Wedbush downgrades Ikena Oncology stock, cites lead program discontinuation By Investing.com

On Wednesday, Ikena Oncology (NASDAQ:IKNA) experienced a change in rating as Wedbush downgraded the company’s stock from Outperform to Neutral. The firm also revised the price target for Ikena Oncology, bringing it down significantly to $2.00 from the previous $8.00.

The adjustment follows the company’s decision to discontinue its lead program, IK-930, a TEAD1 selective inhibitor aimed at treating hippo mutated solid tumors.

The discontinuation of IK-930, according to the firm, likely stems from the difficulties encountered in developing a highly targeted agent for less prevalent tumor types, as well as the high costs associated with conducting combination studies.

With the halting of this program, Ikena Oncology is now considering strategic alternatives for both IK-930 and the company as a whole.

Despite the setback with IK-930, Ikena Oncology continues to progress with its other clinical program, IK-595. This program focuses on the MEK-RAF pathway for the treatment of RAS-altered solid tumors.

The first two cohorts in the dose escalation study have been completed, and the company plans to backfill select cohorts in the second half of 2024. This ongoing work represents a continued effort by Ikena Oncology to develop treatments for challenging cancer types.

InvestingPro Insights

In light of Wedbush’s recent downgrade of Ikena Oncology (NASDAQ:IKNA), a closer look at the company’s financial health and market performance using InvestingPro data may provide additional context for investors. Ikena Oncology’s market capitalization stands at a modest $64.18 million, reflecting a market that is cautious about the company’s future prospects. Furthermore, the company’s revenue has seen a significant decline over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, with a decrease of -78.08%, indicating the challenges faced in its operational activities.

InvestingPro Tips suggest that while Ikena Oncology holds more cash than debt, which is typically a positive sign, the company is quickly burning through cash and analysts anticipate a sales decline in the current year. Additionally, the company’s gross profit margin is deeply negative at -1297.06%, underscoring the financial difficulties it faces. With analysts not expecting the company to be profitable this year and a poor free cash flow yield implied by its valuation, the outlook remains uncertain.

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