Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) Hits New 52-Week High - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Vir Biotechnology shares hit a new 52-week high, reaching $12.00 and closing around $11.70, up from the prior close of $11.12.
• The FDA granted Fast Track designation to VIR-5500, Vir’s prostate cancer candidate being developed with Astellas, potentially accelerating regulatory engagement and review.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed: HC Wainwright raised its price target to $22 with a Buy rating, while Zacks downgraded the stock to Strong Sell; investors are also awaiting Phase 2 SOLSTICE hepatitis D data.

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Saturday. The stock traded as high as $12.00 and last traded at $11.70, with a volume of 1,965,060 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.12.

Trending Headlines about Vir Biotechnology

Here are the key news stories impacting Vir Biotechnology this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The FDA granted Fast Track designation to VIR-5500, Vir’s PSMA-targeted Pro-XTEN® dual-masked T-cell engager being developed with Astellas Pharma for prostate cancer. Fast Track status may facilitate more frequent FDA interaction and potentially expedite the review process, strengthening the program’s development and commercial prospects. FDA Fast Track designation for VIR-5500
• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright maintained a Buy rating and a $22 price target, implying substantial potential upside from recent trading levels. The firm raised its FY2030 EPS forecast modestly, to a loss of $0.29 per share from a loss of $0.34, suggesting improved longer-term expectations. HC Wainwright forecast for Vir Biotechnology
• Neutral Sentiment: Vir appointed David Liu as executive vice president and chief medical officer, effective October 12, 2026. The leadership addition could support clinical development, but the announcement does not immediately change the company’s financial outlook. David Liu appointed chief medical officer
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also watching upcoming SOLSTICE Phase 2 hepatitis D data, which could materially influence Vir’s investment narrative when released. No clinical results were reported in the article. SOLSTICE Phase 2 data outlook
• Negative Sentiment: HC Wainwright slightly lowered its FY2028 and FY2029 EPS forecasts, to losses of $1.71 and $1.26 per share, respectively, indicating continued expected losses and some pressure on near-term estimates.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded Vir Biotechnology from “Hold” to “Strong Sell,” creating a notable counterweight to HC Wainwright’s bullish view. Zacks rating downgrade

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on VIR shares. Zacks Research lowered Vir Biotechnology from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday. HC Wainwright lifted their target price on Vir Biotechnology from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $25.00 target price on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vir Biotechnology currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $21.86.

Vir Biotechnology Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $1.98 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.29 and a beta of 1.59. The stock's 50 day moving average is $10.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.79.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $238.95 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $135.88 million. The company's revenue was up 19582.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.80) EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Vir Biotechnology, Inc. will post -1.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Vir Biotechnology

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VIR. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vir Biotechnology during the second quarter worth $210,712,000. ARCH Venture Management LLC acquired a new position in Vir Biotechnology in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $129,353,521. ADAR1 Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Vir Biotechnology during the 1st quarter worth $24,593,000. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 10,878.9% in the first quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 1,480,828 shares of the company's stock worth $13,268,000 after acquiring an additional 1,467,340 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of Vir Biotechnology in the second quarter worth approximately $11,642,000. Institutional investors own 65.32% of the company's stock.

Vir Biotechnology Company Profile

Vir Biotechnology, Inc is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on developing treatments and preventive therapies for serious infectious diseases. The company uses immunologic insights, antibody technology, cellular approaches and other scientific platforms to address diseases in which the immune system plays a central role.

Vir's research and development programs have included therapies for chronic hepatitis B, influenza, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and COVID-19. Its pipeline has included investigational antibody and immunomodulatory candidates such as tobevibart and elebsiran for hepatitis B, as well as programs designed to prevent or treat other viral infections.

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