuation is speculative, based on anticipated projections rather than verified commercial performance. While ProKidney's Phase 2 outcomes signify authentic scientific advancement, the stock's considerable increase has likely already absorbed much of the favorable news. The company faces typical hurdles associated with clinical-stage biotechnology firms, including regulatory unpredictability, significant cash outflow, and reliance on a solitary experimental treatment. In light of the high-risk profile and existing valuation levels, individual investors should proceed with utmost caution. Now, we utilize a risk assessment framework while constructing the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio which, consisting of 30 stocks, has a record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the previous four-year timeframe. Why is that? Collectively, HQ Portfolio stocks have provided superior returns with reduced risk compared to the benchmark index; offering a less volatile experience, as demonstrated in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
