BSD Medical reported earlier this week that its MicroThermX microwave ablation system was used to treat a patient with lung cancer at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Rhode Island Hospital. It is too early to know know the effects of the treatment, but so far only good things have been reported. The attending oncologist Damian E. Dupuy said that the MicroThermX is the best generator he has used. Hopefully this gets other oncologists interested to use the microwave ablation system to treat their patients in addition to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The MicroThermX system has less adverse effects than chemotherapy and radiation, which will win it patient preference. Also, the system uses antennas to deliver the microwaves to designated ablation areas. These antennas are one time use, so the company will continue to have a source of revenue. The system can also be used to treat various forms of cancers.
BSDM also got a boost in stock price after 21th Century Oncology Center purchased a hyperthermia therapy system. The BSD 500 Hyperthermia System has received a pre-market approval from the FDA, a requirement for class III medical devices. 21th Century Oncology operates nearly 100 cancer treatment centers in the USA, provides advanced therapy and radiation therapy options for its patients, and recruits physicians from the most prestigious training centers. BSD Medical has a growing network of clinical centers that will be involved with continuous clinical studies of their system.
The soft tissue ablation market is growing and there is a high revenue potential. Some estimates predict a worldwide market worth $2-3 billion. With the current ineffectiveness of cancer therapy, clinicians will need to adopt newer ways to treat cancer. BSD Medical is perhaps the most advanced in developing microwave ablation and hyperthermia systems and will continue to be the leader in the coming years. Investors should become excited about the latest developments for BSD Medical and expect more good things to come.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Is There Anything Left for Mannkind?
Mannkind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) has taken quite a beating recently. The big blows came from the FDA when issuing a Complete Response Letter for Afrezza, a inhalable insulin delivery technology that was seen as very promising. The CRL will require Mannkind to conduct further clinical trials, which require cash. Mannkind is reported to have less than a year's worth of cash on hand. In the past, CEO Alfred E. Mann has used his own personal money to help advance Afrezza. In a conference call, Man stated that the company will be laying off employees and has not said that he will be infusing more cash into the company to conduct more clinical trials. Many think that Mann has given up, but perhaps he looking at other options to conduct these trials. It is believed that most pharmaceutical companies will shy away from inhalable insulin after the failure of Exubera. Afrezza has numerous advantages over Exubera and is a better product overall.
For investors, it is worth exploring what Mannkind has to offer if Afrezza should fail. Investors can buy Mannkind stock at a discounted price right now. At the time of writing, MNKD was down 20% with unusually high volume. It is important for Mannkind to find other sources of funds, whether from the outside or through selling rights to its intellectual property.
Besides Afrezza, Mannkind is working on an active immunotherapy platform that may be applicable to various forms of cancer. The idea is interesting and unique from current forms of therapies. However, Mannkind is still in the early stages, just completing or initiating Phase I studies. It will be also worth knowing if Mannkind will be able to finance further clinical trials for its oncology program.
Mannkind also has patent rights to the inhaler technology called the "Dreamboat." Perhaps to raise more funds, the utilization of this technology can be sold to other pharmaceutical and biotech companies studying therapies for respiratory disorders. The Dreamboat technology can possibly be used with their oncology immunotherapy program. Since the oncology program is utilizing plasmid DNA and peptides, the inhaler can be used to deliver these to the lung for the treatment of lung cancer.
Mannkind has also developed the Technosphere technology used in Afrezza and another anti-diabetic drug candidate, a GLP-1 analog. With little cash, Mannkind will find it difficult to continue development of the GLP-1 analog. The Technosphere technology may find other applications.
Mannkind may need to find a partner to help finance further clinical trials for Afrezza. A big pharma is the best option, but as mentioned earlier, there is reluctance to venture into the field of inhalable insulin. There is a risk involved, but the reward is worth it.
Investors should not avoid Mannkind like the plague. There is still things to like about Mannkind and the company is not doomed for failure. There is money to be made depending on what direction Mannkind decides to pursue.
For investors, it is worth exploring what Mannkind has to offer if Afrezza should fail. Investors can buy Mannkind stock at a discounted price right now. At the time of writing, MNKD was down 20% with unusually high volume. It is important for Mannkind to find other sources of funds, whether from the outside or through selling rights to its intellectual property.
Besides Afrezza, Mannkind is working on an active immunotherapy platform that may be applicable to various forms of cancer. The idea is interesting and unique from current forms of therapies. However, Mannkind is still in the early stages, just completing or initiating Phase I studies. It will be also worth knowing if Mannkind will be able to finance further clinical trials for its oncology program.
Mannkind also has patent rights to the inhaler technology called the "Dreamboat." Perhaps to raise more funds, the utilization of this technology can be sold to other pharmaceutical and biotech companies studying therapies for respiratory disorders. The Dreamboat technology can possibly be used with their oncology immunotherapy program. Since the oncology program is utilizing plasmid DNA and peptides, the inhaler can be used to deliver these to the lung for the treatment of lung cancer.
Mannkind has also developed the Technosphere technology used in Afrezza and another anti-diabetic drug candidate, a GLP-1 analog. With little cash, Mannkind will find it difficult to continue development of the GLP-1 analog. The Technosphere technology may find other applications.
Mannkind may need to find a partner to help finance further clinical trials for Afrezza. A big pharma is the best option, but as mentioned earlier, there is reluctance to venture into the field of inhalable insulin. There is a risk involved, but the reward is worth it.
Investors should not avoid Mannkind like the plague. There is still things to like about Mannkind and the company is not doomed for failure. There is money to be made depending on what direction Mannkind decides to pursue.
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