Leerink Partners sees a rosy outlook ahead for Metsera . The investment firm initiated coverage of the biopharma stock at an outperform rating. Leerink’s price target of $77 implies shares could surge 119% from Monday’s close. Metsera went public on the Nasdaq Exchange in January. The stock has risen 32% since its debut. Analyst David Risinger thinks there is “big potential” ahead for the company. MTSR 6M mountain MTSR 6M chart “The company’s platform and pipeline of novel obesity peptide-based therapeutics offer key advantages relative to competing assets,” Risinger said. “We believe that Wall Street underappreciates the company’s monthly injectable GLP-1, monthly injectable amylin, daily oral GLP-1 peptide, and peptide manufacturing peptide scale advantages relative to competitors.” Risinger pointed to several reasons for Metsera’s advantages, including that its monthly injectable GLP-1 suggests equivalent efficacy to Eli Lilly’s weekly tirzepatide, with “slightly better tolerability.” Metsera’s daily oral peptide could deliver effective results as well. The company’s peptide manufacturing platform also offers significant “cost advantages,” on top of the cost benefits that come from delivering a monthly shot versus weekly. Risinger added that Metsera’s most advanced pipeline candidate is MET-079i, an injectable and monthly GLP-1 for obesity. The analyst estimated this could generate more than $5 billion in peak sales. The analyst is also encouraged by Metsera’s management team. “We would also highlight that the company is led by highly experienced executives with strong track records, including Chairman Clive Meanwell, CEO Whit Bernard, CFO Chris Visioli, CSO Brian Hubbard, and Chief Development Officer Peter Wijngaard,” he added. Shares were up more than 2% after Leerink’s call.
