We recently published a list of 10 Best Biotech Stocks To Buy Under $20. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Centessa Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:CNTA) stands against the other best biotech stocks to buy under $20.

The biotechnology industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for innovative treatments, technological advancements, and government support. The aging population and rising healthcare needs are creating a strong market for new therapies, while breakthroughs in areas like gene editing, sequencing, personalized medicine, and AI are enabling the development of novel approaches. Between 2019 and 2021, venture capital firms invested over $52 billion in therapeutic-focused biotech companies worldwide. Of this total, two-thirds was allocated to start-ups with platform technologies.

By addressing critical unmet medical needs, biotech companies are transforming healthcare with groundbreaking therapies. A key development in this space is the launch of the National Bioeconomy Board as part of Biden’s Investing in America agenda. It aims to harness the potential of biotechnology for the U.S. economy.

In addition to this, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is developing policy recommendations to streamline the regulatory process for biotechnology products. By lowering barriers to entry, more researchers can leverage biotechnology for agricultural applications, supporting U.S. farmers and improving food security. These efforts are expected to create new market opportunities.

Also Read: 10 Largest Biotech Hedge Funds and Their Top Stock Picks

Market Growth Forecast

The biotechnology industry has seen an increase in mergers and acquisitions activity, along with expectations of declining interest rates which have contributed to a strong start in 2024. As a result, projections indicate the global biotechnology market could reach an impressive $5.7 trillion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 14% from 2024 to 2033. Even the agricultural biotechnology market is forecasted to grow at a 7.9% CAGR, reaching a market value of $232 billion by 2032.

However, despite the market’s potential, significant risks remain when investing in biotech companies. A failure to meet clinical trial endpoints or secure sufficient funding before a product launch can lead to bankruptcy. The risk of failure is especially high in the biotech sector, where drug development typically takes over a decade and has an estimated failure rate of around 90%.

Hence, biotech stocks are often considered “high-risk, high-reward” investments due to their upside potential coupled with significant risks. If you’re interested in exploring this sector, a good strategy might be to focus on promising but cheap biotech stocks.

Our Methodology

To identify the top biotech stocks to buy under $20, we analyzed the biotech companies that were most popular among hedge funds as of Q2 2024 and traded under $20. Analysts are optimistic about these companies due to their potential to deliver strong returns for investors. Drawing from Insider Monkey’s comprehensive database of over 900 hedge funds, we ranked the best biotech stocks under $20 in ascending order based on their popularity among hedge funds as of Q2, 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Centessa Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:CNTA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Price: $15.48

Centessa Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:CNTA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative medicines to address unmet needs. Its pipeline includes several promising drugs, along with earlier-stage preclinical programs, such as additional OX2R agonists.

The company’s ORX750 drug has advanced Phase II studies for treating rare sleep disorders like narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Moreover, positive interim data from Phase I studies showed ORX750’s potency and favorable pharmacokinetic profile. The drug’s safety, along with its potential for expanded applications in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, could significantly increase the company’s valuation.

As of June 30, 2024, Centessa Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:CNTA) held $294.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. Based on current projections, these funds are expected to support operations through mid-2026 without the need to access the remaining available tranches of the Oberland credit facility.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:CNTA) has received an average rating of Strong Buy from analysts.

Overall, CNTA ranks 10th among the 10 best biotech stocks to buy under $20. While we acknowledge the potential of CNTA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CNTA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.