Leerink Partners analyst Roanna Ruiz maintained a Buy rating on Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA – Research Report) yesterday and set a price target of $7.00.
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Roanna Ruiz has given her Buy rating due to a combination of factors that highlight Akebia Therapeutics’ potential for growth. The discussions with key opinion leaders (KOLs) indicate a promising momentum for Vafseo, Akebia’s product, within the dialysis market despite traditional challenges in implementation. The product is currently approved for treating anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) dialysis patients and is seen as a major driver of revenue growth for the company.
Moreover, there is an anticipation of a significant opportunity in the non-dialysis CKD market, contingent on the success of the Phase 3 VALOR trial. This trial, expected to start in the second half of 2025, could lead to a substantial expansion of Vafseo’s label, enhancing its market potential. The KOLs emphasized the large patient population and unmet clinical needs, which present a meaningful revenue opportunity, particularly for patients who do not respond to existing treatments. These insights support the view that Vafseo’s launch in the U.S. could be strong, and further details on the VALOR trial are awaited to solidify this outlook.
According to TipRanks, Ruiz is an analyst with an average return of -13.1% and a 31.58% success rate. Ruiz covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Cytokinetics, Cormedix, and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.