H.C. Wainwright analyst Debjit Chattopadhyay notes that shares of uniQure (QURE) dropped 11% yesterday after Pfizer (PFE) initiated an "open-label, non-investigational product, multi-center, lead-in study to evaluate at least 6 months of prospective efficacy and selected safety data of factor IX prophylaxis replacement therapy in moderate to severe adult Hemophilia B subjects who are negative for neutralizing antibodies to adeno-associated virus vector-spark100". This has been potentially misconstrued as the initiation of the Phase 3 study, suggesting competitive threats for uniQure earlier than anticipated, Chattopadhyay tells investors in a research note. However, this is not to be mistaken as a gene therapy Phase 3 program, as there is no gene therapy treatment cohort, the analyst adds. Further, Chattopadhyay points out that Pfizer's observation study is expected to be completed during November of 2020, which he believes puts uniQure at least a year, if not more, ahead. In addition, the analyst continues to believe that Pfizer is likely to encounter intellectual property headwinds given uniQure's patent asset protecting both the mPadua gene cassette and its method of use to treat hemoglobinopathies. He views the selloff yesterday in shares of uniQure as unwarranted and keeps a Buy rating on the name with a $42 price target.

Bullish option flow detected in Pfizer with 50,393 calls trading, 2x expected, and implied vol increasing over 2 points to 28.83%. Sep-24 27.5 calls and Mar-25 42.5 calls are the most active options, with total volume in those strikes near 27,600 contracts. The Put/Call Ratio is 0.21. Earnings are expected on May 1st.