By Carly Forster
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) is a Vancouver, Canada based bio-pharmaceutical company who is a known world leader in RNA Interference (RNAi) delivery technology. The company focuses on novel RNAi-based product candidates.
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals in the News
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) was trading up almost 40% higher than normal last week due to investors’ high hopes that United States health agencies will approve a drug that the company has been developing to treat the Ebola virus: TKM Ebola. However, on Monday, August 4th it was reported that two Americans infected with the Ebola virus in Liberia were being treated with a drug created by San Diego, California based company, Mapp Biopharmaceuticals. As a result of the competition, Tekmira finished the day down 7%.
What Does This Mean For Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Stock?
On August 4th, Maxim Group analyst Jason Kolbert maintained a BUY rating for Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) with a $23 price target. He reasoned, “Tekmira’s Ebola program has shown 100% efficacy in animal models. While efforts are underway to finalize a dosing and clear a related FDA hold, we believe the exceptional circumstances may result in regulators expediting the TKM-Ebola project”. He continued, “Since Ebola is highly infectious with a short incubation period of a few days and has a high mortality rate, we believe that TKM-Ebola should qualify to progress through the Animal Rule pathway, similar to products approved through this pathway for the bubonic plague and anthrax.” Kolbert has a +6.1% average return on all stocks and a 56% success rate in making recommendations, according to TipRanks. He also has a +25.5% average return on Tekmira stock.
On the other hand, on August 4th Thestreet.com blogger Adam Feuerstein was not so optimistic about Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR). He believes traders who are buying TKMR because of the Ebola crisis “picked the wrong horse” because he thinks privately held Mapp Biopharmaceuticals beat them to an effective treatment. Feuerstein has a +1.7% average return on all stocks and a 46% success rate in making recommendations. He also has a -4.3% average return on Tekmira stock.
Conclusion
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) is working hard to perfect a viable treatment for the Ebola virus, but with competition from other companies, is now the time to add them to your portfolio? Who do you you trust?
To see all recommendations for Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, visit TipRanks today!
Carly Forster writes about stock market news. She can be reached at [email protected]
