HC Wainwright initiated protection on Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. AARD on Monday with a Purchase score and a value forecast of $40.
In February, Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. AARD priced an preliminary public providing of 5.9 million at $16 per share, with roughly $94.2 million in gross proceeds.
Aardvark is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm that develops novel, small-molecule therapeutics to activate innate homeostatic pathways for metabolic ailments.
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Aardvark’s lead product candidate, ARD-101, targets Bitter Style Receptors (TAS2Rs) expressed within the intestine lumen, inducing secretion of endogenous signaling molecules, together with the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which in flip prompts gut-brain indicators to suppress the feeling of starvation.
Not like many current weight problems remedies that act systemically and may trigger vital gastrointestinal (GI) uncomfortable side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, ARD-101 targets particular receptors within the intestine.
ARD-101 goals to scale back starvation and facilitate weight reduction with out the everyday systemic uncomfortable side effects. Importantly, its gut-restricted nature means minimal systemic publicity, doubtlessly minimizing off-target results and preserving lean muscle mass, which is a standard concern with some weight reduction strategies.
The drug candidate has entered Section 3 improvement for hyperphagia related to Prader-Willi Syndrome. Knowledge readout is anticipated in early 2026. The corporate holds Orphan Drug Designation for ARD-101 in PWS.
Aardvark believes that its current money, money equivalents, and short-term investments, along with the proceeds from the IPO, will likely be adequate to fund projected operations into 2027.
Analyst Raghuram Selvaraju famous that there’s just one branded medicine presently authorised in PWS, specifically, Vykat XR (diazoxide choline extended-release), launched in April 2025, which has a listing value of over $466K within the U.S.
Accordingly, the analyst feels that the pricing and aggressive panorama dynamics seem favorable, even when the goal affected person inhabitants is small (roughly 20K sufferers within the U.S.)
FDA authorised Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.’s SLNO Vykat XR (diazoxide choline) extended-release tablets, beforehand known as DCCR, for hyperphagia in adults and youngsters 4 years of age and older with PWS.
Selvaraju believes that “ARD-101 might obtain strong market share even when it doesn’t have comparable or superior efficacy to current authorised brokers, if it proves the speculation that the mechanism of motion should yield considerably higher security and tolerability (notably with respect to GI uncomfortable side effects).”
Past Prader-Willi Syndrome, ARD-101 can also be being evaluated within the Section 2 HONOR trial for sufferers with hypothalamic weight problems (HO). The analyst views ARD-101 as an “intriguing remedy different for HO sufferers due to its oral route of administration and benign security profile.” Hypothalamic weight problems is a difficult situation with restricted authorised remedies.
Worth Motion: AARD inventory was up 4.11% at $13.94 ultimately examine Monday.
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Photograph by Gorodenkoff through Shutterstock
