Buy Rating for Nuvation Bio’s IBTROZI: FDA Approval and Competitive Edge in ROS1+ NSCLC Treatment

H.C. Wainwright analyst Robert Burns has reiterated their bullish stance on NUVB stock, giving a Buy rating yesterday.

Robert Burns has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors surrounding Nuvation Bio’s recent FDA approval for IBTROZI (taletrectinib) in treating advanced ROS1+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug’s line-agnostic approval provides it with a competitive edge over other treatments, as demonstrated by its impressive confirmed overall response rates (cORR) in both TKI-naive and TKI-pretreated populations. Notably, the median duration of response (mDOR) and median progression-free survival (mPFS) have not yet been reached, indicating a potentially prolonged efficacy.
Additionally, IBTROZI’s safety profile is favorable, with fewer patients experiencing dose reductions or treatment discontinuations due to adverse events compared to competitors. The absence of central nervous system (CNS) safety warnings, which are present in competing drugs like Augtyro, further enhances its appeal. The drug’s ability to achieve intracranial responses in patients with CNS metastases is particularly significant, as the CNS is a common site of progression in ROS1 NSCLC. These factors collectively support the anticipation of IBTROZI’s uptake across multiple lines of therapy, potentially establishing it as a leading treatment option in its class.

Burns covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as BioNTech SE, Bicara Therapeutics Inc., and Perspective Therapeutics. According to TipRanks, Burns has an average return of -15.2% and a 32.00% success rate on recommended stocks.

In another report released yesterday, Citizens JMP also reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $6.00 price target.