Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Arbutus Biopharma Corp is advancing its pipeline with promising therapeutics such as imdusiran, which has shown significant efficacy by achieving rapid HBV DNA suppression in patients. The company is also optimizing its financials, as evidenced by a notable 65% decrease in research and development expenses to $5.5 million for the quarter, reflecting a streamlined approach to focus on its core product developments. Furthermore, the company reported a substantial increase in revenue, recognizing $10.7 million in the most recent quarter compared to just $1.7 million during the same period in 2024, signaling positive momentum despite being a pre-commercial entity.

Arbutus Biopharma's stock outlook is negatively affected by significant challenges in clinical efficacy for its key therapeutic candidates, including RNAi and capsid assembly inhibitors, which may not achieve their clinical endpoints. Additionally, the company faces competition in recruiting patients for its clinical programs targeting chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV), which could further limit the progress and scalability of its initiatives. Overall, the combination of these efficacy and recruitment hurdles raises concerns about the viability of Arbutus Biopharma's pipeline and its potential impact on future financial performance.