Palatin Technologies (PTN) stock forecast: A sleeping pharma giant?
Palatin Technologies is a biopharmaceutical company which produces treatments for conditions that affect the body’s melanocortin receptor system, encompassing everything from food intake to metabolism, sexual function and inflammation and immune system response.
In November, the stock struggled through a volatile ride, surging over 145% in just three days after an analyst hiked their price target for the company. Can the pharma company sustain this level of growth and will their product lines overcome regulatory hurdles?
What does Palatin do?
The company’s products focus on chronic inflammation through the treatment of deficiencies in the melanocortin system. It has a pipeline of drugs at various stages of clinical trials aimed at treating dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, non-infectious uveitis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
The company’s flagship product is the Federal Drug Administration-approved Vyleesi, a treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, which is the current primary source of revenue as other treatments remain in clinical trials or earlier research phases.
Palatin has licensing agreements for Vyleesi with other major distributors in different countries, including a deal with Fosun Pharma, which covers China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, and includes a $5m upfront payment. It’s projected to bring in up to $92.5m in sales plus tiered royalties.
The product is also licensed in South Korea through Kwangdong Pharmaceuticals, with the deal bringing in $500,000 upfront and around $40m in regulatory and sales milestones plus royalties on sales.
In the latest PTN stock news, CEO Dr Carl Spana said the company was looking to relicense Vyleesi to a new partner and was in discussions with potential partners.
PTN stock price analysis
The PTN share price has experienced significant volatility throughout 2021, having risen to $1.30 and falling to $0.60.
Shares hit a 52-week low of $0.33 in early 2020 as the broader market slumped with the introduction of national lockdowns and the widespread economic disruption caused by the emergence of Covid-19, but has since rallied 55% over the last year.
In the past week, PTN Technologies stock spiked over 145%, rising from $0.34 to over $0.80 in just three days after an analyst report from HC Wainwright boosted the PTN stock price target from $2 to $5.00 a share.
While shares have subsequently shed some of those gains and currently (2 December) change hands for around $0.59, the value has risen over 40% over the past month.
The reason for the higher price target from HC Wainwright analyst Joe Pantginis was renewed confidence around potential approvals of the company’s dry eye disease and visibility treatment, which is soon to enter Phase 3 clinical trials.
Latest earnings reveal wider losses
Palatin currently only secures revenue from its Vyleesi HSDD treatments, with gross product sales of $1.4m in the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and net product revenue of $159,482, compared to a net loss of $288,560 for the same period last year.
Overall, including operating expenses of $7.4m, net loss for the quarter totalled $7.1m, or an equivalent to $0.03 a share, compared to a net loss of $3.9m, or $0.02 a share in the prior year period.
The main driver of the difference was a gain of $1.6m, recorded as a result of a Vyleesi Termination Agreement with AMAG Pharmaceuticals, and increased commercial expenses related to Vyleesi.
Palatin currently has cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet of $53.4m, down from $60.1m at the end of June, which management says should be sufficient to fund its operational expenses through calendar year 2022.
Palatin Technologies (PTN) stock forecast gets a boost
The Palatin stock forecast for the next twelve months currently holds a positive ‘buy’ rating from all three analysts that cover the stock, with a consensus price target of $3.33, according to MarketBeat. The price targets vary from the high of $5 to the low of $2.
That price represents a potential upside for investors of over 300% on current trading levels, and PTN stock analysis from HC Wainwright currently holds an even higher price level after a recent increase in their target price from $2 to $5 a share, an upside of over 1300% at the time of the report.
Other equity research organisations following the company give a positive PTN stock prediction. Ladenburg Thalm holds a ‘buy’ rating, with a target price of $2.00, while Canaccord Genuity reiterated a ‘buy’ rating on the stock earlier this year, with a target of $3.00 a share.
The current consensus represents an increase from the $2.50 level of one month ago. At the beginning of this year, the consensus rating on PTN stock stood at $2.00 a share.
Note that analyst predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing. And never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.
Downside risks for Palatin Technologies
As with all early-stage pharmaceutical research companies, Palatin Technologies shares have huge upside potential, but the company’s products remain subject to a number of challenging regulatory hurdles and other approvals before coming to market.
The shares have also experienced massively volatile trading in recent weeks, with daily average share volumes up significantly on the back of positive analyst coverage.
However, the stock has also suffered similarly large drops in the aftermath of these spikes, losing over 10% on two consecutive trading days following a 30% jump.
FAQs
Is Palatin Technologies stock a good buy?
Palatin Technologies has a consensus ‘buy’ rating from three analysts covering the stock, according to MarketBeat data, with a consensus target price of $3.33, ranging from the low of $2 to the high of $5.
Note that analyst predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing. And never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.
Why has PTN stock been going up?
Palatin Technologies shares rose over 30% following the release of an analyst report which projected a $5.00 price target in November, before shedding some of those gains.
Is PTN stock buy, sell or hold?
All three analysts covering Palatin Technologies rate the company’s shares as a ‘buy’, according to MarketBeat.
Note that analyst predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing. And never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.