Shares of Oruka Therapeutics ORKA have witnessed a strong rally over the past three months, primarily driven by growing investor confidence in the company’s lead asset, ORKA-001, and broader clinical progress.
ORKA Price Performance
Shares of Oruka have surged 65% in the past three months compared with the industry’s increase of 12.8%.
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ORKA-001 is a high-affinity, half-life-extended IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody, which is being developed for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO). The stock's recent rally comes as Oruka continues to advance ORKA-001 with the promising EVERLAST-A study data, while adding new pipeline opportunities.
In April 2026, the company presented positive data from the phase IIa EVERLAST-A study, which showed 63.5% of participants treated with ORKA-001 achieved PASI 100 at week 16. PASI 90 and IGA 0/1 responses were achieved by 83% and 84% of participants, respectively. The candidate was also well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with the IL-23p19 class.
Oruka expects to report week 28 data from the EVERLAST-A study later in the third quarter of 2026, followed by 52-week data in December 2026, providing important evidence on durability and the potential for annual or semiannual dosing with ORKA-001.
The company also completed enrollment in the phase IIb EVERLAST-B dose-ranging study on ORKA-001 for the PsO indication and expects week 16 data in the fourth quarter of 2026. The results are expected to guide dose selection and support Oruka’s planned phase III PsO program in the first half of 2027.
A successful development of ORKA-001 could further strengthen investor confidence in the program and continue to drive momentum in the stock.
ORKA-002 Expands ORKA’s Pipeline Opportunity
Oruka is also advancing ORKA-002, a half-life extended IL-17A/F monoclonal antibody, which could provide another important growth opportunity.
The company expects week 16 data from the phase II ORCA-SURGE study evaluating ORKA-002 in PsO in the first quarter of 2027. In addition, Oruka recently initiated ORCA-SPLASH, a phase II study evaluating ORKA-002 in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
The expansion of ORKA-002 into HS could broaden the candidate’s potential addressable market beyond psoriasis.
Earlier this month, Oruka announced that ORKA-004, a novel half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting TL1A, is expected to enter clinical development in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company plans to evaluate ORKA-004 in combination with ORKA-001 and ORKA-002, with phase II studies planned to begin in 2027.
Oruka’s recent progress with ORKA-001, along with its expanding pipeline, indicates long-term growth visibility. Moreover, several important clinical milestones and data readouts scheduled over the coming quarters could provide further catalysts for the stock.
Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. Price
Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. price | Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. Quote
ORKA’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Oruka currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Repligen RGEN and Anika Therapeutics ANIK, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Repligen’s 2026 earnings per share have risen from $1.99 to $2.06, while estimates for 2027 have increased from $2.57 to $2.61 during the same time. RGEN’s shares have gained 11.1% year to date.
Repligen’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.80%.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Anika Therapeutics’ 2026 earnings per share have risen from 41 cents to $1.05, while estimates for 2027 have increased from 46 cents to 95 cents during the same time. ANIK’s shares have surged 116.9% year to date.
Anika Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing three quarters, with the average surprise being 950.00%.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).