Martin Shkreli Is Skeptical Of Recursion Pharmaceuticals
Martin Shkreli Is Skeptical Of Recursion Pharmaceuticals
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights
  • The strongest actionable view is bearish on Recursion Pharmaceuticals (RXRX): consider avoiding or researching a short position, given concerns about pipeline differentiation, high cash burn, and potential dilution.
  • Treat RXRX as a high-risk, speculative biotech; reassess the thesis if REC-7735 demonstrates a clear advantage or other candidates advance, since no price target or timeframe was provided.
  • Liquidia (LQDA) was mentioned favorably, but without supporting analysis or a target, so keep it on a watchlist rather than treating it as a substantiated buy.
  • For AI-biotech investments, prioritize clinical progress and differentiated results over platform claims or partnerships alone.
Detailed Analysis

Recursion Pharmaceuticals (RXRX)

  • The speaker was strongly bearish on Recursion, calling it an attractive short and arguing that its AI drug-discovery claims do not justify its valuation.
  • The speaker questioned the pipeline’s value:
    • REC-4881, a MEK inhibitor for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), was criticized as entering a crowded class with many existing MEK inhibitors.
    • REC-7735, targeting PI3K alpha H1047R, was described as the most potentially interesting program, but the speaker said the target is already being pursued by other companies and is well represented in published research. They questioned whether Recursion has a competitive edge.
    • The speaker criticized programs involving CDK7, LSD1, and RBM39, describing some targets as unappealing and saying several programs appeared paused, discontinued, or unsuccessful. They also noted that a drug presented as AI-enabled had been licensed from Takeda, rather than discovered by Recursion’s platform.
  • The speaker cited no revenue, cash of roughly $500 million, annual cash burn of about $375–400 million, and an increase in shares outstanding from about 300 million to 500 million. They questioned the company’s claimed runway and cited valuations of roughly $1.8–2.4 billion during the discussion.
  • Recursion’s partnerships with Genentech and Sanofi were mentioned, with the speaker citing approximately $216 million and $134 million, respectively. The speaker did not view these partnerships as enough to support the investment case.
  • The company’s relationship with Nvidia was also mentioned, but the speaker dismissed it as insufficient evidence of drug-development success.

Takeaways

  • The discussion presents RXRX as a high-risk, speculative biotech, with the speaker’s short thesis centered on pipeline quality, competition, cash burn, and potential dilution—not simply whether the company uses AI.
  • For investors evaluating the company, the key questions raised are whether REC-7735 can show a meaningful advantage over competing PI3K alpha programs, whether other pipeline candidates are advancing, and whether the cash runway and share count support the current valuation.
  • The speaker gave no price target or timeline. The bearish view is the speaker’s opinion, not a certainty about the company’s future.

Liquidia (LQDA)

  • The speaker said they were betting on Liquidia and liked the opportunity, while noting that its stock had been dropping.
  • No supporting investment thesis, valuation analysis, price target, or timeline was provided. Liquidia was also mentioned in connection with proposed resolutions involving United Therapeutics, but the transcript did not explain the matter in detail.

Takeaways

  • The speaker expressed a bullish personal view, but the transcript offers too little analysis to assess the case. Treat this as a watchlist mention rather than a substantiated recommendation.

AI-Enabled Drug Discovery

  • The speaker was broadly skeptical that Recursion’s AI platform had produced meaningfully better or faster drug development.
  • They argued that designing compounds and advancing candidates through ordinary drug-development work are not, by themselves, proof of a distinctive AI advantage.

Takeaways

  • The discussion suggests assessing AI-biotech companies by their clinical results, pipeline differentiation, and ability to advance programs, rather than relying on platform language or high-profile partnerships alone.
  • This is a general theme from the speaker’s critique of Recursion, not a claim that AI has no useful applications in drug development.

Other Company Mentions

  • Twist Bioscience (TWST): Mentioned as a company the speaker planned to examine later; no investment view was given.
  • United Therapeutics (UTHR): Mentioned alongside Liquidia in connection with proposed resolutions; no investment thesis was discussed.
  • Genentech, Sanofi, Takeda, Alexion, and Nvidia (NVDA): Referenced in the discussion of Recursion’s partnerships, licensed assets, or platform relationship, but no independent investment recommendations were made.
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