Bayer Licenses PRMT5 inhibitor From Suzhou Puhe BioPharma

Bayer BAYRY announced a licensing agreement with Suzhou Puhe BioPharma Co., a clinical-stage biotechnology company.
Suzhou Puhe BioPharma is focused on the research and development of innovative small-molecule precision therapeutics.

The companies have collaborated for Suzhou Puhe BioPharma’s oral, small molecule protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibitor that selectively targets methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP)-deleted tumors.

Under the agreement, Bayer obtained an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize the MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor.

The first participant has already been enrolled in a phase I first-in-human dose escalation study investigating MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor under the development name BAY 3713372 for the treatment of MTAP-deleted solid tumors.

Other financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal strengthens Bayer´s diversified early precision oncology pipeline.

Shares of BAYRY have surged 25.5% in the past three months compared with the industry’s gain of 4.1%.

More on Bayer’s BAY 3713372

PRMT5 is important in modifying proteins that control the cell cycle. The metabolic enzyme 5’-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is involved in the methionine salvage pathway, which recycles methionine from methylthioadenosine (MTA).

Bayer believes that this targeted approach leverages the unique relationship between MTA and PRMT5, creating a specific vulnerability that can be exploited to effectively treat MTAP-deficient cancer cells. BAY 3713372 is designed to bind the PRMT5-MTA complex, thus specifically exploiting tumor vulnerability.

The phase I study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary clinical activity of BAY 3713372.

BAYRY Looks to Strengthen Pharma Pipeline

2024 was a tough year for the company due to strong headwinds in the Crop Science business. The uncertainty caused by ongoing Roundup litigation is also a major hangover on the stock. The guidance for 2025 is pretty ordinary, as Bayer expects business to be challenging.

In such a scenario, the company is looking to strengthen its pharma pipeline.

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Quote

Bayer has already strengthened its pharmaceutical research and pipeline in the field of small molecules and precision therapeutics with the acquisition of Vividion.  In December 2024, Vividion acquired Tavros Therapeutics in the United States. Tavros’ proprietary methods for genomic screening can identify new target opportunities and support discovery and translational efforts toward known targets.

Bayer has expanded its pipeline in new modalities to include competencies in cell therapy (through the acquisition of BlueRock) and gene therapy (through the acquisition of AskBio).

Bayer had earlier collaborated with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. to jointly develop diagnostic tests based on next-generation sequencing.

Bayer’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

BAYRY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A couple of other top-ranked stocks in the pharma/biotech sector are Novo Nordisk NVO and Dynavax Technologies Corporation DVAX, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

NVO

In the past 30 days, NVO’s EPS estimate for 2025 has increased to $3.93 from $3.84. During the same timeframe, the figure for 2026 has increased to $4.82 from $4.66.

Novo Nordisk’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in the other two, the average surprise being 1.97%.

DVAX

In the past 30 days, estimates for Dynavax’s 2025 EPS have remained constant at 33 cents. During the same time frame, EPS estimates have remained constant at 57 cents for 2026. In the past six months, shares of DVAX have gained 21.9%.

DVAX’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in the other one, the average surprise being 9.58%.

 

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