Intel stock spikes after report of possible US government stake
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Vaccinex, Inc. (NASDAQ:VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm with a market capitalization of $1.98 million, is set to present new data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears undervalued at its current price of $0.74, despite facing significant cash burn challenges. The data will detail the mechanism by which its drug candidate pepinemab enhances immune responses in cancer therapy, particularly for melanoma and head and neck cancer patients.
The company’s findings suggest that pepinemab, which blocks Semaphorin 4D, plays a crucial role in facilitating immune cell interactions within tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). These structures are important for amplifying mature T cell responses, which are essential for eradicating tumors. The presence of TLS has been linked to clinical benefits and positive responses to immune checkpoint therapy.
Clinical trials have shown that neoadjuvant treatment with pepinemab, in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, enhanced TLS maturity and correlated with longer recurrence-free survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. This development comes as InvestingPro data shows promising growth prospects, with analysts forecasting a 192% revenue increase for fiscal year 2025. Get access to 13 more exclusive InvestingPro Tips about VCNX’s financial outlook. Additionally, pepinemab has demonstrated the potential to transform immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" immune centers by inducing robust and mature TLS. This is particularly significant for tumors like HPV-negative and PD-L1-low head and neck cancer, which traditionally respond poorly to immunotherapies.
The ongoing evaluation of pepinemab in the neoadjuvant setting for head and neck cancer patients will be reported at an upcoming scientific meeting this spring. Vaccinex believes that the drug may offer a solution to the limitation of identifying safe and effective therapies that can induce the formation of TLS.
Pepinemab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the biological effects of SEMA4D. It has shown a favorable safety profile in various clinical trials across different cancer and neurological indications.
The upcoming AACR presentations by Elizabeth Evans, PhD, Senior VP of Discovery and Translational Medicine at Vaccinex, will shed further light on the clinical outcomes, biomarkers, and mechanisms of interactions in patients treated with pepinemab in combination with immune checkpoint therapy.
This announcement is based on a press release statement from Vaccinex, Inc. and aims to provide insights into the potential advancements in cancer immunotherapy. Vaccinex continues to evaluate pepinemab in collaboration with industry partners and maintains global commercial and development rights to the drug candidate. With the next earnings report scheduled for May 14, 2025, investors can access detailed financial analysis and real-time updates through InvestingPro’s comprehensive toolkit.
In other recent news, Vaccinex, Inc. announced the immediate resignation of Bala S. Manian from its board of directors. The resignation was not due to any disagreements over the company’s operations, policies, or practices, as stated in the company’s recent 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vaccinex has not yet indicated a successor or provided details on the search for a new director. This development occurs amidst a period where corporate governance and board composition are increasingly scrutinized by investors and regulators. The company did not elaborate on any upcoming changes to the board’s structure or strategic direction. Vaccinex, headquartered in Rochester, New York, and incorporated in Delaware, operates within the pharmaceutical industry. The company’s brief statement offered no further context for Mr. Manian’s resignation. No additional information has been disclosed by Vaccinex at this time.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.