Protagonist Therapeutics (NasdaqGM:PTGX) FY Conference Transcript

Protagonist Therapeutics FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Company: Protagonist Therapeutics (NasdaqGM:PTGX) - Event: FY Conference at the 44th J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference - Date: January 13, 2026 Key Points Industry and Market Context - Protagonist is positioned in the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on innovative therapies for unmet medical needs, particularly in the areas of immunology and rare diseases [2][26] Core Assets and Development Pipeline - Icotrokinra (Ico): - Partnered with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) - Aims to set a new standard of care in psoriasis and other IL-23-mediated indications - First and only oral IL-23 pathway blocker in late-stage development - Potential market opportunity exceeding $80 billion across four indications: psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease [4][5][6] - Anticipated peak sales of over $10 billion [6] - Rusfertide: - Partnered with Takeda - A synthetic peptide mimetic of hepcidin, targeting polycythemia vera (PV) - Phase 3 VERIFY study results deemed practice-changing, with potential peak revenue of $1-$2 billion [10][11] - Fast-track status and breakthrough therapy designation expected to expedite approval [12] - Emerging Assets: - PN-881: An oral IL-17 antagonist, expected to enter Phase I studies [13][15] - PN-8047: An oral hepcidin functional mimetic, complementing Rusfertide, with Phase I initiation expected by year-end [16][17] - PN-477: A novel oral triple agonist for obesity, with IND-enabling studies ongoing [18][19] - PN-458: A new dual GLP-1/GIP agonist for obesity, enhancing the obesity portfolio [20] Financial Position - Protagonist ended Q3 2025 with approximately $679 million in cash, sufficient to fund operations through 2028 [21][22] - Revenue potential from partnered assets: - Icotide: Eligible for $600 million in future milestones and 6%-10% royalty range, averaging around 7.25% [22][23] - Rusfertide: Potential opt-out fee of $400 million, with royalties ranging from 14%-29% based on sales [24][25] Strategic Vision - Protagonist aims to maximize shareholder value while expanding its discovery pipeline, with aspirations to grow its market cap from $5 billion to $10-$20 billion [33] - The company emphasizes the importance of partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for scaling and expertise, particularly in the obesity space [34][46] Upcoming Catalysts - Anticipated commercial launches for Icotide and Rusfertide within the year [26] - Completion of pivotal studies and initiation of Phase II studies for emerging assets [26] Additional Insights - The company is focused on maintaining a balance between funding internal R&D and returning capital to shareholders through potential stock buybacks and dividends [34][35] - Protagonist is committed to expanding its pipeline with a focus on high-priority targets in immunology, including IL-4 [53] Conclusion Protagonist Therapeutics is at a pivotal growth stage, with a robust pipeline of innovative therapies and a strong financial position, poised for significant market impact in the coming years. The strategic partnerships and upcoming product launches are expected to drive value creation and enhance shareholder returns.