LAVA Therapeutics N.V. (NASDAQ: LVTX) shares soared 106% as the company announced that Janssen Biotech, Inc., a part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, chose a lead candidate aimed at an undisclosed tumor-associated antigen for further development towards clinical settings.

GAMMABODY™ PLATFORM

LAVA primarily focuses on revolutionizing cancer therapy by developing its Gammabody™ platform. This platform enables them to create bispecific gamma delta T cell engagers that can activate a specific subset of gamma-delta T cells called Vγ9Vδ2 (Vgamma9 Vdelta2) T cells. By utilizing this approach, they aim to enhance the natural recognition of tumors, guide Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to target the tumor cells directly and trigger a cascade of immune responses.

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What sets their Gammabody™ drug candidates apart is their exceptional performance and safety profiles observed in preclinical studies. Compared to other bispecific T cell engager approaches, their candidates have demonstrated superior efficacy and preferred targeting tumor cells. This targeted approach has the potential to minimize toxicity in healthy tissues.

In May 2020, LAVA entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Janssen, a subsidiary of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. This collaboration aimed to discover and develop novel bispecific antibody-based gamma delta T cell engagers for cancer treatment. The agreement was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, emphasizing their commitment to fostering innovation in the field.

My big % winning day trade today was $LVTX.
All I did was follow the system.
It has a small float.
Fresh meet never pumped before.
Big News out.
Giant volume.
Why I jumped in early and took profits on the spike in volume. pic.twitter.com/2knPeC5RHz

— Trader Brian Jones (@MasterBJones) June 2, 2023

As part of the collaboration, LAVA had the opportunity to receive potential milestone payments and royalties based on the successful development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization of the candidates. This incentivized LAVA to actively pursue the discovery and advancement of promising lead candidates. 

The collaboration represents a remarkable milestone many early-stage biotech companies aspire to achieve. Partnering with a program brings numerous benefits, including reduced risk of dilution through milestone payments as the trials advance and streamlined commercialization once the product receives approval.

$LVTX $66mil mcap, $133mil in cash at the end of December, cash runway into 2026, median price target $13 (443% upside)

— Jake Weber (@BioStockAnalyst) June 2, 2023

Under the terms of the agreement, Janssen will assume responsibility for the selected candidate’s future clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization. This includes bearing the costs and expenses associated with these activities.

Stephen Hurly, LAVA Therapeutics’s president and chief executive officer, expressed satisfaction with Janssen’s selection of a lead candidate for clinical studies. He emphasized LAVA’s pioneering role in developing gamma-delta bispecific antibodies through their proprietary Gammabody platform. This platform and LAVA’s extensive expertise in bispecific antibody development position them at the forefront of advancing novel therapies for cancer patients.

$LVTX has three gamma-delta t cell drug candidates in early-stage trials, including collaboration with $SGEN for solid tumors.

— Jake Weber (@BioStockAnalyst) June 2, 2023

In summary, LAVA Therapeutics’ collaboration with Janssen has reached a significant milestone in selecting a lead candidate for further development toward clinical studies. This progress underscores LAVA’s dedication to leveraging its Gammabody platform and expertise in bispecific antibody development to revolutionize cancer treatment.

We will update you on LVTX when more details emerge, so make sure you are subscribed to Microcapdaily to know what’s happening in the markets!

Disclosure: We have not been compensated for this article/video. MicroCap Daily is not an investment advisor; this article/video does not provide investment advice. Always do your research, make your own investment decisions, or consult with your nearest financial advisor. This article/video is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. This article/video is our opinion, is meant for informational and educational purposes only, and does not provide investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Reunion Neuroscience (NASDAQ: REUN) shares jump 119% as they announce an exciting new development. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company has entered into a take-private transaction with MPM BioImpact, representing a significant milestone for Reunion Neuroscience. The transaction is valued at $13.1 million, a 43.1% premium to Reunion’s common shares’ 30-day volume-weighted average price.

Going private is a significant step for Reunion Neuroscience, as it means that a sizeable private-equity group or consortium of private-equity firms will purchase or acquire the stock of the publicly traded corporation.

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Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, all holders of outstanding common shares of Reunion will be entitled to receive $1.12 in cash for each share held immediately before the effective time of the Arrangement. However, the agreement’s closing is subject to several conditions, which must be met before the transaction can be completed.

$REUN she wants more

— JC Capital Consultants (@CapitalJc) June 1, 2023

Hostile takeover?

While management and the board think it is a significant milestone achieved, others think differently – an investor rights law firm, Halper Sadeh LLC, is currently investigating it… The sale of Reunion Neuroscience to affiliates of MPM BioImpact for $1.12 per share in cash is currently being investigated by Halper Sadeh LLC.

$REUN halted pending news

— Ralph (@StuckInStock) June 1, 2023

The investigation concerns whether Reunion and its board of directors violated the federal securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by failing to, among other things: (1) obtain the best possible consideration for Reunion shareholders; (2) determine whether MPM is underpaying for Reunion; and (3) disclose all material information necessary for Reunion shareholders to assess and value the merger consideration adequately. On behalf of Reunion shareholders, Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits.

$Reun Reunion Neuro we are buying this little Gem up. Could see this at $3 in coming months. Great acquisition $13 ,million just for starters . Watch this space 💎

— The New Yorker (@TheNewY10001) June 1, 2023

Reunion Neuroscience’s stock performance has been relatively volatile in recent years. The stock’s median target price, according to analysts’ forecasts, is $5.00, but there is a wide range of estimates, with a high of $20.00 and a low of $0.73. The current consensus among polled investment analysts is to buy $REUN stock. However, they’re a pre-revenue clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, which means the last earnings reported a loss in the current quarter’s earnings per share – they’ve yet to generate any significant revenue. Until recently, shareholders experienced a significant decline in the stock’s value this year and were down ~54%  prior to the acquisition. There are ~9M shares in the float, with ~28% and ~13% held by insiders and institutional investors, respectively.

Solid scalp for a quick win on $REUN. Low float but not really that much volume so it appears to be done and tanking accordingly. Time for this old dog to go into town.

— You Enjoy Myself (@AddenoidalHonk) June 1, 2023

Overall, investors should carefully consider the potential risks and rewards associated with investing in Reunion Neuroscience, considering the wide range of price estimates and the company’s current financial performance. Thorough research and the advice of a financial professional are recommended before making any investment decisions.

We will update you on REUN when more details emerge, so make sure you are subscribed to Microcapdaily to know what’s happening in the markets!

Disclosure: We have not been compensated for this article/video. MicroCap Daily is not an investment advisor; this article/video does not provide investment advice. Always do your research, make your own investment decisions, or consult with your nearest financial advisor. This article/video is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. This article/video is our opinion, is meant for informational and educational purposes only, and does not provide investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRKR) shares surged by 45% as the company released positive pre-clinical Data on one of its candidates, MT-601. They tested it on lymphoma cells in the lab, and the results showed that MT-601 can kill lymphoma cells resistant to another treatment called CD19 CAR T therapy, which is fascinating news considering many patients who receive CD19 CAR T therapy still experience a relapse within a year. 

“We have recently developed a long-term in vitro model to monitor the interaction of T cells with cancerous cells. Data from a lymphoma cell line utilizing this model demonstrated that MT-601 inhibited the growth of lymphoma cells as well as the growth of CD19 CAR-resistant lymphoma cells,” said Eric A. Smith, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development at Marker Therapeutics. Marker has posted further details about this preclinical study on the Investor Relations section of its website.

$MRKR Marker Therapeutics reveals positive pre-clinical results of its MT-601 MultiTAA-Specific T Cell Product Candidate in lymphoma cells.

More Info: https://t.co/K3T6HXHIN8 $XBI $IBB $XPH $PPH pic.twitter.com/fCz9Dv1dS8

— Ozmosi (@OzmosiHealth) May 31, 2023

Dr. Smith continued, “Specifically, we have developed an in vitro model which reproduces the CD19 antigen-negative tumor that causes relapse and observed the following:

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In this in vitro model, 98% of lymphoma cells were eliminated after a CD19-targeting CAR T cell product was administered.

Most Traded Tickers in premarket: $WLGS $AI $MRKR $TRVN $TSLA $NVDA $ARDS $VTGN $PLTR $FFIE pic.twitter.com/ytT4T40kPS

— DayRanger – Investors Underground (@DayRanger) May 31, 2023

While the CAR T cells significantly controlled lymphoma cell growth, we observed that three weeks after the start of anti-CD19 CAR T cell administration, a population of lymphoma cells resistant to CD19 CAR T cell administration started to grow.

These CD19 CAR-resistant lymphoma cells were tested for CD19 expression. They were shown to be negative for the CD19 surface antigen, which explained why they were no longer controlled with a second administration of anti-C19 CAR T cells, thus recapitulating the antigen-negative relapse observations in CAR relapsed/refractory lymphoma patients.

However, when MT-601, with its broad antigen recognition (Survivin, NY-ESO-1, WT-1, PRAME, MAGE-A4, SSX2), was added to this anti-CD19 CAR T cell resistant cell population, complete growth inhibition was observed.

These data highlight that MT-601 can potentially eliminate CD19 CAR T cell refractory tumors, indicating that MT-601 might offer a viable therapeutic option for lymphoma patients that have relapsed from previous CAR T cell interventions.”

MT-601 targets multiple substances on cancer cells and may provide longer-lasting results than CD19 CAR T therapy. Marker Therapeutics has started a clinical trial to test MT-601 on lymphoma patients who have relapsed after CD19 CAR T therapy or cannot receive it. The early lab results showed that MT-601 could inhibit the growth of lymphoma cells, including those resistant to CD19 CAR T therapy. The initial results have shown remarkable promise, and the team is thrilled to advance the testing of MT-601 in further clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness and safety.

About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.

Marker Therapeutics is a company currently in the advanced stages of clinical research for developing innovative treatments in immuno-oncology. Their primary focus is on creating next-generation immunotherapies that utilize T cells, a type of immune cell, to target and fight against hematological malignancies (cancers of the blood, such as leukemia and lymphoma) and solid tumors (cancers that form in tissues or organs). These therapies aim to harness the immune system’s power to specifically recognize and eliminate cancer cells, offering potential new treatment options for patients with these types of cancers.

$MRKR 1.91 ready! Spike to follow 2.35ish

— Donnie Stocks (@DonnieStocks) May 31, 2023

Capital structure

Marker Therapeutics has an outstanding total of 8.8M shares and presents a relatively small float of 6.64M shares available for public trading. Insiders hold approximately 12.82% of the shares, while institutional investors hold around 22.63%. Examining their trading history, the average volume typically hovers around 100,000 shares. In light of the positive news today, the trading activity trended much higher, with an impressive 27M shares traded at time of writing. This translates to a 270-fold increase compared to their average volume, also 4x their float.

$mrkr low float, can go hard. pic.twitter.com/6dGTE8Ufau

— Nick Sullivan Life & Medicare Agency (@SprouttSales) May 31, 2023

It is essential to recognize the high volatility and rapid movements associated with Marker Therapeutics’ stock, primarily driven by the limited availability of shares. Such stocks tend to attract the interest of day and swing traders, given their propensity for swift gains or losses based on trading strategies. As evidence, a single positive news catalyst in the biotech sector can trigger a substantial surge in stock price and exponentially increase trading volume to unprecedented levels.

We will update you on MRKR when more details emerge, so make sure you are subscribed to Microcapdaily to know what’s happening in the markets!

Disclosure: We have not been compensated for this article/video. MicroCap Daily is not an investment advisor; this article/video does not provide investment advice. Always do your research, make your own investment decisions, or consult with your nearest financial advisor. This article/video is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. This article/video is our opinion, is meant for informational and educational purposes only, and does not provide investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Image by PDPics from Pixabay