Altimmune Secures Analyst Backing as Pemvidutide Advances Toward Phase 3 MASH Trial

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Altimmune (NASDAQ: ALT) has garnered a bullish endorsement from Wall Street as it gears up for a crucial phase in developing its metabolic disease therapy. Barclays initiated coverage of the stock on January 27 with an Overweight rating and a $20 price target, highlighting undervalued potential within a biotech sector poised for growth amid robust M&A activity and easing drug pricing pressures.

The analyst move coincided with Altimmune's announcement that net proceeds from a recent public offering will be allocated to working capital, general corporate purposes, and preparatory work for the Phase 3 trial of its lead candidate, pemvidutide, for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The drug, a novel glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist, has already received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and demonstrated positive 48-week results in a Phase 2b study, strengthening its profile in the competitive metabolic disease landscape.

"The data for pemvidutide, particularly its impact on liver fat and weight reduction, positions Altimmune meaningfully in the next wave of metabolic therapeutics," said Dr. Anya Sharma, a hepatology researcher at the Cleveland Metabolic Institute. "The path to Phase 3 is now clearly funded and supported."

Investor sentiment appears mixed, however. Michael Torres, a portfolio manager at Horizon Capital, offered a more tempered view: "While the Barclays note provides a near-term catalyst, MASH remains a high-risk development arena with several late-stage competitors. The valuation leap assumes flawless execution and strong differentiation—both yet to be proven."

Some retail investors expressed sharper skepticism. "This feels like hype building before a dilution," commented retail trader David Chen on an investing forum. "They just raised cash, and now an analyst slaps a high target? Show me the Phase 3 data, not another price target."

In contrast, long-term biotech investor Eleanor Vance sees promise: "The dual agonist mechanism could offer advantages over pure GLP-1s. If pemvidutide shows superior liver histology outcomes in Phase 3, Altimmune becomes a compelling takeover target. The current cap doesn't reflect that optionality."

Altimmune focuses on developing peptide-based treatments for metabolic and liver diseases, including obesity and MASH. The company's pipeline hinges on pemvidutide's ability to simultaneously activate GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, aiming to reduce weight, liver fat, and associated cardiometabolic risks.

Disclosure: This is independent financial news analysis. The author holds no position in ALT at the time of publication.