In
a recent review published on Forbes.com, contributor Tom Meyer highlights four
biotech companies focused on advancing treatments for glioblastoma multiforme
(GBM), listing CytRx Corp. alongside ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (IMUC),
Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO), and Celldex Therapeutics (CLDX).
To
read the full article visit:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tommeyer/2013/12/27/the-race-to-develop-a-brain-cancer-treatment-takes-an-interesting-turn/
GBM
is the most aggressive malignant brain tumor in humans. Current treatment
includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, though median survival even with
these extremes is only 15 months.
Investors
for a season had high expectations that ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and
Northwest Biotherapeutics would lead the pack in developing an effective
treatment for GBM, but as Meyer explains in the article, both companies fell
short of this achievement.
“They
were among the first to get into the field and have made significant progress.
Unfortunately, for ImmunoCellular, that dream came crashing down earlier this
month. On December 11th, the company reported that their Phase II trial did not
reach statistical significance in the primary outcome of overall survival. This
was a serious blow to both investors and the medical community as many had been
hoping that the company would file for accelerated approval if the results were
extremely favorable. Shares of the company collapsed after the announcement and
traded as low $0.65. … Unfortunately, it appears that Northwest Biotherapeutics
may soon take an ill-fated journey to the land of failed trials.”
Alternately,
Meyer discusses his bullish stance on CytRx, a biopharmaceutical R&D
company focused on the clinical development of aldoxorubicin, the company’s
improved version of widely used and highly toxic chemotherapeutic agent,
doxorubicin.
CytRx
recently reported positive data from its phase 2b trial in patients with soft
tissue sarcomas, demonstrating aldoxorubicin’s superiority over doxorubicin in
progression-free survival. The company in November said it was initiating a
phase 2 clinical trial of aldoxorubicin in patients with GBM.
“Given
the remarkable results that aldoxorubicin demonstrated in 1st-Line STS, it’s
hard not to believe that something similar could be in store for the Phase 2
GBM trial. CytRx certainly appears poised for a significant run in the months
and years ahead as the company’s platform continues to be validated by
science.”
Meyer
further emphasizes his outlook on CytRx, detailing the company’s strong cash
balance, which is expected to fund operating expenses through 2015.
Celldex
Therapeutics also gets a positive review for its brain cancer candidate
rindopepimut, which is currently being evaluated in a phase 3 ACT IV study for
newly diagnosed GBM, as well as in a phase 2 ReACT study in recurrent GBM.
Taking
each company’s performance and potential into consideration, Meyer surmises
that:
“Investors
looking to allocate capital to a promising company in the brain cancer space
should consider CytRx Corporation and Celldex Therapeutics. Both companies
appear to be developing unique, innovative approaches for tackling a complex
and deadly disease. On the flip side, investors should probably stay away from
both ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and Northwest Biotherapeutics, both of whom
appear to be pursuing a science that hasn’t quite proven itself.”
For
more information, visit www.cytrx.com
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