Mixed Signals for Lantheus: Analyst Upgrades Amid Leadership and Legal Shifts

Shares of Lantheus are navigating a complex landscape marked by simultaneous analyst confidence and corporate uncertainty. Market participants are weighing upgraded price targets against an impending CEO transition and a new legal probe, creating a nuanced investment picture.

Contrasting developments emerged on December 18, 2025. While analysts issued bullish updates, the law firm Bragar Eagel & Squire announced it was investigating Lantheus executives and directors. The probe concerns potential misstatements regarding the competitive position and pricing dynamics of the company's flagship product, PYLARIFY.

This legal news coincides with an internal change: CEO Brian Markison is set to step down on December 31, 2025. Mary Anne Heino has been named interim CEO. In tandem with this transition, the firm provided a slight upward revision to its full-year 2025 revenue guidance, now expecting $1.49 to $1.51 billion.

Analyst Confidence Points to Significant Upside

Despite these headwinds, prominent investment firms have recently raised their valuations for the biopharmaceutical company. The analyst actions present a optimistic near-term view.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Lantheus?

• Truist Financial lifted its price target from $80.00 to $82.00 on December 18, maintaining a "Buy" recommendation. With shares trading around $65.31, this implies a potential upside of approximately 25.5%.
• Mizuho increased its target a day earlier, moving from $60.00 to $72.00 and reaffirming an "Outperform" rating.

Researchers cited a slightly lowered discount rate of 7.99% and an improved forecast for net income margin to 25.48% as key drivers behind their more favorable assessments.

Pipeline Milestones Offer Long-Term Catalysts

Looking beyond immediate volatility, Lantheus's development pipeline holds potential for future growth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set two critical review dates for key assets:
* LNTH-2501, a targeted therapy for neuroendocrine tumors, by March 29, 2026.
* MK-6240, an imaging agent for Alzheimer's disease, by August 13, 2026.

These regulatory decisions represent pivotal milestones for the company's strategic portfolio. Lantheus has previously taken steps to reduce its reliance on PYLARIFY, including an exclusive licensing agreement with GE HealthCare for the Japanese market.

After declining roughly 29% over the past year, the stock has shown signs of stabilization. Investor attention is now fixed on the seamless execution of the leadership transition effective January 1, 2026, and the company's ability to meet its updated annual targets. The next significant catalyst on the horizon is the FDA's decision on LNTH-2501 in late March 2026.