On Friday, Evercore ISI maintained its Outperform rating on shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), highlighting intriguing preclinical data on the company's investigational oral GLP-1 agonist, GS-4571. The firm's interest was piqued by a poster scheduled for presentation at the upcoming American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting, which will detail GS-4571's performance in animal studies.
According to the firm, GS-4571 may share a chemical structure similar to Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)'s danuglipron, although this has not been confirmed with certainty. The molecule demonstrated potent selectivity to GLP-1 receptors in both human and monkey cells, as well as improved glycemic control in humanized mice and monkeys. Notably, the treatment led to a decrease in body weight and food intake by approximately 6.5% and 50% respectively over 36 days in monkey subjects.
The firm also compared GS-4571 to other GLP-1 agonists in development, suggesting that Gilead's candidate might be slightly more potent than Pfizer's danuglipron and roughly as potent as Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY)'s orforglipron in terms of cAMP response—a measure of cellular reaction to the drug.
Furthermore, when looking at food intake and weight loss in monkeys after six days, GS-4571's effects were comparable to those of GSBR-1290 and orforglipron in reducing food intake but were less effective than GSBR-1290 in reducing body weight.
Gilead Sciences is expected to present similar preclinical data in a poster at the ADA meeting, offering the scientific community a closer look at GS-4571's potential. The data currently available to the public suggests that GS-4571 could be a promising candidate for the treatment of conditions that benefit from GLP-1 agonism, although it is still in the early stages of development.
In other recent news, Gilead Sciences has been at the center of significant developments. RBC Capital maintained its Sector Perform rating on the company, focusing on the importance of Gilead's HIV treatments, especially the potential of the oral lenacapavir and bictegravir combination. The firm also noted Gilead's efforts to expand its HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis with the investigational subcutaneous formulation of lenacapavir.
In addition, BMO Capital Markets sustained its Outperform rating for Gilead, despite the EVOKE-01 study not meeting its primary endpoint. The company is currently in discussions with the FDA about future actions and potential additional trials for Trodelvy.
Furthermore, Gilead's Phase 3 TROPiCS-04 study of Trodelvy did not meet the primary endpoint in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. However, the company plans to present detailed findings at an upcoming medical conference and engage with the FDA about Trodelvy's future for metastatic urothelial cancer.
Finally, BMO Capital Markets maintained its Outperform rating on Gilead shares following the presentation of positive interim data from the Phase 3 ASSURE trial, suggesting potential approval of seladelpar for Primary Biliary Cholangitis patients. The firm also highlighted Gilead's strategic acquisition of CymaBay for access to seladelpar in primary biliary cholangitis treatment.
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