Anti-Cancer Vaccine Data Creates Two Huge Moves (BVTI, ABPI)
There are two tiny stocks that are benefiting from some positive Phase III data on an anti-cancer vaccine. Biovest International, Inc. (OTCBB: BVTI) is a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABPI), and this morning the company reported what it noted as “the company believes” to be highly encouraging blinded results from its randomized controlled pivotal Phase 3 Fast-Tracked clinical trial of BiovaxID® for the treatment of indolent follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is an often fatal blood cancer.
It reported a blinded disease-free survival data for patients that have completed 36 months of follow-up subsequent to randomization in both the treatment and control arms, with one arm demonstrating 100% improvement in disease-free survival over the other arm.
Disease-free survival (how long patients remain in cancer-free remission) is the primary endpoint of the study. With a “fast track designation” from the FDA and with a 100% improvement over the other arm, you can imagine the interest in such a small company.
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (ABPI) has a mere $61.5 million market cap and that is after a 24% gain today to $1.36. Its 52-week trading range is $0.65 to $3.39. As of March 31, 2008, its balance sheet was inverted and that doesn’t make this any assured home run by a financial count. Biovest International (BVTI) is seeing a surge of 26% to $0.52 today, and its market cap is only about $50 million.
Jon Ogg
June 11, 2008