Cantor Says Relypsa's Veltassa Metrics Look Favorable

Relypsa Inc RLYP shares have plummeted 51 percent year-to-date, under pressure from debt-financing related concerns. Cantor Fitzgerald’s Mara Goldstein reiterated a Buy rating for the company, while reducing the price target from $42 to $41. The analyst believes the 1Q16 results would be “a stabilizing force for the shares.”

Positive Data Points For Veltassa Launch

Veltassa metrics look favorable so far, including a low payer rejection rate of ~20 percent, conversion from starter pack to prescriptions between 50 and 60 percent and in-line gross-to-net discount of approximately 25 percent.

Veltassa sales, albeit modest, were ahead of expectations. Veltassa sales came in at $0.6 million, compared to the 1Q16 estimate of $0.25 million. Relypsa had previously reported 1,155 outpatient prescriptions and 374 hospital/institution units sold in the quarter.

“Excluding gross-to-net discounts, sales would have been $0.8 million. Our expectation for 1H:16 has been modest, as we expect 2H:16, and in particular 4Q:16 to create visibility on Veltassa's sales potential,” analyst Mara Goldstein wrote.

Relypsa’s shares have come under pressure because investors may be viewing the debt financing as a major obstacle to a potential takeout of the company, Goldstein commented, while adding, “We continue to like the shares because of our view of the potential of Veltassa and hyperkalemia market overall.” She expects 3Q16 to be an inflection point for Veltassa, and could result in a realignment of valuation.