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TICKERS: ATXS

Analyst: Drug a 'Hidden Gem for 2022'
Research Report

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The Quick Take

  • Oppenheimer has an Outperform rating and a $30 per share price target on Astria Therapeutics.
  • Oppenheimer ranks Astria Outperform after learning more about the rare genetic disorder, hereditary angioedema (HAE), from the company and concluding that its preclinical candidate STAR-0215 "fits well into the evolving HAE landscape," analyst Hartaj Singh reported in a Dec. 28 research note. "We stay bullish."
  • Astria's research revealed the most common unmet needs among HAE patients are less frequent dosing and oral treatment availability, according to clinicians.
  • STAR-0215, a long-acting monoclonal antibody inhibitor of plasma kallikrein, was designed to prevent attacks in patients with HAE, with about a single dose every three months.
  • Preclinical data demonstrated STAR-0215 has a greater potency and half-life than the current standard of care, Takhzyro (lanadelumab), and thus has potential to compete with it in HAE.
  • Most clinicians interviewed said they would even consider STAR-0215 for patients who only use on-demand therapy.
  • Astria has $131.8 million in cash, enough to get it through 2023.  

Astria Therapeutics Inc. (ATXS:NASDAQ) collected data from interviews with patients with moderate to severe hereditary angioedema (HAE), interviews of clinicians  treating HAE and market research on the rare disorder, Oppenheimer analyst Hartaj Singh reported.

Specific findings were that:

  • Missed or delayed diagnoses are common, and new therapies can increase diagnosis rates.
  • Only preventative treatments for HAE exist.
  • About two-thirds of patients get prescribed preventative treatment.
  • Patients often switch between two to three preventative therapies for easier administration.
  • One time every one to two months is the minimal improvement in dosing frequencies for a switch, according to patients.
  • Patients generally would like to switch to a therapy that is equally efficacious but requires dosing less often.

STAR-0215 could meet those unmet needs, Singh noted.

Looking forward, he added that while "awaiting an important 2022 ahead—an investigational new drug filing in mid-2022 and Phase 1 study initiation shortly after, with initial proof of concept data readout potentially by year-end 22—we believe investors should pay attention."

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