Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORKA) is one of the best performing healthcare stocks so far in 2026.
Leerink Partners lifted the price target on Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORKA) to $120 from $109 on April 30, reaffirming an Outperform rating on the shares
In a separate development, Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORKA) announced on April 27 positive interim results from its EVERLAST-A Phase 2a trial of ORKA-001 in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. ORKA-001 is a novel half-life extended IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody. The company reported that ORKA-001 attained 63.5% (40/63) PASI 100 at Week 16, with a favorable safety profile consistent with the IL-23p19 class.
It also stated that the updated Phase 1 PK/PD data continues to support the potential for once-yearly dosing, with longer-term EVERLAST-A data anticipated in H2 2026. Dr. Bruce Strober, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and lead investigator for EVERLAST-A, stated that the data with ORKA-001 are “highly compelling”, adding that if “this type of efficacy and safety profile could be available with dosing once to twice per year, it would represent a major step forward for the field”.