Shares of Vascular Biogenics Ltd. (NASDAQ:VBLT) surged by more than 29% after the company announced that they will be presenting their data at the European society of Medical Oncology Conference. VBLT opened at $5.40 and soon went on to hit the intraday high of $7.36 for a massive 29 percent in gains. The company’s ticket to fame is the proprietary drug VB-111, a gene-based biologic that is initially being developed for recurrent glioblastoma, or rGBM, an aggressive form of brain cancer. As per the press release, the Company will be presenting its Phase 2 data on VB-111 in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin) at the ESMO European Cancer Congress 2015 in Vienna, Austria. It seems investors are expecting positive data from the trial as more than 1.7M shares have exchanged hands today. Nevertheless, only time will tell if the today’s hype is worth all the attention.
Similar to Vascular Biogenics Ltd. (NASDAQ: VBLT), another small cap biotech company that caught our attention today is Pharmacyte Biotech Inc (OTCMKTS:PMCB). PMCB is developing treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon their unique, proprietary and patented cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box®. Early studies have shown the Cell-in-a-Box technology can be used to encapsulate a human cell line genetically engineered to produce, store, and secrete insulin, thereby representing a potential cure for Diabetes through a true “bio-artificial” pancreas. PharmaCyte (PMCB) has been working feverishly over the past year to position itself to move into FDA trials and work towards its first FDA Approval as a therapy for Pancreatic Cancer. It appears that with it’s a remarkable technology, PMCB could be getting closer to getting into an FDA clinical trial than ever. Rather than the standard Phase 1 clinical trial, PharmaCyte (PMBC) plans to move directly to a Phase 2b trial as the data from the original treatment on humans is expected to suffice in place of Phase 1-2. The stock only trades in the $.09 to $.10 range, but has the unfathomable upside potential of representing possible therapies for many kinds of cancer and diabetes. A quick review of the release string of press releases should lead you to the conclusion this company is on the verge of major breakthroughs, which is likely to lead to higher prices.
