Absci rises as brokerage highlights growing opportunity in hair‑loss market

Veradermics, Incorporated

27/04/2026 17:15

** Shares of AI-based drug developer Absci Corp ABSI.O rise 15.2% to $4.54 in early trading

** Brokerage KeyBanc says positive mid-to-late stage data from rival Veradermics MANE.N for its oral hair-loss pill reinforce the view that the hair-loss market is sizable and can support multiple therapies

** Estimates a more than $40 bln market opportunity for hair-loss treatments and reiterates a $9 price target on Absci

** Shares of peer biotech firm Veradermics jump 37.3% to $93.72, Nektar up ~1% to $92.17

** Brokerage says Absci's experimental hair-growth drug ABS-201 could complement rather than compete with existing treatments citing its infrequent dosing of two to three injections over six months

** Renewed investor interest in hair-loss therapies follows Nektar Therapeutics' NKTR.O update last week that its experimental injection stimulated hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata, a patchy hair-loss condition

** Including session's moves, ABSI stock up ~30% YTD, NKTR up about two-fold and MANE up about five-fold from its $17 IPO price in February

 (Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru)

 ((Sahil.Pandey@thomsonreuters.com))