Stock Talk
One penny stock we watch here has seen some pretty hard times in terms of share price. Yet in the world of small biotech, it takes time, years n' tears, to prove significance to the FDA decision makers.
But - before we unveil the full story... let's think about Thomas Edison and his team. The familiar story is that Edison failed over a thousand times more in finding the right filament to sustain light when triggered by electricity. His harsh critics included the scientific community, the media and public opinion as well as rival inventors.
Edison persisted and replied, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
After trying elements such as platinum, as well as natural fibers such as cotton , wood and paper, all carbonized to serve as filaments. Thousands of tries! what finally worked? Bamboo!
Carbonized Bamboo!
Can we say - Edison "Bamboozled" ALL his critics?
Now let's transcend to a totally different challenge... To successfully treat Pancreatic Cancer (PC), a most aggressive ailment in all mankind.
There is one company that has been at the challenge for years.
Enter: Oncolytics Biotech Inc (ONCY) into this story.
Pelareorep is the ONCY lead drug administered by IV. It is an adapted reo virus that is shown to trigger an immune T fighter cell response to target and destroy cancer cells in tumor. In a previous small trial with PC patients clinical data showed a 62% objective response rate, which is more than double historical control trial averages. The ONCY team has shown that "Pela" causes previously unstoppable "cold" cancer tumors to become "hot" and thus vulnerable to t fight cell attacks and other treatments checkpoint inhibitors and chemo.
https://oncolyticsbiotech.com/our-science
"Mechanism of action (MOA)
Pelareorep’s MOA has been validated in clinical studies by measuring T-cell infiltration, PD-L1 expression, and other effects of pelareorep treatment on tumors. The ability of pelareorep to turn “cold” tumors “hot” has been established in multiple tumor types including breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. By turning “cold” tumors “hot,” pelareorep makes tumors more easily recognized by the immune system, thus enhancing the effectiveness of oncology treatments like chemotherapy or ICIs."
Let's cut to the chase here..
Largely unnoticed, ONCY recently announced in a PR that a safety run of six PC patients was complete and the result merits advancing a new PC trial with Pela to be tested and combined in one subgroup with already approved Genetech/ Roche checkpoint inhibitor called Tecentriq.
Now it becomes more interesting to note the above study was suggested by experts at the Pancreatic Cancer (PanCan) Network and funded with a $5 Million grant to start.
What do we see as significant here at the Jones report ?
It's all about the intended MOA. In layman's terms ... The Pela being administered IV is claimed to attack and duplicate in cancer cells but not healthy cells. The response is that T fighter cells of the patient's own immune system see the newly "hot" tumor and attack and destroy cancer cells. However, apparently one known impediment to T fight cells is a protein called PD-L1. That is where adding Tecentriq comes into play to suppress the protein's degradation of T fight cells.
The significance IS that if Pela and Tecentriq along with Chemo work in synergy to effectively help PC patients where all other treatments have failed it will be astounding to world. It would open the door to treating many cancers using the fighters very own immune system to help live longer, stronger and better and hopefully even possibly be cured.
Epilogue to this story:
Today, ONCY stock share price sits at a meager 88 Cents. Investing in a "penny stock" comes with significant risks, and on occasion, potential huge reward to the dreamers. The above PC trial will start in early 2025 with updates on progress and possible expansions planned along the way.
ONCY may be "just a some" stock for us arm chair scientists and dreamers that want to believe there may be new hope for cancer patients to fight back by helping their very own immunity to meet the challenge of their life.
After all these years, the naysayers are many. To this we say... remember Edison and his bamboo.
To wrap this all up, ONCY may be a just a "some stock" at 88 cents to follow and see what happens in 2025 as part of the fight or game however you see fit (or not). WE have to say though - if going "in", not "too much" and only what you can afford to lose. The current 88 cents say's the market is not fully aware and/or does not believe. But we think there is scientific evidence that possibly refutes disbelief. If interim blood profiles and scans point to treatment success, the Jones report predicts the market will suddenly wake up in a huge way. Only time and more trial will finish this story. As we note this on lighted screens - remember Thomas Edison.
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For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the future days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with the reality of the time. But trying to look ahead a few months into the future may be a way to do things. If you think too deep about world events and the recent alliances forming, projecting ahead can be a dicey endeavor. In all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly. Remember, never get arrogant in our various notions because things do change in the market and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside of our control.. So we try to -stay aware.
With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.
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