NovaBridge Shares Gain on Strong Financial Update and Clinical Progress

NovaBridge Biosciences, the company formerly known as I-Mab, saw its equity advance significantly in Friday's trading session. The shares closed at $4.19, marking a gain of 5.81%. This upward move was fueled by the release of nine-month financial results after market close on Thursday and continued positive sentiment from clinical data presented earlier in December. The key question for investors is whether the firm can transform this recent strength into a sustained trend.

Providing its first comprehensive financial update since rebranding to NovaBridge, the company reported a narrowing of losses and a substantially strengthened balance sheet. This improvement follows the divestment of its former Greater China operations. Company leadership stated that its current capital position, bolstered by strategic financing and licensing deals, is sufficient to fund operations through the fourth quarter of 2028.

Administrative expenses have decreased compared to 2024 levels. Management attributes this to a more streamlined "hub-and-spoke" operational model implemented under CEO Dr. Sean Fu and CFO Kyler Lei.

Clinical Catalysts Provide Support

Positive clinical developments have also contributed to the favorable market view. At the ESMO-IO congress in early December, NovaBridge presented Phase 1 dose-expansion data for its asset Ragistomig, a 4-1BB x PD-L1 bispecific. According to the company, the data demonstrated a manageable safety profile and early signals of efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors who had previously failed checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying I-Mab?

Strategically, the company has sharpened its focus to a core pipeline of data-driven lead candidates, namely Ragistomig and Givastomig. This marks a shift away from a broad, capital-intensive portfolio toward a more targeted biotechnology platform.

Upcoming Milestones and Market Perspective

The continuation of the share price recovery is likely to hinge on specific near-term catalysts. NovaBridge plans to initiate a global, randomized Phase 2 trial for Givastomig in first-line metastatic gastric cancer in the first quarter of 2026. Furthermore, the final Phase 2 readout for VIS-101 (VEGF-A/ANG2) in wet age-related macular degeneration is anticipated in the coming weeks.

From a technical standpoint, the stock is trading near its 52-week highs, with the $4.50 to $4.60 range viewed as the next significant resistance level. A successful initiation of the Phase 2 study for Givastomig coupled with positive VIS-101 results could reinforce the current positive momentum. Conversely, any delays or disappointing data from these milestones could pressure the shares. Following the strategic repositioning, analyst commentary has remained largely favorable, with several firms reiterating buy-equivalent ratings on the stock.

Key Data Points:
* Friday's Close: $4.19 (+5.81%)
* Financial Report: Nine-month figures released Thursday evening.
* Recent Clinical Data: Positive Phase 1 dose-expansion dataset for Ragistomig presented in early December.
* Cash Runway: Projected through late 2028.