Biogen Banks $5.6 Billion on Apellis as Big Pharma M&A Appetite for Biotech Heats Up

Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) is making its most consequential portfolio move in years, announcing a definitive agreement to acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: APLS) for $41.00 per share in cash — an upfront equity consideration of approximately $5.6 billion — plus a contingent value right (CVR) tied to future sales milestones for its flagship eye disease therapy. The deal closed out March with a statement: big pharma is hungry, and specialty biotech is on the menu.

The transaction carries an 86% premium to Apellis’ 90-day volume-weighted average stock price and a 35% premium to its 52-week high. It is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

What Biogen Is Getting

At the center of the deal are two commercialized complement-targeting therapies: SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection), approved for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration, and EMPAVELI® (pegcetacoplan), approved across three rare immune-mediated conditions — C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), primary IC-MPGN, and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Together, the two drugs generated $689 million in combined net product revenue in 2025, with growth expected in the mid-to-high teens annually through at least 2028. For a company navigating revenue headwinds from its legacy MS portfolio, that near-term visibility is exactly what Biogen needed.

SYFOVRE holds particular strategic weight as the first-ever approved therapy for geographic atrophy — a progressive retinal disease affecting more than five million people globally. Long-term efficacy data shows the drug can delay GA lesion progression by approximately 1.5 years in key patient populations, giving the asset durable commercial runway. The GA space is one that smaller innovators are also actively pursuing. Ocugen (Nasdaq: OCGN), is developing a gene therapy approach targeting inherited retinal diseases — the kind of differentiated, mechanism-driven science that has increasingly attracted large-cap attention.

The Nephrology Angle

Beyond the immediate revenue story, the strategic rationale runs deeper into kidney disease. Apellis brings an established nephrology sales infrastructure that Biogen intends to leverage for felzartamab, its Phase 3 kidney disease candidate with a first trial readout expected in the first half of 2027.

EMPAVELI’s rare kidney disease approvals — including the only FDA-approved treatment for pediatric patients with C3G and the first approval for post-transplant C3G recurrence — underscore how defensible rare nephrology positions can be. Two other emerging growth companies are staking ground in adjacent kidney disease spaces: Unicycive Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UNCY), developing oxylanthanum carbonate for hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease patients, and Eledon Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ELDN), advancing therapies focused on reducing kidney transplant rejection. The Biogen-Apellis deal reinforces that nephrology is becoming a high-value destination for large-cap dealmaking.

A Market Signal Worth Noting

The Apellis acquisition didn’t land in a vacuum. Earlier today, Eli Lilly announced a separate agreement to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $47.00 per share — a deal valued at approximately $7.8 billion including contingent payments — to bolster its neuroscience pipeline in sleep-wake disorders. Two major biotech acquisitions announced on the same day signals something broader: pharmaceutical companies with strong balance sheets are actively scanning for de-risked, commercially validated or late-stage assets, and they’re willing to pay premium prices to get them.

For investors tracking small and microcap biotech, that backdrop matters. Companies building real clinical differentiation in immunology, nephrology, and ophthalmology are operating in exactly the spaces that large pharma is now paying billions to enter.

CVR Structure and Financial Outlook

The CVR entitles Apellis shareholders to two potential payments of $2 per share, contingent on SYFOVRE hitting $1.5 billion and $2 billion in annual global net sales between 2027 and 2030. Biogen expects the deal to be increasingly accretive to non-GAAP diluted EPS starting in 2027, with full de-leveraging targeted by end of 2027.

Release – GoHealth Prioritizes Consumer Fit, Renewal Economics and Cash Discipline While Continuing Leadership in Special Needs Plans; Reports Full Year 2025 Results

Research News and Market Data on GOCO

Mar 31, 2026 at 4:20 PM EDT

Disciplined posture reflects consumer-first enrollment, an intentional Medicare Advantage pullback driven by market realities, continued special needs plans (“SNP”) leadership, targeted AI investment, and a focus on cash, back-book durability, and consolidation readiness

CHICAGO, March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GoHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOCO) (“GoHealth” or the “Company”), a leading health insurance marketplace and Medicare-focused digital health company, today announced financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2025.

GoHealth’s Chief Executive Officer, Vijay Kotte commented, “The Medicare Advantage market remains in a structural reset going into 2026, and our view is that health plans continue to prioritize retention, member quality, and disciplined unit economics. We anticipated many of these dynamics earlier in the cycle, and our pullback in 2025 was intentional. In this environment, consumers need a trusted partner more than ever. Our focus is helping ensure members enroll in plans that truly fit their needs, even when that means confirming their current coverage remains the best option. At the same time, we are maintaining disciplined focus on cash and improving our capital structure, while continuing tactical investments in technology and AI that improve efficiency today, support lower acquisition costs now and in the future, and position us to ramp quickly as conditions improve.”

GoHealth navigated a materially different Medicare Advantage environment by intentionally pulling back Medicare Advantage activity, while aiming to preserve a consumer-first approach, protect liquidity, and invest in core capabilities, which should enable GoHealth to scale when market conditions stabilize. Based on its analysis, GoHealth believes health plans will continue to emphasize margin integrity, renewal stability, and long-term member value over raw enrollment growth.

GoHealth anticipated this shift and aligned its operating model, accordingly, focusing on:

  • Retention and High-Quality Member Book: Delivered materially improved year-over-year retention, reinforcing cohort quality and proprietary PlanFit logic while supporting the durability of GoHealth’s commission receivable asset and broader back book.
  • Intentional Pullback Grounded in Consumer Fit and Renewal Economics: Deliberately pulled back Medicare Advantage activity where first-renewal probability did not support attractive economics, prioritizing appropriate plan fit for consumers and long-term cohort quality.
  • Leadership with Special Needs Plans (“SNP”) populations: Continued leadership in key SNP categories due to our proprietary enrollment and servicing tools, technology and experience, as health plans pursued targeted growth while member stability, renewal duration, and outcomes remained especially important.
  • Technology and AI Investment: Continued targeted investment in built-for-purpose, proprietary agentic AI and automation to lower customer acquisition costs, improve year-one payback, reduce operational friction, and enable agents with more capacity to focus on top-of-license advisory work, while supporting a consumer-first approach by helping ensure members are matched with the plans that best meet their needs.
  • Strategic Flexibility: Optimized cash, protected the commissions receivable, and preserved operating flexibility.
  • Consolidation Readiness: Maintaining high conviction that the fragmented broker landscape will consolidate, positioning GoHealth to lead disciplined integration opportunities with the right partners at the right time.

“Our full-year performance reflects disciplined execution in a market where health plans are prioritizing margin stability and member quality”, said Brendan Shanahan, CFO of GoHealth. “Operating cash flow will remain the primary lens for our capital allocation decisions. As we move forward, we are concentrating investment where we have confidence in durable returns, strengthening retention, and continuing to improve efficiency through practical automation and AI.”

About GoHealth, Inc.
GoHealth is a leading health insurance marketplace and Medicare-focused digital health company whose purpose is to compassionately ensure consumers’ peace of mind when making healthcare decisions so they can focus on living life. For many of these consumers, enrolling in a health insurance plan is confusing and difficult, and seemingly small differences between health plans may lead to significant out-of-pocket costs or lack of access to critical providers and medicines. GoHealth’s proprietary technology platform leverages modern machine-learning algorithms, powered by over two decades of insurance purchasing behavior, to reimagine the process of matching a health plan to a consumer’s specific needs. Its unbiased, technology-driven marketplace coupled with highly skilled licensed agents has facilitated the enrollment of millions of consumers in Medicare plans since GoHealth’s inception. For more information, visit https://www.gohealth.com.

Investor Relations:
John Shave
[email protected]
 
Media Relations:
[email protected]

View full release here.

Eli Lilly Invests $6.3 Billion on Sleep Science with Centessa Pharmaceuticals Acquisition

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is making one of its boldest neuroscience moves yet, announcing a definitive agreement to acquire clinical-stage biotech Centessa Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CNTA) in a deal valued at up to $47.00 per share — representing a total potential equity value approaching $7.8 billion when contingent payments are included.

The upfront cash consideration of $38.00 per share reflects an aggregate equity value of approximately $6.3 billion and carries a 40.5% premium to Centessa’s 30-day volume-weighted average trading price ended March 30, 2026. Shareholders will also receive one non-transferable contingent value right (CVR) worth up to an additional $9.00 per share, tied to three FDA approval milestones for Centessa’s lead drug candidates.

What Lilly Is Really Buying

The deal is fundamentally about orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) science — a mechanism that sits at the neurobiological center of how the brain regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Centessa has spent years building what it believes is a potential best-in-class pipeline of OX2R agonists, with its lead candidate cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) having already shown promising Phase 2a clinical data across three major sleep disorders: narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Beyond cleminorexton, Centessa’s portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets targeting neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric indications — giving Lilly a broader platform than a single drug acquisition would suggest.

The CVR Structure

The contingent value rights break down as follows: $2.00 per CVR upon FDA approval of cleminorexton or ORX142 for narcolepsy type 2 before the fifth anniversary of close; $5.00 per CVR upon FDA approval for idiopathic hypersomnia within the same window; and $2.00 per CVR upon the first FDA approval of either candidate for any indication before January 1, 2030.

CVR structures are increasingly common in biopharma M&A as a tool to bridge valuation gaps between buyers and sellers when clinical outcomes remain uncertain. For Centessa shareholders, the arrangement means meaningful upside if the pipeline delivers — but no guarantees.

Strategic Fit and Timing

The acquisition lands at a moment when sleep disorder therapeutics are gaining serious commercial momentum. The emergence of orexin-based therapies — like Idorsia’s daridorexant and Eisai and Biogen’s lemborexant — has validated the mechanism on the wake-promotion side of the equation. Centessa’s OX2R agonist approach works in the opposite direction, promoting wakefulness rather than suppressing it, which addresses a different and underserved patient population.

For Lilly, a company already navigating massive commercial demands from its GLP-1 and Alzheimer’s franchises, adding a differentiated neuroscience platform signals a commitment to diversifying its long-range pipeline.

The transaction is structured as a scheme of arrangement under English and Welsh law and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending Centessa shareholder approval, High Court sanction, and customary regulatory clearances. Approximately 24.1% of Centessa’s outstanding shares are already locked up through voting and support agreements signed by major investors including Medicxi Ventures, Index Ventures, and General Atlantic.

Unicycive Therapeutics (UNCY) – FY2025 Loss Reported With OLC PDUFA Data Approaching


Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

NDA Sumisssion Was Accepted In January. Unicycive reported loss for FYQ25 of $26.6 million or $(1.67) per share. Importantly, the resubmission of the NDA for oxylanthanum calcium (OLC), its phosphate binder for controlling high phosphate levels in renal dialysis patients, was accepted for filing by the FDA. The PDUFA data is June 19, 2026. Cash on December 31, 2026 was $54.9 million, which we estimate is sufficient to last through product launch and the first quarter of OLC sales.

We Believe Previous Issues Have Been Settled. The NDA was submitted in December 2025 and accepted for filing in January. FDA acceptance and notification of the PDUFA date signifies that the application is complete for review. There were no questions about the third-party manufacturing issue that stopped the review process in June 2025. We believe the corrective actions have addressed the problem, allowing for marketing approval by June 2026.


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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

GeoVax Labs (GOVX) – MVA Vaccine Makes Progress Toward Phase 3 For Mpox


Thursday, March 26, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Mpox Vaccine Clinical Supplies Expected To Be Ready Soon. GeoVax announced the completion of clinical supply testing of GEO-MVA, its modified vaccinia ankara (MVA) vaccine for Mpox/smallpox. The release of vaccine that can be used in clinical trials is expected in early April. This is an important milestone in preparation for the Phase 3 trial planned for late FY2026.

Preparation for Phase 3 Bridging Study and Commercialization. GeoVax is preparing for an immune bridging study to show GEO-MVA stimulates an immune response that is non-inferior to a commercial Mpox vaccine. The study was designed to meet requirements for the European Medicines Agency’s expedited development pathway for Marketing Authorization.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Cardiff Oncology (CRDF) – KOL Discussion Of Onvansertib Supports Our Outperform Rating


Thursday, March 26, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Cardiff Oncology Held A KOL Discussion. On March 25, Cardiff Oncology held a webcast with two world-renown oncologists with experience in drug development and patient treatment. The discussion began with a review of the Phase 2 data by Dr. Mani Mohindru, the Interim CEO. The discussion centered on aspects of the trial, including the outcome data, practical use, and competitive therapies.

The Discussion Included Significance Of Phase 2 Outcomes. The presentation began with a review of Phase 2 data announced in January 2026, with comments by the KOLs. They pointed to the response rate (RR) of 72.2% and the median progression-free survival (PFS) that has not yet been reached. Importantly, onvansertib did not cause additional toxicities to the combination chemotherapy regimen.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – SelectQuote, Inc. Announces Receipt of Continued Listing Standard Notice from NYSE; Plans to Take Appropriate Actions to Cure

Research News and Market Data on SLQT

03/25/2026

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE: SLQT) (the “Company”) announced today that the Company received a notice (the “Notice”) from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) indicating that the Company is no longer in compliance with Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual because the average closing price of the Company’s common stock was less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.

The Company recently reported strong fiscal second quarter 2026 results on February 5th. Earlier this year, the Company executed a new $415 million credit facility which extends the majority of its debt maturities to 2031. SelectQuote’s strong liquidity position and robust operating cash flow outlook provide the Company operational flexibility to execute its strategy and achieve its goals. The Company projects fiscal 2026 operating cash flow in the range of $25 million to $35 million and expects the business will continue to generate meaningful cash flow growth in years to come.

The Company has notified the NYSE of its intent to cure the stock price deficiency and return to compliance with the continued listing standard. The Company can regain compliance at any time within the six-month cure period following receipt of the Notice if, on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period, the Company’s common stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month.

The Company intends to closely monitor its stock price during the cure period for non-compliance. The Company plans to take appropriate actions if necessary to maintain its listing on the NYSE. SelectQuote’s common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during the applicable cure period, subject to the Company’s compliance with other NYSE continued listing standards.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control, including our ability to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE within the applicable cure period and our ability to continue to comply with applicable NYSE listing standards. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our reliance on a limited number of insurance carrier partners and any potential termination of those relationships or failure to develop new relationships; existing and future laws and regulations affecting the health insurance market; changes in health insurance products offered by our insurance carrier partners and the health insurance market generally; insurance carriers offering products and services directly to consumers; changes to commissions paid by insurance carriers and underwriting practices; competition with brokers, exclusively online brokers and carriers who opt to sell policies directly to consumers; competition from government-run health insurance exchanges; developments in the U.S. health insurance system; our dependence on revenue from carriers in our senior segment and downturns in the senior health as well as life, automotive and home insurance industries; our ability to develop new offerings and penetrate new vertical markets; risks from third-party products; failure to enroll individuals during the Medicare annual enrollment period; our ability to attract, integrate and retain qualified personnel; our dependence on lead providers and ability to compete for leads; failure to obtain and/or convert sales leads to actual sales of insurance policies; access to data from consumers and insurance carriers; accuracy of information provided from and to consumers during the insurance shopping process; cost-effective advertisement through internet search engines; ability to contact consumers and market products by telephone; global economic conditions, including inflation; disruption to operations as a result of future acquisitions; significant estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our financial statements; impairment of goodwill; potential litigation and other legal proceedings or inquiries; our existing and future indebtedness; our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants; access to additional capital; failure to protect our intellectual property and our brand; fluctuations in our financial results caused by seasonality; accuracy and timeliness of commissions reports from insurance carriers; timing of insurance carriers’ approval and payment practices; factors that impact our estimate of the constrained lifetime value of commissions per policyholder; changes in accounting rules, tax legislation and other legislation; disruptions or failures of our technological infrastructure and platform; failure to maintain relationships with third-party service providers; cybersecurity breaches or other attacks involving our systems or those of our insurance carrier partners or third-party service providers; our ability to protect consumer information and other data; failure to market and sell Medicare plans effectively or in compliance with laws; and other factors related to our pharmacy business, including manufacturing or supply chain disruptions, access to and demand for prescription drugs, changes in reimbursement rates under our contracts with pharmacy benefit managers, and regulatory changes or other industry developments that may affect our pharmacy operations. For a further discussion of these and other risk factors that could impact our future results and performance, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) and subsequent periodic reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as otherwise required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

About SelectQuote

Founded in 1985, SelectQuote (NYSE: SLQT) pioneered the model of providing unbiased comparisons from multiple, highly-rated insurance companies, allowing consumers to choose the policy and terms that best meet their unique needs. Two foundational pillars underpin SelectQuote’s success: a strong force of highly-trained and skilled agents who provide a consultative needs analysis for every consumer, and proprietary technology that sources and routes high-quality leads. Today, the Company operates an ecosystem offering high touchpoints for consumers across insurance, pharmacy, and virtual care.

With an ecosystem offering engagement points for consumers across insurance, Medicare, pharmacy, and value-based care, the company now has three core business lines: SelectQuote Senior, SelectQuote Healthcare Services, and SelectQuote Life. SelectQuote Senior serves the needs of a demographic that sees around 10,000 people turn 65 each day with a range of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. SelectQuote Healthcare Services is comprised of the SelectRx Pharmacy, a Patient-Centered Pharmacy Home™ (PCPH) accredited pharmacy, SelectPatient Management, a provider of chronic care management services, and Healthcare Select, which proactively connects consumers with a wide breadth of healthcare services supporting their needs.

Investor Relations:
Sloan Bohlen
877-678-4083
[email protected]

Media:
Matt Gunter
913-286-4931
[email protected]

Source: SelectQuote, Inc.

Merck Bets $6.7 Billion on a Former Microcap’s CML Drug — TERN Investors Reap the Reward

Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced Tuesday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TERN), a clinical-stage oncology company, for $53.00 per share in cash — representing an approximate equity value of $6.7 billion, or roughly $5.7 billion net of acquired cash. The deal carries a 31% premium to Terns’ 60-day volume-weighted average price and a 42% premium to its 90-day VWAP as of March 24, 2026.

The acquisition is a textbook small-cap-to-acquisition story. Less than 18 months ago, Terns was trading below $2 per share with a market cap well under $200 million. By the end of 2025, the stock had surged more than 770% year-to-date on the back of compelling Phase 1 clinical data. As of Tuesday’s announcement, shareholders who held through the volatility are looking at a $53 payday — a return that underscores exactly why early-stage biotech remains one of the most asymmetric bets in the small and microcap universe.

At the center of this deal is TERN-701, an investigational oral allosteric BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) currently being evaluated in the Phase 1/2 CARDINAL trial for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Specifically, the drug targets patients who have already received at least one prior TKI and experienced treatment failure, suboptimal response, or intolerance.

What separates TERN-701 from existing CML therapies is its mechanism and early efficacy signal. The drug is designed to bind to the ABL myristoyl pocket — a distinct binding site from most approved TKIs — giving it the potential to work in patients who have already failed other therapies, including those with difficult resistance mutations like T315I. In clinical data presented through the CARDINAL trial, 64% of efficacy-evaluable patients achieved major molecular response by 24 weeks, with 75% achieving MMR among those treated at doses above 320mg. The safety profile has also been notably clean, with low rates of severe adverse events, minimal blood pressure changes, and low lipase elevation — a meaningful differentiator given the side-effect profiles associated with several competing agents.

The FDA recognized the drug’s potential in March 2024, granting TERN-701 Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of CML. Merck is now betting that designation translates into a commercially viable, potentially best-in-class therapy within its growing hematology portfolio — which already includes three Phase 3 candidates across leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Merck expects to account for the transaction as an asset acquisition, with the deal expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending a successful tender offer and Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance. The charge will be approximately $5.8 billion, or roughly $2.35 per share, reflected in both Q2 and full-year 2026 results.

For the small and microcap investor community, this deal is more than just a pharma headline. It’s a reminder that the path from sub-$2 clinical-stage company to a multi-billion-dollar buyout target is very much alive — and that the CARDINAL data milestones many overlooked in 2024 were the signals that mattered most.

Ocugen (OCGN) – Raising Price Target After Positive OCU410 Data Reported


Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Top-Line Phase 2 ArMaDa Trial Data Reported. Ocugen reported Phase 2 data for OCU410, its gene therapy for geographic atrophy in dry age-related macular degeneration (GA-dAMD). The data shows clinically meaningful and statistically significant benefit of 31% for treated patients compared with placebo. Based on the trial results, we are including OCU410 revenues in our FY2029 earnings model and raising our price target to $12 per share.

Results Show Preservation of Function and Cell Structure. The primary endpoint showed 31% reduction in lesion growth at the optimal dose (medium) group compared to controls (p< 0.05). A secondary endpoint of photoreceptor cell loss, correlating with visual function, showed a 27% slower rate compared to controls. In addition, 55% of treated patients demonstrated a lesion size reduction of greater than 30% compared with controls.


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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Eledon Pharmaceuticals (ELDN) – FY2025 Reported With Tegoprubart Updates and Phase 3 Expectations


Monday, March 23, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Tegoprubart Trials To Advance In FY2026. Eledon reported a 4Q loss of $10.4 million or $(0.11) per share and a FY2025 loss of $45.6 million or $(0.52) per share. The FY Total Operating Expenses were $83.3 million, with non-cash items (including changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities) of $33.4 million. Net Loss excluding these items would have been $79.1 million for full year. Updates for tegoprubart clinical development were also confirmed with the announcement. Cash on December 31, 2025 was $45.6 million.

Clinical Trials In Transplantation Have Several Milestones Ahead. Eledon expects to meet with the FDA to discuss plans for a Phase 3 tegoprubart trial for prevention of kidney transplant rejection. We expect the guidance to clarify required endpoints and could lead to the start of Phase 3 by year-end. Guidance is also expected for Islet cell transplantation in diabetes and xenotransplantation.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Collegium Pharmaceutical Doubles Down on ADHD With $650M AZSTARYS Acquisition

While macro headlines continue to dominate investor attention, small-cap specialty pharma company Collegium Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: COLL) is quietly executing a disciplined growth strategy — and its latest move is hard to ignore.

The Stoughton, Massachusetts-based company announced a definitive agreement to acquire AZSTARYS, an FDA-approved ADHD treatment, from privately held Corium Therapeutics for $650 million in cash at closing, with the potential for up to $135 million in additional milestone payments tied to future commercial and regulatory targets. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

What Is AZSTARYS and Why Does It Matter?

AZSTARYS is a central nervous system stimulant combining immediate-release and long-acting components in a single capsule, approved for patients aged six and older with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is one of the more differentiated products in the ADHD space precisely because of that dual-mechanism delivery — something that sets it apart from a crowded field of single-mechanism competitors.

The commercial traction is already there. AZSTARYS generated more than 760,000 prescriptions in 2025, and Collegium projects the drug will contribute over $50 million in pro forma net revenue in just the second half of 2026 — assuming the deal closes on schedule. Six Orange Book-listed patents, most of which do not expire until December 2037, provide long-runway exclusivity that gives this asset real staying power on Collegium’s balance sheet.

Collegium already markets Jornay PM, a delayed-release methylphenidate treatment for ADHD. Adding AZSTARYS gives the company two commercially differentiated products targeting the same condition but with distinct dosing profiles — a smart way to expand market penetration without cannibalizing existing revenue.

The deal structure reflects that discipline. Collegium plans to fund the acquisition using cash on hand and a previously arranged $300 million delayed-draw term loan, with management projecting post-close net leverage of approximately two times estimated 2026 combined adjusted EBITDA. Run-rate cost synergies are expected to exceed $50 million within twelve months of closing, driven by Collegium leveraging its existing ADHD commercial infrastructure rather than building a parallel one from scratch.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance.

At a market cap of approximately $1.15 billion, Collegium is doing something many larger companies struggle with — making acquisitions that are both strategically coherent and financially disciplined. The AZSTARYS deal is not a moonshot. It is a calculated bet on a proven, revenue-generating asset with durable patent protection in a therapeutic category — ADHD — that continues to see strong and growing demand across both pediatric and adult patient populations.

Needham & Company reaffirmed its Buy rating on COLL this week with a price target of $56, representing meaningful upside from the stock’s current trading range near $36. The broader analyst consensus sits at Buy, though the stock has traded down from its 52-week high near $51 amid broader market volatility.

For investors focused on the small and microcap space, Collegium’s approach offers a case study in how companies under $2 billion in market cap can use M&A not as a hail mary, but as a precision tool for compounding long-term value.

SelectQuote (SLQT) – Launching Franchise-Based Distribution Channel


Thursday, March 19, 2026

Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

SelectQuote Local. SelectQuote announced SelectQuote Local, a new franchise model designed to complement its core telephonic insurance distribution platform by offering in-person sales and support. Management indicated the initiative leverages the company’s existing marketing, technology, and carrier relationships, positioning it as a natural extension of the platform rather than a shift in strategy.

Complementary model and TAM expansion. In our view, SelectQuote Local is unlikely to cannibalize the company’s core call center operations, as it targets a distinct subset of consumers who prefer in-person engagement. We believe the company can leverage excess lead flow and brand recognition to support early franchise success without significant incremental marketing investment. Additionally, we expect the in-person model could enhance cross-sell opportunities with Healthcare Services, as local relationships may improve customer engagement and trust.


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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Gyre Therapeutics, Inc (GYRE) – Priority Review Received For Hydronidone In China


Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Gyre Receives Priority Review. Hydronidone has been awarded Priority Review Status by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This is consistent with our expectations for an accelerated NDA review and late FY2026 approval for Hydronidone.

Meeting With The CMPA Was Positive. In early January, Gyre Pharmaceuticals (China) held a Pre-New Drug Application meeting with the CDE. At that time, the CDE agreed that data from the Hydronidone Phase 3 trial for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-associated liver-fibrosis supported an application for conditional approval. It also met the criteria for Priority Review.


Get the Full Report

Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.