Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) Reaches New 12-Month High – Here’s What Happened

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

Key Stories Impacting 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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on VIR shares. HC Wainwright increased their price objective on Vir Biotechnology from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Zacks Research downgraded Vir Biotechnology from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Morgan Stanley set a $25.00 price target on Vir Biotechnology in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Monday, September 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vir Biotechnology has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.86.

Vir Biotechnology Price Performance

The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $10.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.29 and a beta of 1.59.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $238.95 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $135.88 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.80) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 19582.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Vir Biotechnology, Inc. will post -1.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Vir Biotechnology in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Caxton Associates LLP acquired a new stake in Vir Biotechnology during the 1st quarter worth approximately $112,000. Amundi lifted its holdings in Vir Biotechnology by 52.8% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 15,315 shares of the company’s stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 5,294 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Vir Biotechnology by 223.1% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 15,355 shares of the company’s stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 10,603 shares during the period. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in Vir Biotechnology by 19.8% in the 1st quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 16,163 shares of the company’s stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 2,668 shares during the period. 65.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.