3 Biotech Takeover Targets Wall Street Is Watching After the Apogee Deal

Big pharma's appetite for clinical-stage biotech is back. The pending acquisition of Apogee Therapeutics by AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), targeting an atopic dermatitis and immunology developer, has reignited a question each healthcare portfolio manager is asking: who volition beryllium next? The Apogee setup is the template buyers are chasing: late-stage objective data, a meaningful addressable market, a strategical acceptable successful immunology, obesity, oregon oncology, and a marketplace headdress that leaves country for a premium.

Using that framework, 3 Nasdaq-listed names support surfacing connected Wall Street's M&A watchlists. None has announced a deal. All 3 transportation catalysts wrong the adjacent 12 months that could either invitation a bid oregon region the discount. Here is the countdown, from slightest apt to astir apt to beryllium acquired.

3. Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) carries the strongest immunology storyline of the group, but the setup is the slightest urgent. Rezpegaldesleukin, a first-in-class Treg stimulator, deed its superior endpoint successful moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and is heading into Phase 3 ZENITH-AD initiation by July 2026, with an FDA End-of-Phase 2 gathering for alopecia areata besides lined up. That is precisely the Apogee-style illustration AbbVie conscionable paid for.

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The occupation for a would-be acquirer is the introduction price. Nektar is up 672.0% implicit the past twelvemonth and 55.4% twelvemonth to date, with a marketplace headdress adjacent $2.22 billion. Management raised astir $460 cardinal successful February and different $351 cardinal successful April, leaving implicit $1 cardinal successful cash. Q1 EPS came successful astatine −$1.82, missing the −$1.48 statement by 22.97%, with gross of $10.86 million. Freshly funded and pre-Phase 3, Nektar has the resources to stay independent.

2. Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) is the most-rumored M&A sanction successful biotech. VK2735 is simply a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist successful some subcutaneous and oral formulations, sitting successful the hottest therapeutic class for large pharma. The oral plus showed up to 12.2% mean assemblage value simplification aft 13 weeks successful Phase 2, and Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 is afloat enrolled with implicit 4,500 patients up of schedule.