HOOKIPA Pharma Inc (HOOK)

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3 “Strong Buy” Stocks Trading at Rock-Bottom Prices

Hookipa Pharma (HOOK)

Next up, Hookipa Pharma, is another clinical-stage immune-oncology research firm. Hookipa uses a proprietary platform to modify arenaviruses to carry virus-specific and tumor-specific genes directly to the patient’s T-cells, thus ‘educating’ the immune system to create the correct response. The company is using this approach to develop treatments for several serious viral diseases, including CMV, HBV, and HIV, as well as HPV-related cancer and prostate cancer.

The company has two leading research tracks. On the infectious disease front, HB-101 is a potentially prophylactic treatment against CMV – a vaccine candidate. HB-101 is currently in Phase 2 clinical trial and enrolling patients. Safety and efficacy data is expected to start coming in during 2H21.

The company also has several drug candidates in Phase 1 trials against HPV-related cancers. This is a dangerous class of cancers affecting women, and connected to the human papillomavirus. The company initiated trials for HB-201 and HB-202 late last year. Data release this past May showed acceptable safety and tolerability factors. In June, Hookipa released data on HB-200, another of its anti-cancer drug candidates. The candidate showed only 18% overall response rate – but showed antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses described as ‘outstanding.’

Despite these ongoing trials and early data, the company’s stock plunged in June. H.C. Wainwright analyst Swayampakula Ramakanth believes the selloff was unwarranted.

“In our view, the sell-off is likely due to the lower than expected efficacy data from the cohort receiving HB-202/HB-201 alternating treatment…. However, we believe it is premature to make the call. First, all eight patients enrolled in HB-202/HB-201 cohort to date remain on the treatment, and only four of them are evaluable for efficacy, of whom, one patient achieved target tumor shrinkage of nearly 20%. Additionally, preliminary data on antigen-specific CD8+ T cells are consistent with the preclinical data. Finally, the company is still escalating the dose level for HB-202/ HB-201, and there were no dose-limiting toxicities and no Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events observed,” Ramakanth noted.

The analyst summed up, “Taken together, we believe HB-202/HB-201 alternating treatment still holds the potential to deliver stronger efficacy compared to HB-201 monotherapy, and the recent sell-off creates an attractive entry point for long-term investors.”

In line with these comments, the analyst rates HOOK a Buy, and his $21 price target implies a one-year upside potential of ~181%. (To watch Ramakanth’s track record, click here)

That Wall Street likes this stock is clear from the unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating. That consensus is built on 4 recent Buy reviews, which is good news for HOOK. The share are priced at $7.48 and their $23.33 average price target implies ~212%.
https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/3-strong-buy-stocks-trading-at-rock-bottom-prices-2/