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"Now that we have developed a robust lateral flow test architecture, we can easily insert Affimer reagents that that can be very rapidly developed for new variants if necessary, and indeed in response to any other future pandemic virus."
Is this USP not reason enough for the government to want Avacta's lft to be the chosen sovereign test? Something tells me Alastair Smith knows that this put to rest any discussion of who's test should be chosen. S&S is clearly not going to be an issue judging by the confidence he displayed in the interviews.
Finding other potential tests out there is research. Saying that one company cannot do it on it's own, and therefore there is no need to talk about other tests, is itself suggesting that there is no need to research.
I have no doubts that if avacta release a test, they will be successful. But to think other equivalent tests coming to market won't affect the level of success is delusional.
Anyone have thoughts on the 3M/MIT (sikes lab) antigen test via a paper-based device? They're aiming to have results in a few minutes and are already in the RADx program with 500k funding. Haven't been able to find out if it's specially a saliva test, only that it will be based on bodily fluids.
Any possibility the manufacturing partnership deals are dependent on the results of the LFD S&S? Might explain why there has been no RNS on manufacturing partners even though AS has mentioned it a lot over the last month or 2.
I'm new to AIM and investing generally and it's only because I stumbled across HEMO as a top stock gainer at the end of April that my eyes were opened to the covid stock bubble. Having been late to the party, I was determined to find the next HEMO or NCYT and was initially quite demoralised to realise that even other covid stocks such as AVCT GDX ODX SNG had already 5 bagged or more.
I read about Avacta's cancer therapies but to be honest it was the saliva antigen test that set it apart from the rest. I'm not disputing that Avacta may be on to something huge with their cancer therapies but I would never have invested on this fact alone. My gut feeling is that it won't be easy to succeed on this front and considering how long cancer has been around, a lot of companies must have tried and failed with their potentially new groundbreaking idea. However, if this antigen test using affimers proves to be successful, it will be a big positive step forward for the cancer therapies too.
I invested at 109p on 4th May in anticipation of the saliva antigen test being produced. Since then, the share price has gone up based on this anticipation and hope for a prototype by the beginning of June (Alastair's few weeks comment). It could be argued that at 215p a successful antigen test was already partially factored in to this price. At this point there had only been good news and nobody had a reason to doubt the potential game changer Avacta was working on. Share price dropped when there was no prototype by the beginning of June and also the 120p placing. Both factors dented investor confidence, rightly or wrongly, because they lost trust in Alastair Smith (few weeks) and (fully funded). Both those points could be explained.
However, we now have a definitive (by the end of June) remark. So personally for me nothing has changed with regards to why I initially invested here. From 109p to 215p and back down to below 100p, I am still waiting to see if Avacta can produce a best in class saliva antigen test. If anything I now know the company has cash in the bank to work on their cancer therapies to lessen the initial blow if the test were to fail.
So I guess my point is, regardless of what people say about the cancer side of this, a working best in class saliva antigen test is the key. I'm not certain I would be willing to hold my shares if the test failed because it would have a negative ripple effect on investor confidence that Avacta could then succeed with the cancer therapies. But at the same time, if they do succeed with the antigen test, i would want to hold long term to see how the cancer therapies play out.
For those that invested like me based on the antigen test, I find it crazy that people are selling when news on this prototype is due within 2 weeks (Now that Alastair Smith has specifically said before the end of June). Surely you would wait until at least this moment regardless of share price movement in the interim?
Did anyone notice this question posted to the webinar?
Audience Question
Q: Please could you confirm if you are aware of the imminent Avacta POC antigen LFD test that will enable mass screening of populations/regions and will also help to unlock airtravel etc.
A: We are keen to take sure the Testing taskforce are aware of all innovations