Shield Therapeutics jumps 11% as losses narrow and profitability target held

What Brokers Say Health Written by: Ian Lyall 10:10 Thu 20 Aug 2026 --> Disclaimer No investment advice About this content Editorial Standards & Policies Share article About this content × About Ian Lyall Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. Shield Therapeutics PLC ( AIM:STX OTCQB:SHIEF ) View Price & Profile Shield Therapeutics jumps 11% as losses narrow and profitability target held Published: 10:10 20 Aug 2026 BST Shares in Shield Therapeutics PLC (AIM:STX, OTCQB:SHIEF) rose 11% to 4.89p on Thursday after the pharmaceutical company reported sharply narrower half-year losses and reaffirmed its aim of reaching operating profitability in 2026. Peel Hunt reiterated its 'buy' rating and 15p price target, describing the first-half results as in line and the business as on track for profitability this year. Total revenue climbed 42% to $30.4 million in the six months to June, up from $21.5 million a year earlier. The figure was driven by $20.1 million of US revenue from Accrufer, the company's iron-deficiency treatment, a $7.9 million development milestone from its Chinese partner ASK, and higher partner royalties. Group losses narrowed to $2.3 million from $9.5 million, as spending fell and revenue improved. US prescriptions for Accrufer grew 21% to 102,000, despite tighter prior authorisation rules in New York's Medicaid programme. The company said it retained only 5% of approved prescriptions in the New York region from May, prompting a shift towards commercially insured patients, where prescription growth reached 27%. That change pushed the average net selling price down to $199 from $214 a year earlier. Shield ended the period with $8.3 million in cash, against $11.6 million at the end of 2025. The broker pointed to further momentum ahead, including the signing of a first Group Purchasing Organisation contract, which opens access to more than 400 additional hospital-affiliated clinics. Management expects continued growth in US prescriptions in the second half, alongside first patient enrolment in a Phase II trial in Japan and secured paediatric indication extensions in the US and Europe. The company also confirmed the appointment of Michael Jensen as chief financial officer, announced in late July. Peel Hunt sees scope for the shares to more than triple from current levels, with its target implying substantial upside if the profitability goal is met. Continue reading