Insider Trading January 27, 2026

Protagonist Therapeutics CEO Completes $4.06M Stock Sale Amid Option Exercises

Dinesh V. Patel sold 48,205 shares late January while exercising options and retaining a majority stake; analysts update price targets ahead of 2026 catalysts

By Leila Farooq PTGX
Protagonist Therapeutics CEO Completes $4.06M Stock Sale Amid Option Exercises
PTGX

Protagonist Therapeutics President and CEO Dinesh V. Patel sold 48,205 shares of the company between January 23 and January 27, 2026, for roughly $4.06 million, exercised options to acquire 48,273 shares and donated 6,000 shares on January 23. The transactions leave Patel with 574,505 shares. Multiple Wall Street firms have recently adjusted price targets and reiterated positive ratings as the company approaches key 2026 regulatory and launch milestones.

Key Points

  • Dinesh V. Patel sold 48,205 shares between January 23 and January 27, 2026, generating roughly $4,063,743 at prices from $83.19 to $84.59 per share.
  • Patel exercised options to acquire 48,273 shares at exercise prices between $4.21 and $21.58, totaling $520,631, and donated 6,000 shares on January 23.
  • Multiple analysts have adjusted price targets and maintained positive ratings ahead of 2026 regulatory reviews and launches for icotrokinra, Icotyde and rusfertide, emphasizing the company's upcoming catalysts.

Transaction overview

Dinesh V. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., executed a block of common stock sales totaling 48,205 shares over the period from January 23 to January 27, 2026. According to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the sales produced approximately $4,063,743 in proceeds, with executed prices ranging between $83.19 and $84.59 per share.

Option exercises and donation

The filing also documents that Patel exercised stock options to acquire 48,273 shares of Protagonist Therapeutics common stock. The exercises were carried out at option prices spanning $4.21 to $21.58, with the aggregate option exercise amount recorded at $520,631. In addition, Patel donated 6,000 shares on January 23; that gift is reported in the filing with a stated valuation of $0.

Post-transaction ownership

Following the suite of transactions noted in the Form 4, Patel's direct holdings in Protagonist Therapeutics stand at 574,505 shares of common stock.


Analyst activity and near-term company focus

Protagonist Therapeutics has recently seen a series of analyst updates. Truist Securities raised its price objective to $110 and kept a Buy rating, highlighting 2026 as potentially pivotal because of anticipated approvals for icotrokinra in psoriasis and regulatory reviews for rusfertide. JPMorgan reiterated an Overweight rating with a $93 target, calling attention to the planned launch of Icotyde and the potential for a royalty stream. Citizens preserved a Market Outperform stance with a $102 price target after favorable VERIFY trial results that reportedly showed meaningful improvements for rusfertide. Jefferies maintained a Buy rating and set a $95 price objective, pointing to the pipeline's potential and pending regulatory decisions. Clear Street raised its target to $91, noting an increased peak penetration estimate for rusfertide in polycythemia vera tied to its self-administration potential.

Collectively, these analyst notes underscore heightened market focus on the company's development and regulatory timetable as it advances multiple programs through key milestones in 2026.


Takeaway

The Form 4 filing lays out a mix of insider selling, option exercises and a donation by the CEO that leaves him with a substantial direct stake, while external analyst coverage emphasizes several upcoming product and regulatory events that investors are watching closely.

Risks

  • Regulatory outcomes for icotrokinra and rusfertide in 2026 are cited as pivotal by analysts, creating potential binary events that could affect market sentiment - impacting the biotech and broader healthcare investment sectors.
  • The mix of insider selling alongside option exercises introduces uncertainty about short-term insider liquidity decisions versus long-term ownership, which may influence investor perception in equity markets.
  • Analyst price-target revisions reflect differing assumptions about product launches, royalties and market penetration; outcomes may diverge from these projections and affect valuations in the biotech sector.

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