ANI Pharmaceuticals Soars 13% on Rare Disease Growth Hype: Can This Momentum Sustain?

Summary
• ANIP surges 13.17% to $86.33, hitting a 52-week high of $99.50
• Rare Disease business drives $347.8M in 2025 Cortrophin Gel sales (76% YoY growth)
• 2026 guidance targets $1.05B–$1.11B in revenue, with 60% from Rare Disease
• Options chain shows 93% price change in 85-strike call ahead of 1/16 expiration

ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) is trading at a fever pitch as investors digest a blockbuster 2025 performance and aggressive 2026 guidance. The stock’s 13% intraday surge—driven by rare disease revenue outperformance and a 90-person team expansion for Cortrophin Gel—has ignited options activity and technical momentum. With the stock piercing its 52-week high and key technical indicators flashing bullish signals, the question now is whether this rare disease growth story can maintain its velocity.

Rare Disease Revenue Surge Fuels ANIP’s 13% Rally
ANI Pharmaceuticals’ 13.17% intraday jump to $86.33 is directly tied to its rare disease business outperforming expectations. The company reported $347.8 million in 2025 Cortrophin Gel sales—a 76% year-over-year increase—and outlined a 2026 guidance range of $540–$575 million for the same product. This 55–65% growth projection, coupled with a 90-person team expansion targeting acute gouty arthritis flares, has positioned Cortrophin Gel as a multi-year growth engine. The rare disease segment now accounts for 60% of total revenue, with 2026 guidance projecting $633–$669 million in rare disease sales. This strategic pivot, combined with strong cash reserves ($285 million) and a 24–28% revenue growth target, has triggered a re-rating of the stock.

Pharma Sector Mixed as ANIP Outpaces J&J’s 2.27% Rally
The broader pharmaceutical sector showed mixed momentum, with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) rising 2.27% on strong earnings but lagging ANIP’s 13% surge. While J&J’s growth is driven by diversified healthcare operations, ANIP’s rare disease focus—particularly in high-margin ACTH therapies—has created a unique value proposition. Cortrophin Gel’s 76% YoY growth and 60% revenue contribution highlight ANIP’s ability to capitalize on unmet medical needs, a contrast to J&J’s more mature product portfolio. This divergence underscores the sector’s bifurcation between innovation-driven growth stories and established players.

Options Playbook: ANIP20260220C85 and ANIP20260220C90 for Gamma-Driven Bets
• 200-day average: 77.69 (below current price)
• RSI: 31.34 (oversold)
• MACD: -1.43 (bearish) vs. signal line -1.32
• Bollinger Bands: 84.22 (upper) / 76.81 (lower) with price at 86.33 (above upper band)
• Kline pattern: Short-term bearish trend + bearish engulfing pattern

ANIP’s technicals suggest a volatile breakout scenario. The stock is trading above its 200-day average and 52-week high, with RSI in oversold territory indicating potential for a rebound. The options chain reveals two high-conviction plays: ANIP20260220C85 and ANIP20260220C90. Both contracts offer a balance of leverage and liquidity, with the 85-strike call (delta 0.58) showing 93% price change potential and the 90-strike call (delta 0.44) offering 220% price change. These options are ideal for capturing a continuation of the rare disease-driven rally ahead of the 2/20 expiration.

• ANIP20260220C85
- Type: Call
- Strike: $85
- Expiration: 2026-02-20
- IV: 46.60% (moderate)
- LVR: 13.94% (high)
- Delta: 0.58 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -0.11 (rapid time decay)
- Gamma: 0.029 (moderate price sensitivity)
- Turnover: 17,330 (high liquidity)
- Payoff (5% upside): $86.33 → $90.64 → max(0, 90.64 - 85) = $5.64 per share
- This contract offers a 66% return on a 5% stock move, leveraging high gamma and moderate delta for a short-term breakout.

• ANIP20260220C90
- Type: Call
- Strike: $90
- Expiration: 2026-02-20
- IV: 46.92% (moderate)
- LVR: 21.60% (high)
- Delta: 0.44 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -0.10 (rapid time decay)
- Gamma: 0.029 (moderate price sensitivity)
- Turnover: 3,460 (high liquidity)
- Payoff (5% upside): $86.33 → $90.64 → max(0, 90.64 - 90) = $0.64 per share
- While the 90-strike offers lower intrinsic value, its 21.6% leverage ratio amplifies returns if the stock continues its upward trajectory.

Aggressive bulls should consider ANIP20260220C85 into a retest of the $84.22 Bollinger upper band or a break above $87.00 intraday high. The 85-strike’s high gamma and moderate delta make it ideal for a continuation play.

Backtest ANI Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance
The backtest of ANIP's performance after an intraday surge of at least 13% from 2022 to the present shows favorable short-term gains, with higher win rates and returns over 3 days, 10 days, and 30 days. However, the maximum return during the backtest period was only 7.31%, indicating limited long-term gains.

ANIP’s Rare Disease Momentum: A High-Conviction Trade for 2026
ANI Pharmaceuticals’ 13% surge is a testament to the power of rare disease innovation in a capital-starved sector. With Cortrophin Gel’s 76% growth and 2026 guidance targeting $1.05B in revenue, the stock has entered a new phase of momentum. Technicals suggest a continuation of this rally, with the 85-strike call offering the highest gamma-driven returns. Investors should monitor the $84.22 Bollinger upper band and $87.00 intraday high as key levels. Meanwhile, sector leader Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) rose 2.27%, but ANIP’s rare disease focus provides a clearer growth narrative. For those seeking high-conviction exposure, ANIP20260220C85 is the top pick ahead of the 2/20 expiration.