Vaxinia holds the keyI have no doubt in the fullness of time...

Vaxinia holds the key

I have no doubt in the fullness of time Oncarlytics and Azer Cel shall return capital to Imugene shareholders. Azer Cel may well prove successful in treating relapse patients within blood cancer indications. However as stand alone therapies both Azer Cel and Oncarlytics have limited potential, when it comes to treating solid tumour patients. That is, without the addition of CF33/Vaxinia.

In due course PD1 Vaxx could find a home on the shelf of oncologists, pharmacies and medico’s, seeking to treat lung, breast and other cancer patients. Though PD1 Vaxx is operating in a competitive landscape, with much depending on the outcome of current lung and gastric cancer trials.

I guess from where I sit Vaxinia holds the key to Imugene’s success, or perhaps failure. Not only has the company prioritised their flagship candidate, to a certain extent they have pinned their hopes on future combination trials for the oncolytic virus with their very own Azer Cel and Oncarlytics. The aim being to tackle solid tumour patients in amalgamation with Yuman Fongs potent virus. If restricted to administration with blood cancer patients only, both Azer cel and Oncarlytics may find potential partnerships and revenue streams somewhat more limited.

So what does this all mean for your existing investment strategy, when it comes to Imugene?

Clearly the results in the existing Vaxinia MAST Trial are vital to Imugene’s near term success. If 10 to the 8 provides oncologists with an adequate dosage rate, Imugene IMO is off to the races. If not, more waiting and short term pain is around the corner for Imugene shareholders. Oncolytic Viral therapy has so much going for it, as visualised through the recent rise of CG Oncology. The ability to target cancerous cells only, and avoid the healthy cells in ones body, ensures the side effects associated with traditional MAB’s may be all but eliminated. Whilst the extended shelf life and lower cost to manufacture prospective OV’s such as Vaxinia is key, at a time when regulators are putting the customer first, ahead of perceived greed at the hands of Big Pharma.

Oncolytic viruses have shown effectiveness when injected directly into the patients solid tumour. When the virus has been administered intravenously, less efficacy has been observed. That said nHIS imaging has shown Imugene’s CF33/Vaxinia to move from infected tumour to infected tumour of its own volition.This is an extremely positive sign, with replication of the virus necessary to spread the virus, turning solid tumours from cold to hot, infecting, exploding and then shrinking them, toward the scientists goal of complete eradication. Therefore if current Vaxinia results continue to illustrate positive signs and replication,Imugene’s overall portfolio should assume a much higher valuation than that attributed to it today. Azer Cel and Oncarlytics could see the light of day, when it comes to treating solid tumours in multiple cancer indications. If the results are only fair, its a matter of back to the drawing board for Imugene’s scientists and management, to revise their positions with respect to Azer cel and Oncarlytics. To review their strategy in the Vaxinia Trial. According to Professor Fong it is possible to dose Vaxinia at 10 parts to the 9, prior to toxicity setting in. Perhaps that is the path of least resistance, should it come to that.

CG Oncology has had extraordinary success in treating bladder cancer with their oncolytic virus, as noted by me in recent posts. This success places OV’s on the radar of Big Pharma, who having targeted ADC’s as their golden child in 2023, are in search of their flavour of the month in 2024, when it comes to oncology products. Is Vaxinia to rise above its competitors and assume pride of place on their mantlepiece come late 2024? Time shall tell. Either way the outcomes of the existing Vaxinia Trial is set to rock Imugene’s boat. Whether its up or down is the overriding question.

DYOR Seek investment advice as and when required