Evercore ISI downgraded Upstream Bio (NASDAQ: UPB) to In Line from Outperform and lowered its price target to $15 from $40, with shares falling more than 6% in pre-market trading Friday.
The firm said it remains optimistic about the long-term potential of verekitug but highlighted the absence of meaningful catalysts over the next 12 months as a key concern.
Evercore also pointed to an ongoing financing overhang and uncertainty surrounding the competitiveness of the company’s COPD trial, noting that dosing challenges could persist until a new dose arm is introduced.
Given these factors, the firm indicated it is stepping to the sidelines in the near term, expecting shares to trade broadly in line with the broader biotechnology sector.
However, the analyst suggested that investors with a longer-term horizon may find the current valuation an attractive entry point.
