Key Takeaways EXEL is collaborating with Natera on the STELLAR-316 study in resected stage II/III colorectal cancer.The trial will test zanzalintinib with or without an immune checkpoint inhibitor in MRD-positive CRC patients.Exelixis plans to start STELLAR-316 in mid-2026, with disease-free survival as the primary endpoint.Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) announced that it has collaborated with Natera (NTRA) for the STELLAR-316 study.This phase III study is being sponsored by Exelixis.The study will evaluate Exelixis ...

Core Insights - The healthcare sector underperformed in 2025, but there are still solid investment opportunities in smaller biotech companies [1] - Axsome Therapeutics and Exelixis are highlighted as promising investment options for 2026 and beyond [2] Axsome Therapeutics - Axsome Therapeutics has made steady clinical and regulatory progress, with approved products including Auvelity for depression, Symbravo for migraines, and Sunosi for narcolepsy [3] - The company is close to earning approval for Auvelity in treating Alzheimer's disease agitation, which could address a significant unmet need, as approximately 5 million patients in the U.S. experience this condition [4] - Axsome's revenue for the first nine months of 2025 reached $442.5 million, marking a 65.8% increase year-over-year [7] - The company has several late-stage pipeline candidates, including AXS-12 for narcolepsy and AXS-14 for fibromyalgia, which could further boost revenue [6][8] Exelixis - Exelixis specializes in oncology, primarily generating revenue from Cabometyx, which is approved for various cancers, including liver and kidney cancer [9] - The company reported $1.7 billion in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, a 7.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [10] - Exelixis has successfully defended its patent rights, delaying generic competition until the next decade [10] - The company is developing new products, including Zanzalintinib for metastatic colorectal cancer, which has shown strong phase 3 results and could significantly impact sales [12][14] - Exelixis is expected to submit regulatory applications soon, which will help diversify its portfolio beyond Cabometyx [13]

Core Insights - Exelixis reported better-than-expected Q3 2025 earnings, with adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents, and up from 47 cents in the same quarter last year [3][4] - Net revenues reached $598 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $589 million, and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.8% [4] - The growth in revenues was primarily driven by a 13.5% increase in net product revenues, totaling $542.9 million, attributed to higher sales volume [5] Financial Performance - Cabometyx generated revenues of $540 million, slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $539 million, and Cometriq contributed $3.1 million in net product revenues [6] - Collaboration revenues totaled $54.8 million, down 10.8% from $61.5 million in the previous year, mainly due to lower milestone-related revenues [9] - Research and development expenses decreased by 10.5% year over year to $199.2 million, while selling, general, and administrative expenses rose by 10.6% to $123.7 million [10] Stock Repurchase Program - Exelixis has repurchased $895.3 million of its common stock under its stock repurchase programs, with plans to complete the February 2025 authorization by Q4 2025 [12] - In October, the board authorized an additional $750 million for stock repurchases, to be completed before December 31, 2026 [12] Guidance and Estimates - The company updated its 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $2.30 billion to $2.35 billion, with net product revenues expected between $2.10 billion and $2.15 billion [13] - Research and development expenses are now anticipated to be between $850 million and $900 million, while selling, general, and administrative expenses are expected to be in the range of $500 million to $525 million [14] Pipeline and Regulatory Updates - Exelixis is developing zanzalintinib, with positive results from the STELLAR-303 study, and plans to submit a new drug application for its use in metastatic colorectal cancer by the end of 2025 [15][17] - The company has initiated a phase I study of XB371, its next-generation tissue factor-targeting antibody-drug conjugate [20] Market Performance - Exelixis has seen a 19.65% upward shift in consensus estimates over the past month, indicating positive investor sentiment [21] - The stock has a VGM Score of A, reflecting strong growth and momentum, and is positioned in the top 40% for value [22]

Group 1: Axsome Therapeutics - Axsome Therapeutics has shown strong clinical and regulatory progress, with a 63% year-over-year revenue increase to $171 million in Q3 [3][6] - The company’s main growth driver is Auvelity, approved for major depressive disorder, and it has received approval for Symbravo, a migraine medication [4][3] - Axsome estimates a potential of over $16 billion in peak sales across all its targeted indications, indicating a large addressable market [6][7] - The company has several late-stage pipeline candidates, including AXS-12 for narcolepsy, which could further enhance its growth prospects [6][8] Group 2: Exelixis - Exelixis specializes in cancer medicine, with Cabometyx as its primary product, approved for multiple indications, contributing to a 10.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $597.8 million in Q3 [9][10] - The company successfully won a lawsuit to keep generic competition for Cabometyx off the market until 2030, boosting its medium-term outlook [10] - Exelixis is developing new cancer therapies, including zanzalintinib for metastatic colorectal cancer, which has shown promise in clinical trials [12][13] - The ongoing development of new treatments and the upward sales trajectory of Cabometyx could enhance Exelixis's stock performance in the coming years [13]

Core Insights - Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) reported better-than-expected results for Q3 2025, with adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents and up from 47 cents in the same quarter last year [1][8] - Net revenues reached $598 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $589 million and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.8% [2][8] - The company's stock has increased by 13.9% year-to-date, outperforming the industry gain of 10.9% [4] Financial Performance - The year-over-year revenue growth was driven by higher product sales, with net product revenues of $542.9 million, up 13.5% year over year [5][8] - Cabometyx (cabozantinib) generated revenues of $540 million, slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $539 million [6][8] - Collaboration revenues totaled $54.8 million, down 10.8% from $61.5 million in the previous year, primarily due to lower milestone-related revenues [10] Expense Management - Research and development expenses amounted to $199.2 million, down 10.5% year over year, attributed to decreased clinical trial costs [11] - Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $123.7 million, up 10.6% year over year, mainly due to higher stock-based compensation [11] Stock Repurchase Program - Exelixis has repurchased $895.3 million of its common stock as of September 30, 2025, under its stock repurchase programs [12][13] - The board authorized an additional $750 million for repurchase before December 31, 2026 [13] Updated Guidance - The company narrowed its 2025 revenue outlook to $2.30-$2.35 billion, with net product revenues estimated between $2.10-$2.15 billion [14] - Research and development expenses are now expected to be in the range of $850-$900 million, while selling, general, and administrative expenses are anticipated to be $500-$525 million [15] Pipeline Developments - Exelixis is developing zanzalintinib, a next-generation oral investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with positive results from the STELLAR-303 study [16][17] - The company plans to submit a new drug application for zanzalintinib in combination with atezolizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer by the end of 2025 [19] - Exelixis has initiated several ongoing phase I studies for its pipeline programs, including XB371, a next-generation tissue factor-targeting antibody-drug conjugate [22] Market Position - Overall performance in the quarter was encouraging, with a beat in both earnings and sales, and initial demand for Cabometyx in the newly approved indication is promising [23]

Group 1: Axsome Therapeutics - Axsome Therapeutics is a mid-cap biotech company with three products on the market: Auvelity, Symbravo, and Sunosi, driving strong revenue growth, with a 72% year-over-year increase to $150 million in Q2 [3][4] - The launch of Symbravo in June presents a significant growth opportunity, targeting a market of 39 million migraine patients in the U.S., where over 70% have inadequate responses to current treatments [4][5] - Auvelity shows promise in treating agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease, with a potential market of 7 million patients, and is on track to achieve blockbuster status [5][6] - The company is advancing its pipeline with AXS-12 for narcolepsy and other late-stage trials, positioning itself for continued revenue growth and market outperformance [6] Group 2: Exelixis - Exelixis specializes in oncology, known for its drug Cabometyx, which treats liver and kidney cancers and continues to drive revenue growth despite a reported 11% drop in total revenue to $568.3 million due to lower collaboration revenue [7][8] - Net product revenue for Exelixis increased by 19% year-over-year to $520 million, with Cabometyx expected to maintain strong sales through early 2030, fending off generic competition [8][9] - The company is focused on developing cancer therapies for high unmet needs, with its candidate zanzalintinib showing promise in metastatic colorectal cancer, which could address a significant treatment gap [9][10] - Exelixis has additional candidates in its pipeline, and strong clinical progress alongside Cabometyx's revenue growth is expected to yield strong returns through the end of the decade [10]

Group 1 - Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Exelixis (NASDAQ:EXEL) with a Buy recommendation [2] - The target price set by Goldman Sachs for Exelixis is $47 [2] - The recommendation is based on the potential of zanzalintinib to mitigate the upcoming patent cliff for Cabometyx, Exelixis's kidney cancer drug [2]

Core Insights - Exelixis' lead drug, Cabometyx, has received FDA approval for label expansion to treat adult and pediatric patients aged 12 and older with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic well-differentiated pancreatic and extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in March 2025, marking a significant advancement for the company [1][10] Product Overview - Cabometyx is the first and only systemic treatment FDA approved for previously treated NET, applicable regardless of primary tumor site, grade, somatostatin receptor expression, and functional status [2] - The drug is noted as the first broadly applicable new oral small molecule therapy for NET in nine years [2] Market Demand and Performance - Initial uptake for Cabometyx's new indication is strong, capturing 35% of the new patient share for oral therapies in this indication, with demand just over 4% of total demand for cabozantinib in Q2 [3][10] - Exelixis expects Cabometyx to be widely used across various patient and tumor characteristics, including those with NET from the pancreas, GI tract, and lung [5] Regulatory Approvals - In July, Exelixis announced that its partner Ipsen received regulatory approval for Cabometyx for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic well-differentiated extra-pancreatic and pancreatic NET in the EU [4] Competitive Landscape - Cabometyx faces competition from Novartis' Lutathera, which is also used for treating gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) [6] - In the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) space, Cabometyx competes with Merck's Keytruda and Inlyta, as well as Merck's Welireg [7][8] Financial Performance - Exelixis shares have gained 13.8% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 4% [9][10] - The company's valuation is considered high, with a price/sales ratio of 4.07x forward sales, above its mean of 3.64x and the biotech industry's 1.58x [11] Earnings Estimates - The bottom-line estimate for 2025 has increased from $2.65 to $2.68, while the estimate for 2026 has decreased from $3.13 to $3.08 over the past 30 days [12]

Core Insights - Exelixis (EXEL) has shown strong year-to-date performance with a 15.6% increase in share price, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 2.9% [1] - Despite reaching a 52-week high of $49.62 on June 23, 2025, shares dipped following mixed quarterly results reported on July 28 [1][4] - The company’s lead drug, Cabometyx, continues to perform well in the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) market, supported by strong demand and recent label expansions [5][6] Company Performance - Exelixis' stock has outperformed both the sector and the S&P 500 Index during the year [1] - The company reported a revenue miss in the second quarter, which has affected investor sentiment [8][20] - Cabometyx remains the leading tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for RCC, with strong sales driven by its combination with Bristol Myers' Opdivo [5][6] Drug Pipeline and Developments - Zanzalintinib, an investigational TKI, has shown positive results in the STELLAR-303 study, meeting a key endpoint for overall survival in metastatic colorectal cancer [10][12] - The company has decided not to proceed with the phase III portion of the STELLAR-305 trial for zanzalintinib due to emerging competition and a focus on larger commercial opportunities [14] - Exelixis is actively expanding its pipeline with three ongoing phase I studies and has received FDA clearance for a new IND application [15] Financial Outlook - Exelixis shares are currently trading at a price/sales ratio of 4.14x forward sales, higher than the biotech industry average of 1.59x [16] - The bottom-line estimate for 2025 has increased slightly from $2.64 to $2.68, while the estimate for 2026 has decreased from $3.13 to $3.09 [17] Competitive Landscape - Cabometyx faces significant competition in the RCC market, particularly from Merck's Keytruda and Pfizer's Inlyta [20][21] - Keytruda is a leading drug in the RCC space, accounting for approximately 50% of Merck's pharmaceutical sales [21]

Core Insights - Exelixis is developing zanzalintinib, a next-generation oral investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting receptor tyrosine kinases involved in cancer growth, with recent studies showing positive data [1] Study Results - In June 2025, Exelixis announced positive top-line results from the STELLAR-303 study, a phase III trial involving 901 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, comparing zanzalintinib plus Tecentriq against regorafenib [2] - The STELLAR-303 study met one of its dual primary endpoints, showing a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) for the intent-to-treat population treated with zanzalintinib plus Tecentriq compared to regorafenib [3] - Enrollment for the STELLAR-304 study was completed in May 2025, evaluating zanzalintinib in combination with Opdivo versus sunitinib in advanced non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma [4] - Exelixis has opted not to proceed with the phase III portion of the STELLAR-305 trial based on emerging data and competition in advanced squamous cell carcinoma [5] - The company initiated the phase III STELLAR-311 study in advanced neuroendocrine tumors, comparing zanzalintinib to everolimus [6] Competitive Landscape - The competitive environment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is intensifying, with significant competition for Exelixis's lead drug, Cabometyx, from various immunotherapy-TKI combinations [7] - Keytruda, approved for advanced RCC, accounts for approximately 50% of Merck's pharmaceutical sales, highlighting the competitive pressure in the market [10] Financial Performance - Exelixis shares have increased by 14% year-to-date, contrasting with a 0.9% decline in the biotech industry [11] - The company's shares are currently trading at a price/sales ratio of 4.09x forward sales, above its historical mean of 3.64x and the biotech industry's average of 1.59x [13] - The bottom-line estimate for 2025 has risen from $2.64 to $2.68, while the estimate for 2026 has decreased from $3.13 to $3.09 over the past 30 days [14]