In an Aug. 8 research report, Maxim Group analyst Gabrielle Zhou noted the firm had raised its 12-month price target on CytoSorbents Corp. (CTSO:OTCBB) "to $12 from $10" due to the company "making steady progress on both commercial and clinical developments."
CytoSorbents "continues to drive the sales of CytoSorb in its launched territories and progress toward the initiation of CytoSorb's U.S. pivotal trial," Zhou wrote.
At the end of Q2/17, the company's blood purification therapy, CytoSorb, showed 17% sequential and 64% year-over-year growth, "mainly driven by the increase in direct sales from new customers and repeat orders (direct sales accounts for more than 67% of total product revenue)," Zhou explained. "While the company has not yet given guidance, management expects product sales in H2/17 will exceed the first half of the year."
CytoSorbents exited the quarter with "$16.4M in cash, which included a $5M debt facility with Bridge Bank. At the current burn rate, we estimate sufficient cash runway through 2018," indicated Zhou.
The analyst also provided an update on the company's U.S. REFRESH II study, which aims "to compare CytoSorb versus control in a large study (300–500 patients)." The trial "remains on track to initiate in H2/17," she said.
Also in the report, Zhou mentioned the use of CytoSorb in potentially increasing effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. "While treatment with Tocilizumab (anti-IL6) and corticosteroids can help, a more attractive approach may be to filter out the cytokines with CytoSorb," she suggested. "If patients experiencing severe cytokine release syndrome can have cytokines filtered out of the blood and 'walked' down to a safer level that still promotes CAR-T efficacy, CytoSorb could be widely used by the CAR-T space, which is about to go commercial in 2018."
Maxim Group has a Buy rating and newly increased 12-month price target of $12 per share (up from $10 per share) on CytoSorbents Corp. Currently, the stock is trading at about $4.75 per share.
Want to read more Life Sciences Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you'll learn when new articles have been published. To see recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page.
Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following company mentioned in this article is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports: None. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.
Additional disclosures about the sources cited in this article
Disclosures from Maxim Group, Cytosorbents Corp., Company Update, Aug. 8, 2017
I, Gabrielle Zhou, attest that the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject security and issuer. Furthermore, no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendation or views expressed in this research report.
I, Jason Kolbert, attest that the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject security and issuer. Furthermore, no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendation or views expressed in this research report.
The research analyst(s) primarily responsible for the preparation of this research report have received compensation based upon various factors, including the firm’s total revenues, a portion of which is generated by investment banking activities.
Maxim Group provides non-investment banking securities-related services to Cytosorbents Corporation for the execution of its employee stock purchase plan.
Maxim Group makes a market in Cytosorbents Corporation.
Maxim Group managed/co-managed/acted as placement agent for an offering of the securities for Cytosorbents Corporation in the past 12 months.
Maxim Group received compensation for investment banking services from Cytosorbents Corporation in the past 12 months.
Maxim Group expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Cytosorbents Corporation in the next 3 months.