SAN FRANCISCO - November 19, 2014 - Highline Research Advisors, LLC, a Merriman Capital, Inc. Financial Entrepreneur Platform participant announced today that research analyst Michael Higgins has initiated equity research coverage of Mast Therapeutics (AMEX: MSTX) with a Buy rating and a $3.00 price target.
Mast Therapeutics is a San Diego based biopharmaceutical company developing two clinical-stage assets, including one Phase 3 trial and four Phase 2 trials. The leading asset is MST-188, a poloxamer enrolling patients in a Phase 3 trial at 70 worldwide clinical sites to treat the painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) that patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) suffer from, roughly twice a year. The Phase 3 trial, EPIC (Evaluation of Purified 188 In Crisis), began enrolling 388 patients at the beginning of 2013 and is on track to complete enrollment around year-end 2015. Mast is testing MST-188 in additional manifestations of acute ischemia, including Phase 2's in acute limb ischemia (ALI) and acute heart failure (AHF), with results in 2016. Mast's second product was acquired at the start of 2014. AIR001 is a drug device combination containing sodium nitrite inhalation solution that produced positive Phase 2 results in pulmonary hypertension in September. Two additional Phase 2 trials with AIR001 are about to begin in patients with left-side pulmonary hypertension, providing results in mid-15. Over the next eighteen months we're looking for results from four Phase 2 studies MST-188's pivotal Phase 3 trial in treating VOCs.
FOR FULL REPORT AND IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES PLEASE CONTACT Michael Higgins at mhiggins@highlineresearchadvisors.com or (917) 903-5254 and/ or Adriana Piltz at apiltz@merrimanco.com or (646) 292-1424.
About Highline Research Advisors
Highline Research Advisors, is an institutional investment banking group providing premium services to leading companies in the healthcare sector. We offer the full spectrum of investment banking services, including financings, equity research, M&A and advisory services to clients across the full range of market capitalizations, from start-ups to Big Pharma companies. Our focus is on providing differentiated, high value added services to companies led by high quality management teams.
About Merriman Capital, Inc.
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Note to Investors
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2014. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2014, together with this press release and the financial information contained herein, are available on our website, www.merrimanco.com. Please click on "Investor Relations."
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At Merriman:
Michael Higgins
Highline Research Advisors
Adriana Piltz
Director of Research
Merriman Capital, Inc.
Howard Bernstein
Chief Compliance Officer
Merriman Capital, Inc.
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