Morgan Stanley upgrades Vir Biotechnology on cancer drugs trial data

Vir Biotechnology

10/01/2025 14:27

** Brokerage Morgan Stanley upgrades drug developer Vir
Biotechnology  VIR.O  to "overweight" from "equal-weight",
citing promising early-stage trial data for their T-cell engager
(TCE) technology
    ** Brokerage also raises PT to $20 fom $10 — a 60.3% upside
to the stock's Wednesday close
    ** TCE technology uses antibodies to target tumor cells and
also activate T-cells that help the immune system destroy cancer
cells
    ** On Wednesday, VIR's drugs using the technology, VIR-5818
and VIR-5500, showed what it called a compelling response in
patients with various solid tumors during early-stage trials
    ** Brokerage says the drugs did not cause high-grade
cytokine release syndrome (CRS), supporting higher and less
frequent dosing
    ** CRS happens when the immune system overreacts and
releases too many chemicals, causing inflammation
    ** Seven of 9 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher and
2 "hold"; their median PT is $20 - LSEG
    ** VIR declined ~30% in 2024

 (Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)
 ((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))