---
title: "Twist Bioscience Stock Resilient Despite Scorpion Capital Short Report"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/296396483.md"
description: "Twist Bioscience (TWST) shares surged to a new 52-week high of $142.39 after Anthropic named the company an independent evaluator for its AI-driven protein design campaign. This bullish momentum overshadowed a critical short report by Scorpion Capital, which labeled Twist's AI narrative a 'speculative delusion' and argued that Anthropic's improved success rates are deflationary for Twist's revenue. Despite Scorpion disclosing a short position and criticizing analyst hype, the stock showed no negative reaction."
datetime: "2026-08-19T20:11:56.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/296396483.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296396483.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/296396483.md)
---

# Twist Bioscience Stock Resilient Despite Scorpion Capital Short Report

**Twist Bioscience Corp** (NASDAQ:TWST) shares surged Wednesday after **Anthropic** named the company an independent evaluator in a new AI-driven protein design campaign.

The bullish momentum overshadowed a critical short report published on **X** by activist short-seller **Scorpion Capital**, with the stock showing no negative reaction to the tweet.

Benzinga reached out to Twist Bioscience for comment regarding the short seller’s claims but did not immediately receive a response.

Here’s what investors need to know.

## **“Speculative Delusion”**

Scorpion Capital’s post labeled Twist’s AI drug-discovery narrative a "speculative delusion," asserting that recent market exuberance over an Anthropic protein-design project is entirely misguided.

According to the short-seller, Anthropic’s research paper refers to Twist strictly as an “external evaluator” and a commodity contract research organization for outsourced wet-lab production and testing services, rather than a strategic AI technology partner.

> $TWST Twist Biosciences AI drug-discovery story is a speculative delusion with no disclosure of an Anthropic partnership. If the results reported in Anthropic's paper generalize, it would be highly deflationary for Twist and crush their revenue. In fact, Anthropic's note…
> 
> — Scorpion Capital (@ScorpionFund) August 19, 2026

## **Questioning Analyst Hype**

The report criticized Wall Street analysts from TD Cowen and Piper Sandler for hyping the arrangement as a significant milestone.

Scorpion highlighted that Twist filed a reactive Form 8-K under Item 7.01 (Regulation FD) instead of Item 1.01 for a material definitive agreement, arguing this clearly demonstrates the project’s financial insignificance.

## **A “Deflationary” Threat?**

Furthermore, Scorpion argued that Anthropic’s findings are structurally bearish for Twist. Anthropic reported that its **Claude**\-designed proteins achieved a 22% to 35% target-binding success rate, significantly outperforming typical 10% to 15% benchmarks.

Scorpion contends this increased accuracy is highly deflationary, as scientists will only need to order roughly half as many physical constructs per successful binder.

Scorpion Capital explicitly disclosed holding a short position in TWST shares Wednesday afternoon.

## **TWST Shares Surge Wednesday**

**TWST Price Action:** Twist Bioscience shares closed up on Wednesday at 22.64% at $142.39. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro data.

**Read Also: Femasys Secures FDA Pathway for Non-Surgical Contraceptive**

_Image: Shutterstock_

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