Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock jumped after its experimental kidney drug povetacicept posted strong results in a late-stage clinical trial, sending the stock up as much as 7% in after-hours trading Monday before settling around 5% higher in premarket Tuesday.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, VRTX
The drug is designed to treat IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune disease that attacks the kidneys. Without treatment, a large portion of patients can develop kidney failure within 20 years of diagnosis.
In the trial, patients on povetacicept saw a 52% reduction in urine protein after 36 weeks. Patients on placebo saw only a 4.3% decline. High urine protein is a key marker of kidney damage.
The drug also reduced levels of a harmful antibody by 79.3%. Over 85% of patients saw blood cleared from their urine, compared to those on placebo. Vertex said the drug, given as an injection once every four weeks, was generally safe and well-tolerated.
The interim data covered 199 patients who had completed 36 weeks of treatment. The full trial includes 605 patients and will run for two years, measuring whether the drug slows long-term kidney function loss.
Vertex said it plans to submit a full FDA application by the end of March. It is also using a priority review voucher, which cuts the standard review timeline from 10 months down to six.
Analysts were quick to respond. Evercore ISI’s Cory Kasimov called the results a “pretty good validation” of Vertex’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences in 2024, which is where povetacicept came from. He rates the stock Outperform with a $530 price target.
Cantor’s Carter Gould said the results were “the first major step in unlocking the renal franchise,” which he estimates could top $10 billion in peak sales. Gould rates Vertex at Overweight with a $590 price target.
BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said the data “firmly places povetacicept as a clear competitor and potential leader” in IgA nephropathy treatment.
The data compares favorably to Otsuka’s approved treatment Voyxact and to Vera Therapeutics’ experimental drug atacicept, according to Seigerman.
Vertex has been known primarily for its cystic fibrosis franchise, which helped push its market cap above $100 billion. The IgA nephropathy program is part of a broader push into kidney disease.
The stock was trading at $485.10 in premarket Tuesday. The full two-year trial data is still pending.
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