Gotrade News - GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals said on May 28, 2026 that bepirovirsen met its primary endpoints. The drug succeeded in two late-stage hepatitis B trials, a notable pipeline win.
Separately, CVS Caremark said it will reinstate Eli Lilly's Zepbound from October 1, 2026. Analyst sentiment on autoimmune developer Immunovant also improved this week.
Key Takeaways
- GSK and Ionis say bepirovirsen reached primary endpoints in two late-stage chronic hepatitis B trials.
- CVS Caremark will restore Zepbound coverage from October 1, 2026 and lift its Foundayo block from June 1, 2026.
- Truist raised its Immunovant price target to $30 from $23 while keeping a Hold rating.
GSK And Ionis Mark Hepatitis B Trial Win
According to Seeking Alpha, GSK said bepirovirsen reached the main goals in two late-stage hepatitis B trials. The British drugmaker announced the trial outcome on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Bepirovirsen is an antisense oligonucleotide developed under a long-running collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals. The drug targets a chronic viral infection that is closely linked to advanced liver disease.
The progress report was filed by Dulan Lokuwithana of SA News on Thursday afternoon. GSK has not disclosed detailed efficacy figures or safety data in the brief initial announcement.
Bepirovirsen is designed to silence viral protein production inside infected liver cells. A regulatory submission is widely expected once full data sets are presented at upcoming medical conferences.
Investors view a hepatitis B functional cure as a multi-billion-dollar global commercial opportunity. GSK shares have lagged large-cap peers like Pfizer and Merck across recent quarters.
CVS Coverage Reversal And Truist Lifts Immunovant Target
Per Investing.com, CVS Caremark will return Eli Lilly's Zepbound to its formulary on October 1, 2026. The pharmacy benefit manager had removed the obesity injection from its covered list on July 1, 2025.
CVS will also lift its existing block on Lilly's oral weight-loss pill Foundayo starting June 1, 2026. The pharmacy network had previously favored Novo Nordisk's competing Wegovy under a multi-year price arrangement.
Ed DeVaney, president of CVS Caremark, said the company acted boldly through active engagement with manufacturer partners. He framed the policy move as a direct effort to tackle affordability and access for plan members.
Insider Monkey reported that Truist raised its price target on Immunovant to $30 from $23 on May 22, 2026. The sell-side firm kept its Hold rating intact on the autoimmune-focused biotech developer.
Immunovant reported fiscal Q4 cash and equivalents of $902.1 million as of March 31, 2026. Research and development expenses climbed to $142.3 million versus $93.7 million in the year-ago quarter.
The company also recorded $39.0 million in one-time costs tied to discontinuing batoclimab. Lead candidate IMVT-1402 targets the neonatal FcRn receptor for generalized myasthenia gravis indications.
Truist models only a 10% probability of success for a potential rheumatoid arthritis indication tied to IMVT-1402. Management has signaled potential commercial launch readiness pending future pivotal data outcomes.
The combined healthcare flow points to an unusually busy near-term pipeline catalyst calendar. Investors will closely watch GLP-1 pricing dynamics and biotech readouts through the second half of 2026.
