Lisata (LSTA) Stock Up More Than 35% in 3 Months: Here's Why

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Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. LSTA shares have rallied 35.3% in the past three months compared with the industry’s rise of 12.8%.

This clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company is developing its lead product candidate, LSTA1, targeting a range of solid tumors.

LSTA1 is an investigational drug that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to better penetrate solid tumors by activating a novel uptake pathway. The candidate has exhibited the potential to improve the tumor environment, thereby making tumors more responsive to immunotherapy.

The candidate is currently being evaluated as a combination therapy with various anti-cancer regimens in several early-to-mid-stage studies for treating multiple cancer indications, including metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“mPDAC”) and other forms of pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, appendiceal cancer, colon cancer and glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”).

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Earlier this month, Lisata treated the first patient in a phase IIa study evaluating LSTA1 in combination with temozolomide — the standard of care (“SoC”) — versus SoC and placebo in subjects with newly diagnosed GBM. The FDA has already granted an orphan drug designation to LSTA1 for malignant glioma.

In December 2023, Lisata completed patient enrollment in the phase IIb ASCEND study, which is evaluating LSTA1 with SoC gemcitabine/nab-p+aclitaxel for patients with first-line mPDAC.

Importantly, enrollment was completed in the given study around six months ahead of its scheduled time period which was the second quarter of 2024. This could have been a catalyst driving the stock price in the abovementioned time period.

Top-line data from cohort A (95 patients assigned) of the ASCEND study are now expected in the fourth quarter of 2024, while complete data for all 155 patients in the study are now anticipated by mid-2025.

The European Commission granted orphan drug designation to LSTA1 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in October 2023.

Progress with the ongoing studies and successful development of LSTA1 should continue the upward momentum for Lisata in 2024.

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. Price

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. Price
Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. Price

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. price | Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Lisata currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. REGN, CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. CTMX and Puma Biotechnology, Inc. PBYI, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

In the past 60 days, estimates for Regeneron’s 2024 earnings per share have improved from $41.57 to $43.97. In the past year, shares of REGN have rallied 29.5%.

Earnings of Regeneron beat estimates in each of the trailing last four quarters. REGN delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 12.34%.

In the past 60 days, estimates for CytomX Therapeutics’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from 22 cents to 6 cents. In the past year, shares of CTMX have plunged 40.7%.

CytomX Therapeutics beat estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing the same on the remaining occasion. CTMX delivered a four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.44%, on average.

In the past 60 days, estimates for Puma Biotechnology’s 2024 earnings per share have improved from 62 cents to 69 cents. In the past year, shares of PBYI have risen 9.2%.

Earnings of Puma Biotechnology beat estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing the same on the remaining occasion. PBYI delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 76.55%.

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Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (LSTA) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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