Up 197% in one year: What’s powering Neuren (ASX: NEU) share price?

Highlights

• Neuren Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing new drug therapies for serious neurological disorders
• Trofinetide and NNZ-2591 are two new drug candidates for Neuren
• The Neuren share price has gained nearly 197% over the last 52 weeks

Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) is moving forward in the development of new drug therapies to cure multiple serious neurological disorders, which usually begin in early childhood and have no approved medicines. The company’s commercial partner is Acadia Pharmaceuticals, a US-based healthcare company.

A glance at Neuren’s technology pipeline

Neuren’s current product development pipeline consists of two new drug candidates - Trofinetide and NNZ-2591. While Trofinetide – Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome program has Orphan Drug, Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), NNZ-2591 – Phelan McDermid syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Pitt Hopkins syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome has Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for all four syndromes.

Related read: Neuren Pharma (ASX:NEU) receives US FDA nod for PTHS trial; shares up 200% in a year

Impressive returns

Neuren is well on track for driving its growth in drug development. It has a market capitalisation of AU$447.57 million. The company’s share price has gained 196.7% over the last 52 weeks, providing the best price return in the healthcare sector.

Let us have a detailed view of the share price trend and the major triggers behind the rise.

Image source: Thompson Reuters

In the last 52 weeks, the major surge in NEU share price was during the second week of December, as depicted in the image above.

On 7 Dec 2021, Neuren shared an update on its lead compound Trofinetide. Following this, shares of the company marked an uptick of nearly 91% and closed at AU$3.250 on that day.

Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Neuren’s partner for Trofinetide in North America, reported top-line results from the pivotal Phase 3 Lavender™ study. The study, conducted on 187 girls and young women aged 5-20 years with Rett syndrome, assessed the efficacy and safety of Trofinetide in the disease. Trofinetide met crucial secondary endpoint indicating statistically substantial improvement over placebo.

Overall, shares of Neuren gained about 126% during that week, starting at AU$1.700 and closing off at AU$3.850.

Do read: PLS, NEU, CNB: 3 ASX stocks with over 100% past-year returns

Similarly, on 31st Jan 2022, Neuren announced its Q4 2021 results, following which shares of the company soared by nearly 6% on the day and 15% the next day. Major highlights of the quarter were as follows:

• Neuren is hoping to generate AU$111 million in revenue from the US alone over 2022 and 2023 for Rett syndrome. An additional double-digit percentage royalty on net sales is also expected
• Rett syndrome has a global urgent unmet need for treatment. Neuren is progressing discussions with potential partners for Trofinetide ex-North America and has also received strong interest in commercial partnerships.
• Initiation of Phase 2 trials in Phelan-McDermid, Angelman and Pitt Hopkins syndromes. Submitted revised Angelman syndrome protocol to FDA and planned Phase 2 trial of Prader-Willi syndrome for mid-2022.

Also read: NEU, CYC and IMR – Why are these ASX-listed healthcare stocks thriving amid pandemic?

Stock information: At the time of writing this article (TUE 24 MAY 1:15 PM AEST), shares of NEU were trading at AU$3.530.