Crypto Whales Are Loading Up — Are You?
New research shows the biggest crypto buyers are back. And this time? They could hold for the possibility that Bitcoin will surpass $100,000 in 2024. You don’t want to miss the next massive crypto bull run like we saw in 2020 and 2021. To know exactly what’s going on and what to buy… Get Access To Benzinga’s Best Crypto Research and Investments For Only $1.
Shares of the thinly traded, nano-cap biotech PDS Biotechnology Corp (NASDAQ:PDSB) were rallying strongly Thursday on above-average volume.
What Happened
PDS, which engages in the development of multifunctional immunotherapic products, announced a modified clinical trial collaboration agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).
PDS' lead Versamune-based immunotherapy PDS0101 will be evaluated in a Phase 2 trial in combination with the latter's anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda as a first-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer and high-risk human papillomavirus-16, or HPV16, infection.
The modification follows the recent FDA approval for Merck's Keytruda as a monotherapy in patients whose tumors express PD-L1, or in combination with platinum and fluorouracil for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
PDS0101 is PDS' proprietary clinical-stage immunotherapeutic administered by subcutaneous injection to treat HPV-associated cancers.
Why It's Important
"We are honored to collaborate with Merck, a proven leader in the field of immuno-oncology to evaluate novel investigational combination therapies that have the potential to further improve the lives of cancer patients," said Dr. Lauren Wood, chief medical officer at PDS, said in a statement.
Recently released Phase 1 data that evaluated the PDS0101 monotherapy demonstrated unique in-vivo systemic induction of high levels of granzyme-b inducing HPV-specific killer T-cells associated with observed clinical responses in a majority of evaluable patients, according to PDS.
A lack of dose-limiting toxicities at all tested doses was observed, the company said.
The companies did not disclose the details of the collaboration.
What's Next
PDS is the portfolio company of London-listed Netscientific Plc. On the collaboration news, Netscientific shares were rallying over 75% on the London Stock Exchange.
At last check, PDS shares were adding 23% to $3.69.
Related Links:
The Week Ahead In Biotech (Sept. 29-Oct. 5): Conference Presentations, IPOs Hit Top Gear
Crypto Whales Are Loading Up — Are You?
New research shows the biggest crypto buyers are back. And this time? They could hold for the possibility that Bitcoin will surpass $100,000 in 2024. You don’t want to miss the next massive crypto bull run like we saw in 2020 and 2021. To know exactly what’s going on and what to buy… Get Access To Benzinga’s Best Crypto Research and Investments For Only $1.
ENTER TO WIN $500 IN STOCK OR CRYPTO
Enter your email and you'll also get Benzinga's ultimate morning update AND a free $30 gift card and more!