** Vertex Pharmaceuticals VRTX.O said on Monday that its experimental drug sharply reduced a key sign of kidney damage in a late‑stage trial, putting the company on track to seek U.S. approval by the end of this month

** Shares rise 7% in premarket trading on Tuesday

** At least three analysts raised or reaffirmed bullish targets on the back of the update

CONFIDENCE IN BEST‑IN‑CLASS POTENTIAL

** BMO ("outperform", PT: $600) says the 36‑week update shows "robust efficacy" and calls povetacicept a "clear competitor and potential leader in IgAN," citing the 49.8% placebo‑adjusted UPCR reduction and "tolerable" safety

** Citi ("buy", PT: $585) says the 49.8% reduction “supports usage in IgAN if approved” and lifts its probability of approval to 90%, adding the drug positions Vertex well for “diversification of the commercial portfolio”

** TD Cowen ("buy", PT: $525) says the 50% placebo‑adjusted reduction is “highly competitive” versus Otsuka and Vera, and expects accelerated approval in H2 2026 with the drug "contributing to growth" soon after

** Jefferies ("neutral/slight positive for VERA") notes the effect size is "largely in line with the drug class," but underscores "deep biomarker reductions" and consistency across subgroups

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru)

((Sahil.Pandey@thomsonreuters.com))