ZACKS·2025-09-25 16:31Core Insights - Rigel Pharmaceuticals (RIGL) and Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) are focused on developing treatments for rare medical conditions, aiming to establish leadership in their respective fields [1][2] Rigel Pharmaceuticals (RIGL) - Rigel's lead drug, Tavalisse, is an oral spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), generating $68.5 million in sales in the first half of 2025, a 44% increase year over year [3][6] - The company is also progressing with Rezlidhia, approved for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with sales increasing 31% year over year in the first half of 2025 [4] - Rigel added Gavreto to its portfolio in 2024, contributing to revenue growth in the first half of 2025 [5] - The company raised its total revenue guidance for 2025 to $270-$280 million, up from a previous estimate of $200-$210 million, due to strong sales performance [6] - Rigel has a pipeline product, R289, in early-stage studies for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and is exploring Rezlidhia's use in other cancers [7] Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) - Amicus' lead product, Galafold, generated $233.1 million in sales in the first half of 2025, an 11% year-over-year increase, with patent protection extending to 2038 [8][9] - The company’s two-component therapy, Pombiliti + Opfolda, approved for late-onset Pompe disease, generated $46.8 million in sales in the first half of 2025, a 74% increase year over year [10] - Amicus is experiencing a shift of patients from Sanofi's Pompe disease drugs to Pombiliti and Opfolda, with expectations for increased patient starts in new markets in the second half of 2025 [11] - Despite the growth of Galafold and Pombiliti + Opfolda, FOLD remains heavily reliant on Galafold for revenue, posing a risk to the company's overall growth [12] Financial Estimates and Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigel's 2025 sales and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of approximately 57% and 415%, respectively [13] - In contrast, Amicus' 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply a year-over-year increase of around 18% and 29%, respectively, with EPS estimates for 2025 trending downward [17] - Year-to-date, RIGL shares have increased by 80.1%, while FOLD shares have decreased by 11.3%, compared to an industry return of 11.7% [19] - Amicus is valued higher than Rigel based on the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, with FOLD trading at 4.51 times trailing sales compared to RIGL's 2.05 [20] Comparative Analysis - Rigel holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a more favorable investment outlook compared to Amicus, which has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [24] - Rigel's strong performance and optimistic guidance for 2025, driven by Tavalisse and other products, suggest significant upside potential [25] - Amicus' reliance on Galafold and competition from established players like Sanofi present challenges for sustained growth [26] - Rigel's expanding portfolio, improving earnings estimates, and lower valuation position it as a more attractive investment compared to Amicus [27]