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Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc

Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (IOVA)

9.47
-0.14
(-1.46%)
Closed October 10 4:00PM
9.47
0.00
( 0.00% )
Pre Market: 4:19AM

Calls

StrikeBid PriceAsk PriceLast PriceMidpointChangeChange %VolumeOPEN INTLast Trade
4.502.607.500.005.050.000.00 %00-
5.002.107.000.004.550.000.00 %00-
5.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
6.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
6.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
7.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
7.501.653.400.002.5250.000.00 %00-
8.001.152.500.001.8250.000.00 %00-
8.500.554.801.652.6750.000.00 %01-
9.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
9.500.050.350.200.200.000.00 %093-
10.000.050.100.040.075-0.01-20.00 %117610/10/2024
10.500.120.050.120.0850.000.00 %0150-
11.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
11.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
12.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
12.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
13.000.150.750.150.450.000.00 %010-
13.500.050.750.050.400.000.00 %01-
14.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-

Real-time discussions and trading ideas: Trade with confidence with our powerful platform.

Puts

StrikeBid PriceAsk PriceLast PriceMidpointChangeChange %VolumeOPEN INTLast Trade
4.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
5.000.000.050.000.000.000.00 %00-
5.500.000.750.000.000.000.00 %00-
6.000.000.750.000.000.000.00 %00-
6.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
7.000.050.750.050.400.000.00 %010-
7.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
8.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
8.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
9.000.070.100.070.0850.000.00 %079-
9.500.200.250.150.225-0.06-28.57 %82710/10/2024
10.000.450.650.600.550.1020.00 %214110/10/2024
10.500.804.500.922.650.000.00 %059-
11.000.755.000.002.8750.000.00 %00-
11.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
12.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
12.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
13.000.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
13.500.000.000.000.000.000.00 %00-
14.002.156.700.004.4250.000.00 %00-

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IOVA Discussion

View Posts
GMH* GMH* 5 hours ago
Cash runway discussions are unique to start ups and biotechs. When a company discusses cash runway, they are basically saying "the company is not a going concern and the only way we stay in business is by raising more cash by this date". If IOVA raised enough cash so that they can cover the time until they become cashflow positive, it would basically be saying, "we are now a going concern and no longer have to raise cash, although we may to fund additional trials as needed".

Unlike most startups, biotechs can go on for years continuing to raise cash to fund operations. That is why I say that almost all biotechs are trades and not long term investments... at least as long as they are discussing cash runway.
👍️0
Sunman88 Sunman88 6 hours ago
I read your post a few times and I’m a bit confused. Why would they not reveal cash runway for transparency at earnings calls? Doing so would actually help the shorts by capitalizing uncertainty.
👍️0
Sunman88 Sunman88 6 hours ago
The sneaky use of the back door ATM to raise $200M cash and keeping this ATM ready for use at any time places the share price under pressure. It transfers the risk to the common shareholders. If anything goes wrong they can still raise cash at the
Lows. This should be illegal but it’s legal. To be ethical, Management needs to come out and clearly state they will not use the ATM again if Share price is in single digits. I do not see them doing that. By being sneaky once they have established they are capable of doing it again.
Near term, I also believe there is more downside pressure than upside for this stock until major milestones are announced (positive data for 1L and 2L use, NSCLC data, etc etc). I do not plan on selling my core position. However, it makes sense to trade upswings and/or buy insurance for downside. I hope Badger is right and we see new highs later this year. Time will tell. I’ll mark this post.
👍️0
GMH* GMH* 13 hours ago
The one additional catalyst that nobody talks about, but, to my thinking, may be one of the reasons they are using the ATM, is so they can announce that they have enough cash on hand to fund future operations so they will no longer be giving cash runway guidance. Remember, cash runway consists of 3 items, revenue (which we know is increasing), cash outlays (SGA/R&D should be flat and COGS should be increasing at appx 30% of revenue increase) and available cash so perhaps another 200M gets them to that break-even point. This would remove a significant safety net for the short position, which could cause a rush to the exits for the shorts. Would be a nice Q3 earnings addition.
👍️ 2
Structural_Biologist Structural_Biologist 14 hours ago
Agreed I absolutely think those events should result in price appreciation and stabilization.
👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 15 hours ago
SB, maybe not big catalysts as such, but share price could easily rise with reasonable to good earnings in Q3 and Q4, with solid 2025 guidance reiterated or likely raised, with Europe approval for Amtagvi, and with any trial data update that indicates a new indication for TIL approval is more likely. Combine all of these catalysts, and stock price upside with higher highs over the next few months is very possible.
👍️ 2
Structural_Biologist Structural_Biologist 16 hours ago
The ATM that was used in June and likely exhausted in August was also an opportunity for the institutions with short positions to hedge themselves with long positions as well.

Perhaps there will be coordinated attacks in the coming months. But over the next few years I think improvement in gross margins, market expansion in US and ex-US for 2L MM, and updates on 1L MM and 2L NSCLC will have significant positive effects on the value of the company. As will progress with the next gen TIL products in the pipeline.

But if you’re looking at this from a days/weeks/months perspective, I don’t see any big catalysts.
👍️ 1
badgerkid badgerkid 17 hours ago
GMH, selling the puts has been working out for me as well. When they expire worthless, it's a nice bonus. Since I'm willing to add a few more shares to my core position anyway, it's a reasonable strategy for picking up a little extra money while we wait. I've maintained a goal of selling puts no more than 1-3 months out with a net cost of the shares risk of under $8.80/share in the event the shares get put to me. I still have a few Dec $8 and $9 puts that I sold a while ago, but since then, I've kept most of the puts that I sell to less than 45 days out. Time passing is your friend when selling puts. As for my core position, it's sitting comfortably in my accounts and waiting for the day earnings, data, and the opening of foreign markets finally show the future investors that the current share price is just simply too cheap. Get a PDUFA date set for any other indication, and the price only goes higher. Of course, a buy out by any one of the big pharmas is acceptable as well so long as we see the $50+/share that this company is already worth. Good luck to the longs.
👍️ 2
GMH* GMH* 18 hours ago
Dennboy - we definitely seem to be in the low 10s to low 9s trading range (and I can say that with certainty given this mornings price action). From my experience, biotechs are almost always a trade. I am holding a core position in IOVA as I do think there is longer term potential, but definitely trading the catalysts (although not the swings). Currently just selling puts on the pull backs but not using those funds to buy more calls as I think we seemed to be capped on the upside, at least thru year-end.
👍️ 2
Dennboy66 Dennboy66 2 days ago
Disclosure - I sold out of my position again. in the 10s.
I have found that this is a nice trading stock. Buy around 9.15 where many big players have skin in the game and sell upon spikes.
The mms had their thumb on it all day (of course xbi did not help - everyone is loading into AI stocks again).
I have decided to not hold a core position as I do not like the high short interest.
I have this sense (and it well could be wrong) that they will bear raid the stock before allowing it to go. Just a feeling.

👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 2 days ago
Not much to talk about regarding short interest:
09/30/2024 59,945,282
09/13/2024 60,293,439
08/30/2024 57,686,674
08/15/2024 59,334,386
07/31/2024 61,318,556
07/15/2024 58,941,197
06/28/2024 56,421,027
06/14/2024 54,631,791
05/31/2024 49,964,621
👍️0
GMH* GMH* 2 days ago
The next known catalyst will be Q3 earnings report which is about 4 weeks off. The big question everyone is asking (or at least I am) is how will actual revenues come in relative to the forecast of $53M-$55M (note all 12 analyst now all align with this range). Fred stated that they have good visibility into future product sales, so what do we actually know?:

1) For Q2 earnings, they reported 30 infusions had already taken place in Q3. This was 38 days into Q3
2) In-transit/awaiting infusion for lymphodepletion is another 7 days
3) Manufacturing and QA assay assessment is another 34 days
4) Manufacturing slot reservation / surgery is another 7-10 days

This accounts for 86-89 days of the 92 day quarter, so they are pretty much have 100% visibility into product in-process. The only thing they don't know is the manufacturing/patient health failure rate and any additional IL2 stocking. My guess is that they only included in their forecast the product in process, used Q2 failure rates and assumed 0 additional IL2 stocking, leaving those as upside. This does mean that they are almost certainly going to beat estimates but probably will not have a big upside surprise. In my estimation, the upside will be almost entirely driven by improved failure rates... which will also give some insights into how that is improving.

Just my opinion.
👍️ 3
surfkast surfkast 7 days ago
TILVANCE 301, A Phase III Clinical Trial for Melanoma Patients with Untreated, Unresectable or Metastatic Disease: Actively Enrolling
You may have heard of AMTAGVI, also known by the generic name lifileucel, a new therapy that recently earned FDA approval. AMTAGVI is a type of cellular therapy that uses Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) to treat patients with advanced melanoma whose melanoma hasn’t responded – or quit responding – to PD-1 based immunotherapies and BRAF/MEK targeted therapy, if their melanoma has the BRAF mutation. TIL therapies involve extracting immune cells called lymphocytes from a patient's tumor, growing them in a laboratory, and then reinfusing them back into the patient's body. TIL therapies aim to harness the patient's own immune system to target and destroy melanoma cells.

PD-1 therapies such as pembrolizumab, a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), are approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma in the upfront or treatment-naĂŻve setting. Pembrolizumab is an antibody that binds to a protein (PD-1) on the surface of immune T cells, releasing the brakes on T cells so that the immune system can attack and kill cancer cells.

Clinical trials have been investigating the efficacy and safety of combining the cellular therapy, lifileucel, with pembrolizumab in patients with untreated, unresectable, or metastatic melanoma. Results from Phase II clinical trial IOV-COM-202 Cohort 1A, testing this combination in advanced melanoma patients who had not received prior ICI-treatment, demonstrated that two thirds of patients responded with almost a third of the patients having a confirmed complete response (total disappearance of tumor).

These encouraging Phase II results provided the rationale to open TILVANCE-301, a Phase III randomized clinical trial looking at the efficacy and safety of lifileucel in combination with pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab alone in untreated, unresectable, or metastatic melanoma patients. Patients meeting the eligibility criteria are randomized to one of the two arms (lifileucel + pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab alone). Participants whose disease progresses when receiving only pembrolizumab will be offered lifileucel monotherapy. This study is actively enrolling participants in the U.S., Canada, Australia, UK and several European countries. The trial also includes mucosal and acral melanoma patients who meet the eligibility criteria.

More information on the TILVANCE 301 trial is available. Please speak with your treating physician to see if this trial is right for you.
👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 1 week ago
Clinical Trials to Watch: https://www.curemelanoma.org/blog/article/clinical-trials-to-watch-september-2024
👍️ 2
MN Gopher MN Gopher 1 week ago
Badger, More thought on WuXi potentially selling the Biz.

We have cleared been under the orchestrated control of the MM’S & the Shorts for way too long dragging our SP along with it down down down.

WuXi & Congress problems with American security is VERY important vs Communist China.

WuXi’s problems have been a thorn in our side as negative speculation plagued us & our SP was getting more downward pressure from this big issue.

BP would be VERY Wise to jump in & make a package deal to buy WuXi & Iovance & Secure & Lockup the Worlds BEST technology to date, in mankinds quest to Cure Cancer.

BP has the $ for our lifesaving Therapy & Manuf. Is paramount to providing enough TIL treatments for desperate patients.

Now BP wisely buy both next door neighbors & have full TIL Therapy n Manuf together in Philly!

Oh yeah, the hundreds of Iova patents to boot!

#CureCancer
👍️ 2
MN Gopher MN Gopher 1 week ago
Badger, This WuXi potential sale news is exactly what Iovance needs.
We are seeing very strong demand, we are able to provide 2,000 TIL treatments ourselves & we are not filling 2,000 yet…

To have a Factory next to us makes perfect sense for us to buy & secure another 5,000 TIL treatments next door to meet the demand.

If we move to frontline with Pembro (Keytruda) which in my opinion will
Happen in the next 12 months, we have the facilities to meet the demand up to the 7,000 Max we would now have.

When our own expansion is done, we will be able to produce 5,000 ourselves by 2026/early 2027 Is what I remember reading.

Buying WuXi in Philly gives us a very impressive “Turn Key” business to sell & every $ spent on WuXi comes back to us & then some, selling a Turnkey Business to Cure Cancer…One Day.

G-D Provides opportunity in life & here we stand at the foot of the “Mountain” as Iovance climbs the Mountain one day at a time.

#CureCancer
👍️ 3
badgerkid badgerkid 1 week ago
China's WuXi explores sale of pharma operations as US restrictions loom, FT reports: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-wuxi-explores-sale-pharma-092837546.html

Though I personally don't expect a sale of these WuXi units anytime soon, the obvious connection to Iovance with their need to expand manufacturing operations over the coming years is intriguing.

I still expect a lot of this rhetoric to settle down after the election, but this is one time where a deal, if possible with WuXi, may make sense on the timing of availability and need for Iovance. It also may play well into the timing of a sale of Iovance to one of the big pharmas who could also benefit from ownership of the additional WuXi facilities in Philly picking up additional mfg capabilities for numerous drugs and biologics.

Good luck to the longs.
👍️ 1
GMH* GMH* 1 week ago
Another interesting point on the logistics that was mentioned was the airline flight schedule from KCI to Logan airport... need to schedule the surgery to provide enough prep time and still get to the airport to make the flight. Will be an issue for some of these smaller ATCs.

Also seems that they may be moving to a dedicate time-slot model to accommodate the ATC surgery/therapy schedule.
👍️ 2
GMH* GMH* 1 week ago
My thought would be that it is two shots on goal... for all you hockey fans.
👍️ 2
Structural_Biologist Structural_Biologist 1 week ago
5001 is by far the most exciting. Obsidian has 2 ongoing Phase 1/2 trials for OBX-115 for melanoma and NSCLC. Iovance will apply for IND to begin Phase 1/2 for IOV-5001 next year.

I’m curious now why they’re working on 3001 since it won’t be much farther along than 5001. 3001 offers improved safety and less dosing than proleukin.
👍️0
jondoeuk jondoeuk 1 week ago
Good view of NIH efforts past and on-going around cell therapies; and a brief discussion of TIL (as a needed front-line therapy) https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=55071
👍️0
Structural_Biologist Structural_Biologist 1 week ago
Thank you for this share. I mentioned this on ST but it is extraordinary how TIL treatment prior to anti-PD-1 therapy allows for recognition of neoantigens whereas TIL treatment following prior therapy causes loss of neoantigen recognition. And that in mice the same phenomenon is seen with oncolytic viruses.

This is a strong argument for frontline use and perhaps helps explain the incredible data from TILVANCE-301 shared thus far
👍️ 2
GMH* GMH* 1 week ago
Another video posted on StockTwits regarding Kansas City ATC. Especially interesting as they discuss logistics of the Amtagvi therapy. Sounds like there were some hiccups regarding slot scheduling that are being resolved.

👍️ 1
badgerkid badgerkid 1 week ago
GMH, thanks for sharing. A very worthwhile watch. A bit in the weeds at times, but some of the historical referencing was quite interesting. A case is being made for frontline which is exciting to hear about from the speaker.
👍️ 1
GMH* GMH* 1 week ago
PAMET on StockTwits posted this. Iovance/TIL part is between minutes 36-52... I did not listen to the entire video. At the 50 minute mark, discussion about potential front line. I was always a bit skeptical on L1, simply because of the "brutal" nature of the therapy, but after listening to the video, if the CRs hold, it could actually be much more widely used than I had anticipated.

https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=55071
👍️ 3
GMH* GMH* 1 week ago
Badger, You missed my main point... we cannot assume that the 15 patients being treated will ever result in infusions. The cancer centers will consider patients being treated once they meet the eligibility requirements and have an intent to treat. Based on the facts we know, the drop rate is somewhere between 35% (per FDA approved label) and 45% (real world estimate based on Q2 enrolled of 100+ and Q3 infused of 55). Applying this to the UI-C data would mean just 8-10 infusions from those 15 patients which would be less than 1.5/month and this is from one of the larger ATCs. We are nowhere near profitability until the drop rate is resolved.

It is for this reason that the company has stressed several times that they are working closely with the ATCs on patient selection. This solves several issues including less heavily treated patients (thus better TILs), slower disease progression and healthier at the outset so more likely to handle chemo and IL2. Unfortunately, this means that there are probably some tough conversations with some patients who are progressing rapidly. This screening process will further limit the TAM we are looking at right now.

It is an unfortunate situation which is why I am really hoping they progress with 5001 quickly since most of these issues are driven by the IL2 treatment.
👍️ 2
badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
GMH, agreed, we can't even assume the 15 was anything more than the total so far. It may mean over the past several months, it may mean since approval, it really doesn't say. But even if it's the total since approval, that still goes to the point that Iovance needs less than 2 patients per month per ATC (assuming 50 ATCs) to be profitable. What we've seen from some of the ATCs is that they're at or over that number pushing 3, 4, and 5 patients per month. Iovance has confirmed that they can handle up to 2,000 per year currently with additional space being created, so it's just a matter of time before Iovance surpasses that breakeven number of 1,000 or so patients annually to move into the black. Hopefully sooner for everyone's sake especially the patients.
👍️0
GMH* GMH* 2 weeks ago
This was a really good read and is always good to hear about success cases.

On the investing side, I would be careful on extrapolating 15 patients by the end of the month. Couple of things to consider: 1) The definition of "treatment" by a cancer center is probably more aligned with the previous "enrolled" so you will have dropouts from that number. 2) Number of patients will vary by cancer center size/location and UI-Chicago would be considered one of the larger ATCs. 3) I believe UI-Chicago was one of the original ATCs (I did not keep that list), but if so, the 15 patients would be over the entire 7 1/2 months since approval, not just the most recent 3-4 months (counting as treatment starts).
👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
Gopher, here's an earlier version without the updated info regarding patient counts. This one should be available without a paywall (I hope):

https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/cancer-articles/2024/july/ucm-among-first-in-country-to-use-til-therapy-for-advanced-skin-cancer
👍️0
MN Gopher MN Gopher 2 weeks ago
Wonderful story of such a strong & courageous patient, great find Badger & thanks for sharing a very uplifting true survival story.

#CureCancer
👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
SB, regarding the article - I scan a lot of sites so credit goes to others who shared initially. If you see something, say something (the old neighborhood watch slogan).

As we've previously discussed, it takes less than 2 patients per month per ATC for Iovance to be profitable. The challenges of slot designation and ensuring patient access in a timely manner are continually improving. As iCTC staffing increases and becomes fully trained, as ATCs work through the early logistical challenges and insurance issues, the patient numbers will certainly increase as less time is wasted and slot management improves. The good news, patients are now getting a chance at life and a potential cure where none existed for many of these patients only 7 months ago. Iovance will continue to have growing pains for a little while longer, but improvements are certainly being made as evidenced in the company's guidance.

This is not the simple game of pill manufacturing, it's far more complex. This is why I'm now of the belief that big pharma will make an offer to acquire after Iovance works out the bugs in this type of treatment. I think the buyer will want a turnkey manufacturing operation when making an offer, and Iovance will certainly be able to ask a bigger price when that time comes. This has not been done before so it's foolish to think that just any big pharma company can step in and do a better job at this stage in the ramp up. I do believe that the time for an offer is getting closer, though.

Good luck to the longs.
👍️ 2
Structural_Biologist Structural_Biologist 2 weeks ago
This is a fucking fantastic share thanks Badger. A personal success story and very impressive patient numbers at a single ATC.
👍️0
badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
15 patients by the end of the month will be treated at the University of Chicago. Read the article.

HEALTH NEWS SUBURBAN CHICAGO
Northwest suburban woman is first in the Midwest to receive 'groundbreaking' skin cancer treatment
Alla Pinzour has lived with melanoma for 15 years. A new therapy offered at University of Chicago Medical Center used her own body’s cells to fight the cancer and shrink her tumors.
By Kaitlin Washburn

Sept 23, 2024, 7:56pm CDT

Alla Pinzour was diagnosed with melanoma in 2009. Earlier this year, she underwent a groundbreaking new treatment for advanced melanoma called TIL therapy. Doctors are pleased with the results.
Provided by University of Chicago Medical Center

Alla Pinzour has lived with skin cancer for 15 years.

She was diagnosed with melanoma in 2009 after finding a small mole on her leg. She’s tried every possible treatment — injections, surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy. But nothing has managed to keep the disease at bay.

Last year, the melanoma spread further. Tumors were found in her stomach, lungs and liver.

“It had advanced more aggressively than it ever had,” Pinzour said.

But her longtime oncologist, Dr. Bruce Brockstein at NorthShore hospital in Highland Park, learned about a new cancer treatment that would become available at University of Chicago Medical Center. It just needed federal approval first.

She waited nearly a year. The treatment, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, was finally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February. Weeks later, Pinzour, 50, became the first patient in the Midwest and one of the first in the country to receive the therapy.

“I have always been a trouper. I have always stayed positive,” Pinzour said. “That’s how I believe I handled it for so many years.”

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer. And the options for treating advanced melanoma were limited until 15 years ago, said Dr. Daniel Olson, an oncologist who specializes in melanoma at University of Chicago.

The first therapy to treat metastatic melanoma, called checkpoint inhibitors, was approved in 2008 and changed the landscape for treating the disease, Olson said. That treatment helps about half of patients go into remission or be cancer-free.

TIL therapy is another major breakthrough for treating melanoma, said Olson, who leads the TIL therapy program at the University of Chicago.

“For treating melanoma, it’s really a remarkable therapy. It’s groundbreaking. It’s the best thing out there now,” Olson said.

University of Chicago is one of a handful of medical centers in the U.S. providing the new treatment. The hospital had been running clinical trials for the therapy and knew the approval was coming, Olson said. They lined up Pinzour to receive it as soon as possible.

The therapy relies on the patient’s own T cells, a type of white blood cells in the immune system that can recognize and kill cancer cells, Olson said. These cells are also found in melanoma tumors.

Scientists determined the T cells could be extracted from the tumor, multiplied by the billions in a lab and then returned to the patient’s body to help their immune system fight the tumor, Olson said.

“I describe this to patients, and they think it’s crazy. And it is. It’s a rather remarkable way to treat cancer,” he said.

Not everyone with advanced melanoma is eligible, Olson said. It’s a laborious therapy that can only be used when other treatments have failed, as in Pinzour’s case. The patient also needs to be healthy enough to endure the therapy.

Alla Pinzour has had melanoma for 15 years. Tumors were later found in her lungs, stomach and liver. “I have always been a trouper. I have always stayed positive,” Pinzour said. “That’s how I believe I handled it for so many years.”
Provided by Mark Black/University of Chicago Medical Center

Pinzour, who lives in northwest suburban Hawthorn Woods, said the treatment was brutal. At one point, she had a fever of 105.1 degrees. She felt weak and struggled to get out of bed.

But good news came two months later, during her first scan after getting the therapy. Her tumors had shrunk by half.

“I can’t even describe the emotions. I was yelling, I was screaming. My husband was stunned,” Pinzour said. She goes back for a second scan in November.

Administering the therapy involves a large care team, Olson said. A surgeon first extracts the T cells from the patient’s tumor. Then the patient goes through a week of chemotherapy to tamp down their other white blood cells before getting their T cells put back in. They also receive a drug that helps the T cells continue to grow.

Luckily, it’s a “one-and-done” treatment, Olson said. One-third to half of all patients who receive TIL therapy go into remission or end up cancer-free. Results can take several weeks to months to appear.

Olson said he’s encouraged by how well Pinzour handled the therapy.

“It’s really fortunate she did well and tolerated the treatment. We saw an amazing regression within weeks,” Olson said.

Fifteen patients will be receiving TIL therapy at University of Chicago by the end of the month.

This type of treatment will hopefully soon be available to treat other cancers, Olson said. Ongoing clinical trials are determining if TIL therapy can be used to treat lung, cervical, breast and colon cancers.

The success of the treatment meant Pinzour got to have a normal summer for the first time in years. She spent time with her husband and her two kids, visited with friends and focused on her catering business, Alla’s Yummy Plate Company.

“I am finally able to live my life,” Pinzour said. “I have hope that I will be cancer-free. I’m a believer.”

After several summers spent receiving cancer treatments, Alla Pinzour was finally able to have a normal summer this year with her family. Her doctors have seen a regression in her tumors since she underwent TIL therapy.
Provided by University of Chicago Medical Center



I wasn't able to load the pictures. Here's the link: https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2024/09/23/northwest-suburban-woman-groundbreaking-skin-cancer-treatment-melanoma-tcell-health-wellness-research
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jondoeuk jondoeuk 2 weeks ago
No as with bulk TIL there were no responses in mCRC https://jitc.bmj.com/content/12/2/e006822

Responses are seen from academic trials testing neoantigen-reactive TIL or TCR-Ts in mCRC https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1609279 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03109-0

Data from TSBX (developing neoantigen-reactive TIL) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/turnstone-biologics-corp-reports-positive-200100662.html
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GMH* GMH* 2 weeks ago
I fully agree in that I think most of the short positioning is program level trading. My guess is that there are some HFs that look for any company in the XBI that has a big jump is share price, wait 2-5 days (which is typical peak), then start shorting. For most biotechs, the next catalyst is 2-3 years out so easy short for 9-12 months. If you do this on a portfolio basis, 19 of 20 will be winners (probably 35%-50% draw down). Was actually thinking of shorting SMMT at $30+, but next day was already down to low $20s... and you probably need a portfolio... not sure I could handle the stress and time required.

On the fundamental short side thesis, I do think that the ramp may be a concern (usually slower for biotechs than most people think)... this will go away if they beat/raise on revenue. I think the biggest issue is with the gross margins and COGS. I have heard several comments on different boards that they cannot make money because costs are too high and will take a long time to get to scale. I personally think the issue is patient selection and cycle time. Think the drop rate was really high in Q2 but should be much better in Q3. They guided to revenue but only said they would eventually get to 70% GM, but gave no timeline. The longer that takes, the more dilution that will happen.

Then there is simply the competitive landscape of cancer treatment. Just look at all the ongoing trials. Additionally, TIL treatment is quite onerous, so think that a lot of people would opt for less invasive options prior to TIL, but that may not be the wise choice health wise. Hope oncologists really push early L2 for those reasons alone.
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badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
FWIW, MF article providing reasons to own IOVA - fairly straightforward: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-reasons-buy-iovance-biotherapeutics-121500810.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr
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surfkast surfkast 2 weeks ago
Good news for IOVA?

Merck’s Keytruda Combo Fails in Phase III Colorectal Cancer Study
September 25, 2024

https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/mercks-keytruda-combo-fails-in-phase-iii-colorectal-cancer-study#:~:text=Merck%20on%20Wednesday%20announced%20that,of%20metastatic%20colorectal%20cancer%20patients.
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Sunman88 Sunman88 2 weeks ago
Thanks again for a thoughtful response: I agree the sustained short pressure is largely related to sector level shorting and general fear of a slowing economy and election uncertainty (tight race). With both parties fielding undesirable candidates. Let’s hope Q3 earnings are a solid beat and upbeat guidance is provided for progress with trials and path to profitability without further cash raises.
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badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
FWIW, Iovance and Dr. Finckenstein participating in the Wednesday session:

https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/SITCANCER/e16ea3ed-ca86-452e-b5e9-18d717c3857f/UploadedImages/TIL_Flyer_NEW.pdf

https://www.sitcancer.org/2024/schedule/sitc24-preconference#tab1
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badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
Sunman, I think it's less to do with what "they" know, and more to do with sector shorting. Short interest did begin to drop again only to bounce back a bit with the last short interest report:
09/13/2024 60,293,439
08/30/2024 57,686,674
08/15/2024 59,334,386
07/31/2024 61,318,556
07/15/2024 58,941,197
06/28/2024 56,421,027
06/14/2024 54,631,791

If they knew something negative, it would behave much differently and any number of funds would have bailed or reduced significantly - that hasn't happened. If this is tied to an expected slower start, that's a reasonable thought; if expenses are going to be higher with the hiring and build-out, also a reasonable thought. But more likely (and in my opinion), the overall sector has seen incredible and unrelenting shorting. IOVA is just one of many similar stocks where this is observed and I see this tied more to program trading and shorting algos than negative information known only by a limited number of individuals that are shorting but not known by the billion dollar funds that have huge research budgets.

Iovance does not play the game of constantly updating the market or hyping news (for good or for bad, they just don't). Look at Summit's (SMMT) recent rise and fall on the comment that they beat Keytruda - sure looks like a pump and dump now, in hindsight. The Iovance BOD and WR specifically are notorious for not leaking any news - good or bad. So, when there's limited news, fear and doubt can creep in which is a playground for shorting. The company even stated that they were going to offer guidance for that very reason (to combat misinformation), a move that is unprecedented in bios this early in the game.

We've all seen what this company has to offer, most of us think that it's incredible with tremendous upside and profit potential. But if the company is focused on taking Iovance to a profitable and successful company that will likely save a significant number of lives that would have otherwise been lost to cancer, maybe not worrying too much about the share price is a good thing. They haven't lost their institutional investors so my guess is that enough information exists that keeps them around. Who am I to think I know more.

It doesn't change the frustration that many of us feel about the share price, but I see no reason to worry about Iovance's future which has me holding my core position. But maybe I need to trade this stock just a bit more if this is the game that's being played for the time being. The problem with me and trading is I don't have the time to dedicate to doing it well which means it's likely wiser to pick the future winners and just hang on. But even I can see that the current price is a good entry point with the stock likely to rise going into the Q3 report.

Just some random thoughts here.

Good luck to the longs.
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Sunman88 Sunman88 2 weeks ago
Percent of Short float is at historical high and keeps going higher. Not trying to create FUD, But these are fair questions to ask. What are they banking on? What do they know that many of us don’t? Are they expecting expenses to rise higher than earnings? Are they aware of some negative news or set back with clinical trials? Are they expecting another sneaky near term cash raise at the ATM? I sure you can provide some logical explanation of why these questions may be unfounded. With strong earnings projected, SP needs to trend upwards of $12 at this time, not retrace to $9 or lower.
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badgerkid badgerkid 2 weeks ago
Sunman, why do you think it. Your question implies that you believe shorts are "confidently increasing". Please explain your thoughts here. TIA
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Sunman88 Sunman88 2 weeks ago
Why do you think shorts are confidently increasing their short position? Usually this happens when they know more than you and I.
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Dennboy66 Dennboy66 2 weeks ago
About another 3 million loaded to short side.
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surfkast surfkast 2 weeks ago
With institutional investors still holding the vast majority of shares, to me it looks like they are really manipulating this baby.
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Dennboy66 Dennboy66 2 weeks ago
I am back in at 9.41. Like the location here. On support on weekly and into midrange of fib retracement. 30,000 shares. Most likely will not recover today as the selling has been relentless.
Oversold on daily but it doesn't matter until sell algo is taken off.
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MN Gopher MN Gopher 3 weeks ago
The election has a history of affecting stocks, If it happens & I suspect we will have rocky moments along the way to the election & after for a week or 2.
Then the reality sets in & we are back to
“Normal” so to speak.

Iovance’s 3rd Qtr numbers release date not set yet, one would think it may be prudent to release after the election.

Either way, our #’s and success will be reflected in a higher share price both leading up to it & after IF The Street likes it & responds with an upward trajectory which I believe is highly likely, we should see $14-$18 during this time.

End of Year momenteum carries us in my opinion to $18-$22 potential into January.

Time will tell Sunman

#CureCancer
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Sunman88 Sunman88 3 weeks ago
Sounds logical. I hope and pray your projections come true to benefit all stakeholders, patients and family members above all. Meantime, I’m excited to learn more about their stellar earnings trajectory and path to profitability by early November.
Do you believe $14-18 is possible independent of election outcome and broader market reaction.
Thanks.
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MN Gopher MN Gopher 3 weeks ago
Sunman, Iovance stated they have a cash runway into early 2026 after the latest ATM.
Personally, I do not see them doing another round until late 2025/early 2026.

We will likely be bought out before we need another ATM.

We are generating revenue & have no debt.
Between the Revenue & ATM we had, we do have a cash runway, how far it goes is anyones “guess”

Once Q3 numbers are released, I see us between $14-$18

Any great announcement in a timely manner following I think is a solid earnings beat in Q3 with strong forward guidance for Q4 & some data on Amtagvi & Pembro pushing us together to front line & some NSCLC trial early numbers can take us from $18-$24 by end of 2024, IMO.

#CureCancer
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Sunman88 Sunman88 3 weeks ago
Good morning folks,

Just watched this clip from Biotech Investor:


He praises Wayne, validates everything we know about the near term events about to unfold and it appears he is making one point clear….

IOVA management in a sneaky manner sold shares are ATM to raise cash at common shareholders expense and may keep doing this in the near future. This means until we hear positive news from ongoing clinical trials which expands demand significantly, we may not see SP going over $12 for a while: Approaching $20 seems like a pipe dream in 2024 and first part of 2025. Thoughts?
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