On Monday, Canaccord Genuity maintained its Buy rating and $20.00 price target for NASDAQ:IVA, Inventiva SA's shares. The firm's optimism is rooted in the potential of Inventiva's drug candidate lanifibranor, particularly for its application in MASH (Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis) combination therapy.
The positive outlook comes after the first MASH therapy received FDA approval in March. Canaccord Genuity sees lanifibranor as a strong contender to become the second FDA-approved treatment specifically for MASH, citing the current market undervaluation of Inventiva in the MASH space.
Lanifibranor's pan-PPAR mechanism of action is designed to address fibrosis, inflammation, metabolism, and vascular alterations, and is expected to overcome safety and tolerability issues associated with previous PPAR agonist generations.
Encouraging findings from the Phase IIa LEGEND study, which tested lanifibranor in combination with SGLT2 inhibitors in MASH patients with Type 2 Diabetes, have further bolstered confidence in the drug. The 24-week results demonstrated significant improvements in HbA1c levels and liver fat reduction, both as a monotherapy and when used alongside SGLT2 inhibitors.
This suggests lanifibranor's strong potential as a foundational therapy in MASH treatment, especially as combination therapies become the standard approach for managing the condition.
Canaccord Genuity's endorsement of lanifibranor is also supported by positive feedback from key opinion leaders in the field. The firm believes that the timing is right to focus on Inventiva as a key player in the MASH treatment landscape, anticipating that lanifibranor will be an ideal addition to MASH treatment regimens.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.