Rethinking Cell Therapeutics… As An Acquirer? (CTICD)

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
By Jon C. Ogg Published

Invalid Image
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTICD) has long been a controversial stock.  It has brought many rewards for investors and it has also brought much pain to investors.  We recently featured its positive development in pixantrone with an appeal at the FDA that will allow it to resubmit a new drug application.  Keep in mind that the company recently went through a reverse stock split.

Today brings news that Cell Therapeutics, being “consistent with its previously announced pipeline strategy,” has identified a potential acquisition opportunity.  Most companies do not telegraph what they are trying to buy and how great the benefits are because they might actually drive the price up.  Who wants to bid against themselves?

Cell Therapeutics has said its acquisition opportunity is a phase II drug candidate under study in cancer immunotherapy as protein therapeutics activating macrophages and dendritic cells “to present foreign antigens to T-killer cells and T-memory cells thus activating a tumor specific immune attack with potential lifelong immunity against the cancer.”

The company noted that this is tumor-specific and is an individualized approach for harnessing a patient’s immune system to fight and potentially eradicate cancer.  For the company to try to announce that it looks forward to further discussion and to conducting due diligence, this seems like another capital raise is coming.

Another reminder was made about the company having two of its drug candidates in American Society of Clinical Oncology presentations in a week.  One is interim data from a study with OPAXIO™ in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas, and another is interim study results of tosedostat in elderly patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. 

Most shares tank after their reverse stock splits.  These shares went ex-split on a 1-for-6 split just on May 16, 2011 and the stock went from an adjusted $1.62 to $1.59 on that day.  Shares are up over 1% so far this morning at $2.12, and the highs in the last week were $2.40 intra-day and $2.26 for a closing price. 

JON C. OGG

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. www.247wallst.com.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

KMX Vol: 7,330,419
GLW Vol: 22,800,969
INTC Vol: 233,719,006
SMCI Vol: 68,465,534
ENPH Vol: 13,978,376

Top Losing Stocks

ACN Vol: 41,744,333
EPAM Vol: 5,636,587
CTSH Vol: 61,311,400
CTRA Vol: 73,319,495
KR Vol: 26,704,230