Provectus Pharma (PVCT): A New Take on Cancer Drugs
Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PVCT) may not be as well-known as cancer-focused pharmaceutical companies like Dendreon Corporation (DNDN) or Genta Incorporated (GETA), but its promising clinical trials and near-term drug pipeline make it worth a close look for investors seeking a high-risk, high-reward opportunity!
Provectus specializes in developing cancer therapies that are safer, more effective and less invasive than conventional therapies. While leaving healthy tissue alone, small-molecule drugs are used to target and isolate diseased tissue. This attribute could enable the company to use a single drug to combat multiple forms of cancer with little additional modification.
At the heart of the Provectus story is Rose Bengal, which is a compound with an established safety history and a short half-life that has been used in many unrelated treatments. The company discovered that the compound is selectively toxic to cancer cells via a process called chemoablation whereby cells undergo a form of cell death that mimics necrosis and apoptosis.
During clinical trials, the drug utilizing RB as an active ingredient was well-tolerated and led to a durable objective response (OR) in 60% of subjects in their injected lesions, and loco-regional disease control in 75% of subjects. At the same time, RB was also found to be effective as a topical treatment in separate studies conducted by the company to treat psoriasis.
Currently, Provectus is preparing to begin commercialization of its drug pipeline through licensing or partnering with larger companies in the space. The company expects final data completion for primary outcomes by February 2010 for its psoriasis drug, while its melanoma application stands in Phase 2 now and could be fast-tracked through the remaining FDA trials.
Provectus also has ample cash to complete its Phase 2 melanoma study and other clinical trials, while potential licensing or partnering with its psoriasis drug could provide additional cushion. And with three Phase 2 trials in progress, the company has several milestones for value creation in the near-term with little risk of financial downside in terms of a risky and uncertain cash burn.
In the end, Provectus represents a promising and relatively undiscovered play on a new way to treat cancer, and could make a great high-risk, high-reward play for any stock portfolio! For more information, visit www.pvct.com.
CONTACT: Daniel Minton, Managing Director, 406-862-5400, daniel@accelerize.com
Learn More About PVCT