Benzinga | Mar 15, 2021 10:54AM EDT

I-Mab Poised To Capitalize On Growing Oncology Sector, Needham Says In Bullish Initiation

Shares of the U.S.-listed Chinese immuno-oncology company I-Mab (NASDAQ:IMAB) offer strong upside potential, according to a Needham analyst.

The I-Mab Analyst: Chad Messer initiated coverage of I-Mab shares with a Buy rating and $75 price target.

The I-Mab Takeaways: I-Mab has an extensive pipeline of innovative assets, including several assets in clinical trials in the U.S. as well as in China, Messer said in a Monday note.

The company has struck four out-licensing partnerships worth up to $3 billion, the analyst said.

I-Mab has also expanded its Chinese business by in-licensing Chinese rights to late-stage assets from biopharma companies such as Ferring, MorphoSys AG (NASDAQ:MOR) and MacroGenics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNX), he said.

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I-Mab's lead asset lemzoparlimab, which targets CD47, differentiates itself from other CD47 antibodies by having minimal interaction with RBCs, Messer said.

It is being evaluated in Phase 1 studies as a single agent as well as combo therapy option, the analyst said.

I-Mab's in-licensed asset Felzartamab could mark I-Mab's entry into commercialization in China as early as this year, he said.

"We believe its deep pipeline of proprietary IO assets will allow I-Mab to capitalize on an important, growing sector of oncology."

The company's unique go-to-market strategy in China will likely turn it into a fully integrated Chinese pharmaceutical company with global development expertise, in Needham's view.

IMAB Price Action: At last check, the stock was adding 0.44% to $55.25.

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