TLDR
- Scienture (SCNX) stock jumped over 45% after announcing commercial sales of Arbli, its FDA-approved oral liquid losartan potassium formulation.
- Arbli is the first ready-to-use oral suspension of losartan potassium approved by the FDA, designed for patients who struggle with tablets.
- The company secured group purchasing organization agreements covering over 2,500 healthcare institutions, representing about 20% of the U.S. institutional market.
- The U.S. losartan market totals approximately $256 million annually with over 71 million prescriptions written each year.
- Despite the rally, SCNX shares remain down over 90% year-to-date, with TipRanks’ AI analyst rating the stock an Underperform with a $2 price target.
Scienture Holdings stock rocketed higher on Thursday after the pharmaceutical holding company announced it started shipping its first commercial orders of Arbli. The news sent shares up over 45% in early trading.
Scienture Holdings, Inc., SCNX
Arbli is an oral liquid version of losartan potassium. It’s designed for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
The FDA approval makes Arbli the first ready-to-use oral suspension of losartan potassium on the market. Losartan potassium treats high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart failure while reducing stroke risk.
Trading volume exploded on the news. More than 77 million shares changed hands compared to the typical daily average of 4.08 million.
The stock extended a 10.91% gain from the previous session. But context matters here.
Despite Thursday’s rally, SCNX shares are still down over 90% year-to-date. The 12-month decline sits at 92.22%.
Market Opportunity and Access
The company is entering a sizable market. U.S. losartan sales total approximately $256 million annually, according to IQVIA data.
Doctors write over 71 million losartan prescriptions each year. That creates a substantial opportunity for an alternative formulation.
Scienture secured multiple commercial group purchasing organization agreements. These deals extend Arbli’s reach to over 2,500 healthcare institutions nationwide.
The agreements cover hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, specialty pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory centers. This represents an estimated 20% of the U.S. institutional market.
The company also locked in PBM-Led GPO agreements. These arrangements help expand commercial coverage and formulary access for the product.
Company Strategy Going Forward
Scienture launched a targeted outreach program to healthcare professionals. The campaign aims to build awareness and drive adoption across different market segments.
Narasimhan Mani, President and co-CEO of Scienture, addressed the milestone. “The start of commercial sales for Arbli represents a major achievement for Scienture as we transition from development to execution,” he said.
The company sees growth potential across retail, institutional, and long-term care markets. Promotional efforts are expanding as the product gains traction.
Wall Street coverage of Scienture remains limited. TipRanks‘ AI analyst Spark rates SCNX stock an Underperform with a $2 price target.
The AI analyst cites weak financial performance and concerning valuation metrics. That rating stands in contrast to Thursday’s enthusiastic market reaction.
The company has moved from drug development into commercial execution. First customer orders have been fulfilled and shipped to healthcare facilities.
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