Understanding the Cancer Treatment and Therapy Segments of Biotech
Transforming research discoveries into new cancer treatments takes investment in time and capital. But no one would argue that the end goals of this healthcare (biotech and pharma) sector are not worth it. Investing in the future of treating tumors, and preventing cancer growth is obviously rewarding from the human standpoint of saving life, but breakthroughs in oncology themselves could provide an investor that understands some of the more promising companies, oversized portfolio rewards. It goes without saying, knowledge and understanding of many companies at different stages of research and development, help the odds of being invested in successful stocks.
Exploding Growth
According to a report by Grand View Research published in early last year, the global oncology drugs market size was valued at $135.7 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% from 2022 to 2028. The increasing prevalence of cancer, the rising geriatric population, and advancements in drug development and treatment modalities are some of the key factors driving the growth of the novel oncology drugs market.
Relief managing the side effects of treatments, especially chemotherapy, without opiods is also a part of this market. Changing treatment modalities, and growing demand for personalized medicine is still relatively new, and creating more growth opportunities. In addition, a continuing trend of mergers and acquisitions from pharmaceutical companies to expand their oncology drug pipelines and portfolios plays a part in the growth of this sector.
Where to Explore Cancer Treatment/Therapy Companies
Investors use Channelchek as one of their trusted outlets to discover and explore smaller public companies involved in oncology treatments and therapies. Below are five companies with a wealth of information housed on the platform. This includes high quality research and video content. For an expanded list of companies, a simple search on Channelchek under “Oncology” or “Cancer” will provide a wealth of more opportunities to discover.
Worth a Deeper Dive?
Onconova Therapeutics Inc. (ONTX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. It has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation. Onconova’s novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) is being evaluated in two separate and complementary Phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion studies. These trials are currently underway in the United States and China. Onconova’s product candidate rigosertib is being studied in an investigator-sponsored study program, including in a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a investigator-sponsored study with oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab for patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer. For more information, please visit www.onconova.com.
Onconova has a roadshow scheduled on March 28 in Manhattan, NY. More information on attending the lunch is available here.
Genprex, Inc. (GNPX) is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes. Its technologies are designed to administer disease-fighting genes to provide new therapies for populations with cancer and diabetes who currently have limited treatment options. Genprex works with world-class institutions and collaborators to develop drug candidates to further its pipeline of gene therapies in order to provide novel treatment approaches. Genprex’s oncology program utilizes its proprietary, non-viral ONCOPREX® Nanoparticle Delivery System, which the Company believes is the first systemic gene therapy delivery platform used for cancer in humans. ONCOPREX encapsulates the gene-expressing plasmids using lipid nanoparticles. The resultant product is administered intravenously, where it is then taken up by tumor cells that express tumor suppressor proteins that are deficient in the body. The Company’s lead product candidate, REQORSA™ (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), is being evaluated as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (with each of these clinical programs receiving a Fast Track Designation from the Food and Drug Administration) and for small cell lung cancer. Genprex’s diabetes gene therapy approach is comprised of a novel infusion process that uses an endoscope and an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver Pdx1 and MafA genes to the pancreas. In models of T1D, the genes express proteins that transform alpha cells in the pancreas into functional beta-like cells, which can produce insulin but are distinct enough from beta cells to evade the body’s immune system. In T2D, where autoimmunity is not at play, it is believed that exhausted beta cells are also rejuvenated and replenished.
In 2022 Genprex was one of the more popular presenters at the NobleCon investor conference. A video replay of its presentation is available here.
Imugene Ltd. (IUGNF) is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of new and novel immunotherapies that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to treat and eradicate tumours. Our unique platform technologies seek to harness the body’s immune system against tumours, potentially achieving a similar or greater effect than synthetically manufactured monoclonal antibody and other immunotherapies. Our product pipeline includes multiple immunotherapy B-cell vaccine candidates and an oncolytic virotherapy (CF33) aimed at treating a variety of cancers in combination with standard of care drugs and emerging immunotherapies such as CAR T’s for solid tumours. We are supported by a leading team of international cancer experts with extensive experience in developing new cancer therapies with many approved for sale and marketing for global markets.
For more data and information, visit immunogen on Channelchek.
MAIA Biotechnology Inc. (MAIA) is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Our lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells. Noble Capital Markets initiated coverage of MAIA on February 21, 2023. A copy of the report can be found here.
PDS Biotechnology Corporation (PDSB) is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T cell-activating technology platforms. We believe our targeted Versamune® based candidates have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing large quantities of high-quality, potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the potential to reduce tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV-positive cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.
As part of the Channelchek TakeAway Series, Senior Life Sciences Analyst, Robert LeBoyer sat down with management and discussed PDS Bio, listen to the discussion, including questions from the audience here.
Take Away
In the investment arena, oncology is a growing part of the healthcare sector, specifically the biotechnology and pharmaceutical segments. Companies that develop and market oncology drugs or provide related services are viewed as uncorrelated to other sectors. The demand for the next generation of improved treatments is expected to be ongoing. While the approval process and regulatory bottlenecks of biotech are unlike any other product category, there are many reasons to review and consider this largely uncorrelated sector – then dig deeper to possibly cancer R &D.
For the smaller companies considered to have the most potential, a good starting point is Channelchek where you’ll find articles, research, videos, and data, all in one place.
Managing Editor, Channelchek
Sources
https://investingnews.com/daily/life-science-investing/biotech-investing/top-oncology-companies/