Chardan Research has identified its preferred equities in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sector, placing Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals at the top of its 2026 list. The research house emphasized companies with pending clinical catalysts and commercial potential, and singled out Arrowhead because of key near-term readouts and progress across its cardiometabolic pipeline.
At the center of Chardan’s positive view is Arrowhead’s phase III SHASTA-3/4 study of Redemplo (plozasiran) in severe hypertriglyceridemia, a readout that the firm expects in the third quarter of 2026. Company management has expressed confidence in the upcoming data, pointing to durable reductions in triglycerides and what they describe as favorable long-term safety outcomes.
During a recent Arrowhead research and development webinar, cardiometabolic specialist Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic voiced a preference for plozasiran relative to the newly approved Tryngolza. Nissen cited better tolerability, a longer duration of action, and the potential for greater efficacy as reasons for his view. Arrowhead has said it is working to expand its cardiometabolic franchise beyond plozasiran.
That broader effort includes zodasiran, which is advancing toward what Arrowhead has described as a potential 2027 new drug application in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. In addition, the company is developing ARO-DIMER-PA, a dual-targeting siRNA that hits both PCSK9 and APOC3. Management and Dr. Nissen characterized ARO-DIMER-PA as a potentially differentiated approach for addressing residual cardiovascular disease risk in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia.
Chardan’s analysis anticipates that positive SHASTA-3/4 findings would validate Arrowhead’s near-term cardiometabolic strategy and could support a potential 2027 launch of Redemplo in severe hypertriglyceridemia. The research firm also noted that ARO-DIMER-PA could be a high-upside program if early clinical data demonstrate simultaneous, durable reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides along with an acceptable safety profile.
On the commercial and operational front, Arrowhead reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $74 million and an earnings-per-share loss of $0.93, both of which exceeded analyst estimates. The company also disclosed new clinical data for its plozasiran program and reported positive interim results from a trial of its obesity candidate, ARO-INHBE.
Chardan’s rankings come as the biotech sector faces a sequence of clinical readouts and regulatory milestones over the coming quarters. The research firm said it focused on companies that combine upcoming catalysts with programs that have clear commercial potential.
Summary: Chardan Research named Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals its top biotechnology pick for 2026, citing the upcoming SHASTA-3/4 phase III readout of plozasiran (Redemplo) expected in Q3 2026 and a broader cardiometabolic pipeline that includes zodasiran and ARO-DIMER-PA. Management has signaled confidence in durable triglyceride lowering and an acceptable long-term safety profile. Arrowhead also posted Q2 2026 revenue of $74 million and an EPS loss of $0.93, both above analyst forecasts, and revealed additional clinical data for plozasiran alongside positive interim results for ARO-INHBE.
Key points:
- Chardan ranks Arrowhead as its top biotech pick for 2026, driven by near-term clinical catalysts and commercial potential.
- The phase III SHASTA-3/4 readout for plozasiran (Redemplo) in severe hypertriglyceridemia is expected in the third quarter of 2026 and is central to Chardan’s positive outlook.
- Arrowhead’s pipeline includes zodasiran, aiming for a potential 2027 NDA in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and ARO-DIMER-PA, a dual-target PCSK9/APOC3 siRNA described as potentially differentiated for mixed hyperlipidemia.
Risks and uncertainties:
- Clinical outcomes - The firm’s bullish stance depends heavily on the SHASTA-3/4 trial readout, making the investment thesis sensitive to the trial result.
- Safety and tolerability - Continued development and potential launches hinge on acceptable long-term safety profiles for plozasiran and other pipeline candidates.
- Regulatory timing - Expected milestones, such as a potential 2027 NDA for zodasiran and any launch plans for Redemplo, are contingent on future clinical and regulatory developments.
Sectors impacted: Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals; cardiometabolic therapeutics and associated healthcare markets.
Note: This article reports on Chardan Research’s rankings and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ disclosed program developments and results as described above.