Monopar Therapeutics Soars 383.5% Following AstraZeneca Licensing Agreement
Shares of Monopar Therapeutics (MNPR), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, have surged 383.5% in the last three months. This impressive gain is largely attributed to a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca (AZN), which provided MNPR with an exclusive worldwide license for ALXN-1840 (bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate). This investigational treatment is being developed for Wilson disease, a rare genetic disorder characterized by toxic copper accumulation in the body.
Earlier this year, AstraZeneca announced that a pivotal phase III study for ALXN-1840 successfully met its primary endpoint. However, AZN decided to terminate the program in 2023 after reviewing results from phase II studies and consulting with regulatory authorities. Following this decision, Monopar took over the candidate, responding to a request from the Wilson Disease Association.
In recent months, Monopar’s shares have rallied 525.5%, significantly outperforming the industry, which has seen a decline of 4.8% during the same period.
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Details of the Licensing Agreement
The licensing partnership with AstraZeneca marked a significant addition to Monopar’s early-stage pipeline, bringing them closer to operating as a commercial-stage company.
As part of the agreement, Monopar now holds all responsibilities for future global development and commercialization related to ALXN-1840 for Wilson disease. The management team is confident that their expertise in developing drugs for rare diseases will drive ALXN-1840 toward successful market entry.
Under the deal’s terms, Monopar will pay AstraZeneca an undisclosed upfront cash payment and equity stake for global rights to ALXN-1840. Additionally, they are responsible for making further payments to AZN upon achieving specific regulatory and sales milestones. If ALXN-1840 gains approval and launches, AstraZeneca stands to receive tiered royalties based on net sales.
According to Monopar, ALXN-1840 presents a substantial market opportunity, with approximately one in 30,000 live births in the U.S. affected by Wilson disease.
Monopar intends to initially target patients with severe Wilson disease symptoms and plans to engage with the FDA to establish a development pathway for the candidate.
In addition to ALXN-1840, Monopar is assessing multiple other candidates in various early-stage oncology studies.
Monopar Therapeutics Inc. Price and Consensus
Monopar Therapeutics Inc. price-consensus-chart | Monopar Therapeutics Inc. Quote
Monopar’s Zacks Rank and Other Noteworthy Stocks
Currently, Monopar holds a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Other notable stocks in the sector with a Zacks Rank #1 include Castle Biosciences (CSTL) and Spero Therapeutics (SPRO). For more details, you can view the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, earnings estimates for Castle Biosciences for 2024 improved from a loss of 59 cents per share to a profit of 34 cents. During the same period, the 2025 loss per share estimates narrowed from $2.15 to $1.84. Castle’s shares have declined by 6.2% over the last three months.
CSTL has consistently beaten earnings estimates over the past four quarters, achieving an average surprise of 172.72%.
Similarly, Spero Therapeutics has seen a narrowing of 2024 loss per share estimates from $1.59 to $1.29 in the last 60 days, with 2025 estimates adjusting from $1.54 to $0.79. Spero’s stock decreased by 20.2% in the last three months.
SPRO has achieved earnings that beat estimates in two out of the last four quarters, yielding an average surprise of 94.42%.
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AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (MNPR): Free Stock Analysis Report
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
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