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Quite, Chelsea.
The context of my comment was a discussion involving various people who had held for 10-12 years. It is this year (not week) that monetisation is key. Since this may involve several unconnected events, it would be nice to see one of them quite soon……
I think Redmile know exactly what this company is worth and will play hard-ball to get their number. They also have the connections in the industry to open doors. I have often said we lacked a business brain running the show and so did Vulpes, the personnel changes over the last 12 / 18 months have re-balanced the scales somewhat, and they know that they have to deliver the goods, but timing is everything. We are now in the hare and tortoise scenario, where the hare is the demand for a deal and the tortoise is the data we are accumulating that leads to a deal. As long as the dats continues to match early results, we are in the driving seat with a map and a full tank. Meanwhile there are opportunities for a Mab or Avidimab surprise . .. remember the requests for exclusivity.. what happened to them,? The idea of exclusivity also carries a degree of urgency to close the deal and at some sort of premium.
I agree Ray, although I suspect the “show us the money” quote made by EE didn’t mean this week 😂
IMO, it is not quite time to "show us the money".
The data from the two trials expected later this year is a far better time. Always assuming that the data is good enough to lead to deals. The SCOPE data is the more likely to lead to a deal. As for Moditope, maybe Lindy is loath to deal at this stage. Better to wait until more complete data is available for all cohorts.
I also think that a takeover bid is very unlikely with Redmile and Vulpes owning a little over 40% of the shares between them.
EE, your 13:11 post is spot on !! I think it summaries so many points and concerns.
Hopefully within the time frame of 6-12 months shareholders will reap some of the rewards for what has been an exceptionally long investment for many. So many positives , we just need our strengthened managment team to deliver on the back of hopefully excellent results. I don't think we will ever follow the likes of BioNtec on the growth path , certainly failed so far, but the continued strong dollar, and the miserable market environment on Aim... combined with promising trial results... may prompt a takeover bid .
...but also agree with EE, it is about time Scancell now "show us the money". All this work/research/dedication needs to amount to something.
Excellent post Burble at 08:49, particularly the last paragraph, perfectly explained.
And without academia and academic links, Scancell probably would not exist?
Burble,
I don’t think your “light” is any different to mine. There is clearly value in collaborations etc. My issue is merely to see continual confirmation that Scancell, the company, is focused on its shareholders.
Lindy is a scientist - you can understand the focus and it has been her life’s work. But shareholders are here to make returns. They are interested to make returns, to see deals done, and to see timely progress made. Whilst there is no doubt that Vulpes and Redmile would share these priorities, there is a strong need to see that the Company’s management also shares a total focus on those issues, rather than on the science itself (even though they largely proceed in tandem).
The reason that the Scancell share price has languished is that the rate of progress, and the rate of execution of commercial deals, has disappointed shareholders.
The Company has existed now for a very long time and progress overall has been slow. Understandable whilst the Company was cash-strapped. But when Redmile turned up and offered to fully finance Scancell’s work programme, the Company had the opportunity to define its own work programme and objectives - and they took it, which is why there were two big rounds of funding done in 2020. But now the onus is on the Company to hit their own development milestones…..and we are getting into a very important six-month period where progress needs to be evidenced to shareholders by deals that have clear commercial value.
But so far we are still waiting - and seeing only fine words and backslapping events between scientists. It is time to “show us the money”!
Thanks EE. Forgive me
I have had a very busy morning. Only scanned it sorry
Cleaner,
The three industrial partners are listed in the link you yourself provided: Iceni Glycoscience, Synthace Limited, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Nottingham university hiring 3 researchers for glycocell engineering
3 industrial partners ? Who could they be , think Cath Merry mentioned one . ? Think about the government contracts mentioned in a slide from
Sarah Danson . Investigator for both scope trial and Moditope. The ref to the 2 Australian melanoma experts and achievements of eradication of Glibastoma by conducting a trials on himself. Wonder what that could have been
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oae33WdkLx8&list=PLF1-XapOV1fePHKA-Yd3PMIHwlr82NY9V&index=3&pp=iAQB
I would encourage you all to watch
“The GlycoCell Engineering Biology Mission Hub, the GlycoWeb BBSRC sLOLA, the anti-glycan antibodies of Scancell Ltd and other glyco-connected work at University of Nottingham put us very much at the centre of of the glyco-revolution in life science, bio-medicines and diagnostics. Watch this space “
https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=MED2006
Johnathan van tam ( Nottingham university)adviser to Moderna
We know research collaboration exists between Biontech and Scancell to
We know Genmab are working with Genmab
All very interesting innovations
Good luck to one and all
Burble - your viewpoint would align to what Cossery said previously about focussing on core.
EE,
I see this in a completely different light. If you have a product which can be used for the same target but across multiple indications in infectious disease and oncology, why wouldn't you want to validate it in each of those? Not only does that give you multiple opportunities to do deals, it also means that you can offer exclusivity in one indication but not another.
So in the case of the glymab antibodies, you have a number of different avenues for doing deals and generating cash flows.
- Oncology - different indications or use in different modalities
- Infectious disease - detection or targeted treatment
- Diagnostics - highly specific antibodies are valuable in this space too
- Discovery - whilst slightly niche, antibodies can be bound to solid materials and then used to capture specific analytes in complex mixtures.
Each of these could generate deals which reduces the likelihood of us as shareholders being diluted through further raisings. So to me, I think it only natural that a company which has developed something like the glymabs to be exploring what they do.
As Lindy is a middle author in the author list, I would pretty much guarantee that LD has had limited input on this bar providing materials and possibly the odd zoom call. Where you say 'the company itself should be ENTIRELY focused on developing intellectual property and monetising it for the benefit of its shareholders.' I would think this is exactly what they are doing. They are not doing these experiments themselves, but are letting others explore what the technology can and cannot do through scientific/academic collaborations. In turn this is passively developing the IP and in turn helping drive the monetisation of the product.
@emptyend - There is annoying impression that this is the case, however you'd think Redmile and Vulpes would not allow this?
This is actually a piece I find a bit concerning as a shareholder. It renews lingering questions in my mind about whether shareholder value is front and centre in the company’s activities, or whether the company is just a bolt-on to a venture which is publicly-funded pure science, being pursued for its own sake.
Of couse there is a symbiosis here, but the company itself should be ENTIRELY focused on developing intellectual property and monetising it for the benefit of its shareholders.
I’d like to think we would get RNSs soon that prove that is the focus, and not the science alone…..
LinkedIn post from
Cathy Merry of Nottingham university
Professor of Stem Cell Glycobiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Science
People - The University of Nottingham
This is fantastic! Really excited by the plans built up by John Heap and the team. The GlycoCell Engineering Biology Mission Hub, the GlycoWeb BBSRC sLOLA, the anti-glycan antibodies of Scancell Ltd and other glyco-connected work at University of Nottingham put us very much at the centre of of the glyco-revolution in life science, bio-medicines and diagnostics. Watch this space..
The University of Nottingham will lead a national hub that will develop vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, benefiting millions of people worldwide, thanks to funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The GlycoCell Engineering Biology Mission Hub will receive £12.3 million in funding as part of an overall investment of £100m from UKRI’s Technology Missions Fund and UKRI and BBSRC’s core budgets.
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/glycocell-engineering-biology-mission-hub
"So do we know if potential suitors to Scancells mAbs portfolio are looking at the infection side of things and not just cancers?"
I would guess no in this case, but who knows.
As for Melbourne Uni, I recall that they have already done work on Scancell's glycans mAbs in the past. They seem to be great fans of Scancell and Lindy.
A similar situation exists with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. In this case Lindy gave them Modi1 to play with, but in connection to Rheumatoid Arthritis rather than cancer.
Much appreciated RayP.
So do we know if potential suitors to Scancells mAbs portfolio are looking at the infection side of things and not just cancers?
No problem WTP
Yes, mAbs are designed to bind to a target. That target could be a cancer cell or a non-cancer cell (e.g. an infected cell).
In this case, several mAbs were used in the study, including 2 provided by Lindy:
"The panel of mAbs tested included FG27 and ch88.2 provided by Professor Lindy Durrant (Scancell UK, University of Nottingham UK), 15.101 provided by Emeritus Professor Mauro Sandrin (University of Melbourne, Australia), mu58 and mu3S193 provided by Professor Andrew Scott (ONJCRI), and 7LE, 2-25LE and LWY/1463 (Table 2) purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, UK)."
Thanks Ray, forgot to add the link.
To be honest my knowledge of mAbs is limited, didnt realise it could help with bacterial infections too? Anyone care to explain the article in laymans terms?
Here's the link
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-59234-w#Sec20
Not the first time that Lindy has collaborated with Melbourne University.
"Probing the expression and adhesion of glycans involved in Helicobacter pylori infection"
Daniel Sijmons, Simon Collett, Caroline Soliman, Andrew J. Guy, Andrew M. Scott, Lindy G. Durrant, Aaron Elbourne, Anna K. Walduck & Paul A. Ramsland
"...The lectins used for immunofluorescence were Fluorescein Lectin Kit I (FLK-2100) and Fluorescein Lectin Kit II (FLK-3100) supplied by Vector laboratories. The panel of mAbs tested included FG27 and ch88.2 provided by Professor Lindy Durrant (Scancell UK, University of Nottingham UK), "
Interesting?
Link to the Todays Times article behind a paywall
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exodus-from-aim-leaves-chorus-of-questions-in-its-wake-93d0mrvjx
extracts from article that are relevant :
The problem of weak valuations is behind C4X’s decision to take the company private at a meeting on Monday. Clive Dix, 69, its chief executive and the former deputy chairman of the Covid-19 vaccine taskforce, said: “We believe we should be valued at least five times, if not ten times what we are and therefore raising money at ten times the value would be much simpler. I don’t think it’s to do with the quality of the companies and the science. I just think that the environment, it doesn’t work. There’s no liquidity.”
Redx, a cancer drug developer, are down by more than 90 per cent from their 2015 listing, despite establishing four “major” partnering deals over the past five years.
Gervais Williams, head of equities at Premier Miton Investors, a long-term proponent of smaller listed companies, said it was not surprising that some businesses were leaving Aim. “The UK is cheap, but small caps are disgustingly, absurdly cheap,” he said. “A lot of companies feel that they’re not getting value for all of the extra cost and hassle of meeting the reporting requirements of being on Aim.”
Nevertheless, he reckons a broad rally in UK-listed shares is coming, with the FTSE 100 index flirting with a record high. This, he believes, will result in a “positive virtuous spiral” that will boost smaller listed companies. “I’m more bullish now than I’ve been for 30 years.”
Xodus from Aim leaves chorus of questions in its wake
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exodus-from-aim-leaves-chorus-of-questions-in-its-wake-93d0mrvjx
The problem of weak valuations is behind C4X’s decision to take the company private at a meeting on Monday. Clive Dix, 69, its chief executive and the former deputy chairman of the Covid-19 vaccine taskforce, said: “We believe we should be valued at least five times, if not ten times what we are and therefore raising money at ten times the value would be much simpler. I don’t think it’s to do with the quality of the companies and the science. I just think that the environment, it doesn’t work. There’s no liquidity.”
Redx, a cancer drug developer, are down by more than 90 per cent from their 2015 listing, despite establishing four “major” partnering deals over the past five years.
Gervais Williams, head of equities at Premier Miton Investors, a long-term proponent of smaller listed companies, said it was not surprising that some businesses were leaving Aim. “The UK is cheap, but small caps are disgustingly, absurdly cheap,” he said. “A lot of companies feel that they’re not getting value for all of the extra cost and hassle of meeting the reporting requirements of being on Aim.”
Nevertheless, he reckons a broad rally in UK-listed shares is coming, with the FTSE 100 index flirting with a record high. This, he believes, will result in a “positive virtuous spiral” that will boost smaller listed companies. “I’m more bullish now than I’ve been for 30 years.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exodus-from-aim-leaves-chorus-of-questions-in-its-wake-93d0mrvjx
The problem of weak valuations is behind C4X’s decision to take the company private at a meeting on Monday. Clive Dix, 69, its chief executive and the former deputy chairman of the Covid-19 vaccine taskforce, said: “We believe we should be valued at least five times, if not ten times what we are and therefore raising money at ten times the value would be much simpler. I don’t think it’s to do with the quality of the companies and the science. I just think that the environment, it doesn’t work. There’s no liquidity.”
Redx, a cancer drug developer, are down by more than 90 per cent from their 2015 listing, despite establishing four “major” partnering deals over the past five years.
Gervais Williams, head of equities at Premier Miton Investors, a long-term proponent of smaller listed companies, said it was not surprising that some businesses were leaving Aim. “The UK is cheap, but small caps are disgustingly, absurdly cheap,” he said. “A lot of companies feel that they’re not getting value for all of the extra cost and hassle of meeting the reporting requirements of being on Aim.”
Nevertheless, he reckons a broad rally in UK-listed shares is coming, with the FTSE 100 index flirting with a record high. This, he believes, will result in a “positive virtuous spiral
Yes I’m sure that was it Dracula 🙄