Shares of biopharmaceutical company Maze Therapeutics jumped after competitor Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported positive study results for its kidney disease drug, signaling strong commercial potential for treatments targeting targeting genetic kidney disease.
Vertex researchers, in their Phase 2b AMPLIFIED study, found that their oral drug, inaxaplin, successfully reduced protein leaking in the urine-a primary sign of kidney damage-with no serious side effects, with no serious side effects, bolstering the case for the treatment. Some Wall Street analysts see Vertex's new data as good news for Maze Therapeutics and its rival kidney drug candidate, MZE829.
Shares of Maze Therapeutics gained 22% to $27.19 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock rose 2.4%.
Vertex revealed that nondiabetic patients using inaxaplin, which blocks a protein called Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), saw a 42.7% drop in their urine protein levels. Diabetic patients, however, saw a 17.3% decline. Diabetes introduces additional kidney inflammation, making it harder for a single drug to address.
Analysts at H.C. Wainwright wrote Tuesday that Vertex's results validate the entire drug class aiming to block the protein and boost confidence in Maze's next trial readout later this year or early 2027. They expect MZE829 to be equally, if not more, effective based on Maze's strong results from a previous study. The firm reiterated its Buy rating on the stock with a $110 price target.
Truist analyst Danielle Brill added that even if MZE829 proves to be only as effective as Vertex's drug, rather than superior, the market is now big enough for both companies to achieve "blockbuster" status, meaning more than $1 billion in annual sales. Brill maintained a Buy rating on the stock with $64 price target.
Brill wrote Tuesday that Vertex's drug caused mild, temporary liver enzyme spikes, known as transaminase elevations, in around 13% of its trial patients. If Maze's drug doesn't cause these liver enzyme spikes, it could give Maze a major competitive advantage, she said.
In people with specific genetic mutations, the APOL1 protein turns toxic and damages kidney cells, causing protein to leak into the urine. Inaxaplin and MZE829 aim to block this toxic protein. Protecting these kidney cells could help prevent early-stage leakage and slow the progression toward kidney failure.
Comments