Jefferies Maintains Underperform, $3 Target on VIVUS

Jefferies reiterates its Underperform rating and $3 target price on VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) on incremental insights into the company's REMS for limited indication.

Jefferies says, “An FDA panel was held to discuss the iPLEDGE risk mitigation strategy (REMS) for a birth defect-associated acne drug isoretinoin. We see FDA requiring a similarly strict REMS for VVUS' Qnexa under a limited indication of men and women of non-child-bearing age. Our preliminary analysis of the value of VVUS under this scenario is $13, which we think creates an unfavorable risk-reward given high residual regulatory uncertainty.”

VVUS closed at $10.52 per share on Friday.