ISPH 5.41 x 5.43 +5.44%. Business Week article hits newsstands today with target price of $30.
Inspire's Plump Pipeline
Inspire Pharmaceuticals (ISPH) has a lot going for it, including AzaSite, launched in August, 2007, to treat conjunctivitis. It also has several drugs in the pipeline, all in phase III trials: Among them are Denufosol for cystic fibrosis and Epinastine for allergic rhinitis (inflammation of nasal mucous membranes). Prolacria, for dry eye, will be in pivotal trials in 2008. AzaSite sales are expected to hit $45 million in 2008, but Denufosol could be the big driver for growth. Liana Moussatos of Pacific Growth Equities rates Inspire, now at 5.02, down from 8 in April, a buy. She values the stock at 30 in 12 months, based on the prospects of AzaSite and the other drugs. Warburg Pincus just invested $74 million in Inspire for a 25% stake. Given its late-stage drugs and Warburg's role, the stock is a buy, says David Steinberg of Deutsche Bank (DB).