Vidac: The Anticipation Is Building
Vidac Pharma targets cancer cells at their most vulnerable point: cellular metabolism. The focus is on the metabolic reprogramming of tumors. Cancer cells exploit the so-called Warburg effect. The cells meet their enormous energy demands through the accelerated breakdown of sugar. In doing so, they evade the immune system and ensure their survival.
Vidac targets this very interface. The company’s drug candidates separate a specific enzyme from the cancer cell’s mitochondria. This not only cuts off the excessive energy supply but also reactivates the blocked self-destruction signal. This highly precise mechanism promises effective tumor control with minimal side effects.
The primary focus is on precancerous skin lesions and skin cancers. The lead candidate, VDA-1102, is being developed as an ointment for this purpose. Indications include actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin condition caused by sun damage, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Since the Warburg effect occurs in many types of cancer, Vidac is also targeting other tumor types. The drug candidate VDA-1275 targets a broad spectrum of hard, solid tumors. In preclinical laboratory and animal studies, the compound is being specifically investigated for colorectal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer.
At Vidac Pharma, a crucial milestone is drawing nearer. The Phase 2b trial of the promising compound VDA-1102 for high-risk actinic keratosis, a precursor to non-melanoma skin cancer, has fully enrolled 39 patients. Following a three-month follow-up period, results could be available this fall.
At the same time, the company is securing its pipeline. In addition to a patent granted in Canada, the inclusion of its subsidiary Eutopos Pharma in the Strasbourg-based biotech network Quest for Health strengthens its European presence. This step could open doors to EU funding, leading clinical centres, and strategic pharmaceutical partners. Vidac will publish its half-year report on September 30.
BioNTech: A Billion-Euro Cash Reserve Meets Clinical Reality
BioNTech is facing a costly restructuring. Cancer drugs are set to become the new growth engine, while the existing vaccine business is shrinking. From its “old” business, the company was able to build up a substantial cash reserve during the COVID-19 pandemic, which stood at EUR 16.6 billion at mid-year. The Mainz-based company is focusing on several technologies, ranging from mRNA therapies to antibodies that deliver active ingredients specifically to tumor cells.
One promising candidate is Pumitamig, also known as BNT327, which BioNTech is developing in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. The candidate is designed to strengthen the immune system’s defence against cancer while simultaneously inhibiting the tumor’s blood supply. As of early August, seven regulatory trials were already underway as part of the development program.
The fact that capital alone does not guarantee study success was recently demonstrated by the termination of a Phase 2 study of the personalized mRNA therapy Autogene Cevumeran in patients who had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer. An independent monitoring committee deemed a survival benefit unlikely. For investors, the intriguing question is whether and when the products in the research pipeline will become effective, market-ready treatments.
Evotec: Significant Research Opportunities, Shaken Investor Confidence
Evotec has positioned itself as a research and development partner for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to paid research services, successful projects can trigger additional milestone payments. A success story emerged this spring as part of the collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. The start of a first clinical trial with BMS-986506 for advanced kidney cancer earned the Hamburg-based company USD 10 million.
The recently announced partnership with Plectonic also offers new prospects. Plectonic Biotech is a German spin-off from the Technical University of Munich that specializes in the development of novel immunotherapies against cancer. Together, the partners aim to deploy immune cells in a more targeted and effective manner against solid tumors.
Nevertheless, skepticism prevails on the stock market. The stock is trading at a yearly low of around EUR 2.90. Even the latest news failed to excite investors. The wholly owned subsidiary Just – Evotec Biologics is moving the antibody program for the US Department of Defense against orthopoxviruses into Phase I clinical trials.
However, opportunities for a significant recovery remain. Evotec recently reported increasing sales activity, which is expected to contribute more to revenue starting in the fourth quarter. The “Horizon” restructuring program is expected to enable annual savings of EUR 75 million by the end of 2027. On average, analysts estimate the stock has an upside of just over 50%.
Vidac targets the metabolism of cancer cells, opening up an exciting therapeutic approach; the upcoming Phase 2b data will be a crucial test. BioNTech is on a rocky path to turning its broad pipeline into successful cancer therapies, supported by a massive cash reserve. Evotec needs to show tangible progress in revenue and profitability to regain investor confidence.
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