HIK Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

1032 ET – UCB’s portfolio offers growth potential into the next decade after the acquisitions of Candid Therapeutics and Neurona, so the Belgian drugmaker’s next deals might target early-stage assets, Bank of America analysts say. Data due next year from a midstage trial of its galvokimig eczema drug candidate will likely inform UCB’s decision on whether it needs to add further late-stage medicines to its pipeline over time, the analysts say. UCB executives seemed confident at a Bank of America event that the company’s top-selling product Bimzelx can withstand competition from new drugs, the analysts say in a research note.

Price targets for Hikma Pharmaceuticals are currently clustered in the £1,870 to £2,100 range, which sits above the latest fair value estimate of £19.70. Analysts linking these higher targets to Hikma Pharmaceuticals point to confidence in execution and valuation, although they also flag sensitivity to assumptions that could work against the stock if conditions change. As you read on, you will see how to interpret this evolving narrative and what to watch as new research comes...