The JP Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference 2024- Imugene
Lots of chatter on these threads about the upcoming JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, and what it may mean for Imugene. I do hope Imugene make the most of the opportunity. The 42nd JP Morgan Conference is heading to San Fran in a weeks time. The conference sells itself as the birthplace of deals. Their site notes “Building off the momentum at the end of 2022, when J.P.M.'s Global Head of Health Care Investment Banking, Mike Gaito, and his team led the industry’s biggest merger — the $28 billion sale of Horizon Therapeutics to Amgen — more than $3.5 billion worth of deals were announced to coincide with the Conference. Chiesi’s $1.25 billion acquisition of rare disease medicinemaker Amryt Pharma and AstraZeneca’s $1.3 billion buyout of CinCor Pharma, which gives it access hypertension and kidney disease treatments, were among the highlights.”
Imugene gained little traction from an investment perspective following last years presentation at the conference. In the past I have been critical at times of the slide deck approach utilised by the marketing team at Imugene. As an alternative approach I’d love to see them mix it up a bit.
I have nothing to do with the marketing at Imugene but if I did I wouldn’t mind seeing how this approach worked:
- Nick Ede gives a brief history on the success of Imugene’s B cell candidates, highlighting the extension of life in the Her Vaxx Trial coupled with the vaccines exceptional safety record. Then he could touch on the complete response in the PD1 Vaxx Trial in addition to the size of the lung cancer market. Maybe a brief discussion on the potential combinations open to both vaccines would be worthwhile.
- Then I would have Nick act as MC for the Imugene Presentation and introduce YF together with his extensive resume.
Then I would have the maestro YF himself present to the audience on the reasons why the company achieved an FDA Fast Track approval and Priority Review Status for Vaxinia. Followed by a few minutes outlining the potential of Vaxinia to obtain FDA designations for additional cancer indications in the ongoing Vaxinia (MAST) Trial. YF could then round out his personal presentation by discussing how he believes his OV’s may be superior to the existing competition, and what place he foresees his drugs holding into the future. - Then I would have Nick Ede introduce Saul Priceman M.D and his extensive resume. Saul could briefly reflect upon the success of Oncarlytics in the combinations with Celularity, Eureka and Amgen’s Blincyto. He could then outline the mechanics of the current Oncarlytics Trial, together with what he is aiming to achieve from the trial. A brief discussion surrounding Oncarlytics’ potential to combine with Car T’s and allogeneic therapies in the solid tumour market could conclude his presentation, then
- Nick Ede could introduce Dr Paul Woodard of Imugene and his impressive resume. Dr Woodard could focus on Azer Cel, the results of its initial trial and the rational behind the existing Azer Cel trial. The allogeneic therapy’s success in treating relapse patients could be mentioned. The prospect of a registration trial for axzer cel could be canvassed. He could then touch on the opportunity that exists for Azer Cel to combine with both CF33 and Oncarlytics in the treatment of solid tumors.
In conclusion the MC Nick may choose to display by way of a slide the market size of the solid tumour worldwide both now and into the future. The slide could have a link referring attendees to the traditional slide deck presented by Imugene in years gone by, which they would analyse anyway, as part of their due diligence.
Would you like this Presentation format? If you have been fortunate enough to see these individuals in the flesh I'm confident you would agree they have a compelling value proposition combined with charismatic personalities. I just feel having the leading players contributing to Imugene’s science up front and centre would engage both the healthcare and investment audience to a greater degree than visuals.
I suppose in essence I’d liken their presentation approach in years gone by to attending the Top Gun Academy and having the lecturer show slides on how to fly a Jet Fighter, when you have Maverick and Goose present at the back of the room.
These are my opinions only, feel free to voice yours. Some biotechs such as Lily and even Celularity prefer the fireside chat approach, others a more formal presentation of their pipelines.
Anyway, I guess I’d better get back to the BBL.
WMHB
DYOR
(20min delay)