Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ARCT) has received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its COVID-19 vaccine, Kostaive (zapomeran), aimed at preventing COVID-19 infections in adults over 18 in Europe. This recommendation is a crucial step toward potential market authorization by the European Commission (EC), expected by early February 2025.
Kostaive's Global Expansion
Kostaive's potential approval in Europe would mark a significant commercial achievement for Arcturus, building on its existing approval in Japan since November 2023. This progress follows the Global Collaboration and Licensing agreement with CSL in 2022. While the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine market is dominated by Comirnaty and Spikevax, Arcturus believes Kostaive could emerge as a strong competitor, especially with positive head-to-head data.
Financial Health and Analyst Sentiment
According to InvestingPro analysis, Arcturus maintains a 'GOOD' financial health score, indicating a strong position for potential market expansion. Analyst sentiment remains strongly bullish, with a high price target of $140, and InvestingPro's Fair Value analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued.
Pipeline Developments
Arcturus has also received FDA approval to proceed with a clinical trial for its flu vaccine candidate, ARCT-2304. The Phase 1 trial, supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, plans to enroll around 200 healthy adults across the United States. The company's Q3 2024 earnings report revealed a net loss of $6.9 million, an improvement from the previous year, with revenues totaling $41.7 million. Arcturus also successfully launched Kostaive in Japan, bringing in a $25 million milestone payment. Canaccord Genuity maintained a Buy rating on Arcturus shares and increased its price target to $74 from $72. Other developments include the expected update on ARCT-032 for cystic fibrosis and ARCT-810 for Ornithine Transcarbamylase deficiency, both scheduled for the first half of 2025.
Future Plans
The company plans to file a Biologics License Application for Kostaive in the U.S. in H1 2025, further showcasing its progress across various medical programs and its potential for substantial growth in the coming year.
