Expert Financial Analysis and Reporting

Key Points Agenus is the first biotechnology company to use a new and innovative blockchain based technology for financing development of a specific product. This new technology could break the lock on financing of biotechnology firms now held by investment banking firms in the same way that Amazon has devastated most sectors of retailing.   […]

Two Recent Cancer Vaccine Trial Failures Spurred this Report On February 22, 2017, Argos reported that the Data Monitoring Committee for the phase 3 ADAPT trial of its cancer vaccine AGS-003 in combination with Sutent in metastatic renal cell carcinoma recommended that the trial should be discontinued. Following an interim analysis, the DMC concluded that […]

Purpose of this Report I last summarized my stock recommendations in a September 12, 2016 report. There has been little change in my thinking or my recommendations since then on most stocks in my universe, but I did issue a Buy on Bristol-Myers Squibb and a sell on Juno Therapeutics. You may want to revisit […]

Background Information on Checkpoint Modulation Let me provide background information that shapes my views on immuno-oncology before I get into my recommendation. The immune system has evolved over more than one billion years as a defense mechanism to protect humans and other life forms from pathogenic organisms that cause disease- notably bacteria, viruses, fungi and […]

Investment Thesis This report focuses on product development efforts discussed in Agenus’ 2Q, 2016 conference call. My most likely investment scenario for Agenus is that it is acquired within the next three years and potentially at a valuation of as much as $25 per share. The reasoning behind this is discussed in my May 3, […]

Investment Thesis in Brief I continue to recommend Agenus for its impressive technology platforms in immuno-oncology. It is difficult to assign a price target because of the early stage of its pipeline. A principal driving force behind my recommendation is that many large biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms are far behind in the checkpoint modulator and […]

Terms of the Royalty Deal Agenus announced on September 9th that it had signed a royalty transaction with Oberlan Capital from which they will immediately receive $100 million. In return, Oberlan will receive (for a period) 100% of royalties stemming from the use of Agenus’ QS-21 adjuvant in Glaxo’s shingles and malaria prophylactic vaccines. This […]

SmithOnStocks Mailbox  Comments on Agenus, ImmunoCellular, Discovery Laboratories, Neuralstem, Kite and Juno About the Mailbox: My mailbox comments are brief notes on stocks in which I am involved. They can come from recent events or from subscribers’ questions. Comments are meant to address specific issues about these stocks and are not full and balanced reports. […]

Overview of Report I found the Agenus R&D day to be extremely interesting as it showcased the impressive immunotherapy technology base of Agenus. Presentations by management and key opinion leaders went into great detail on the Company’s core Prophage cancer vaccine and checkpoint modulator technologies. I have included bullet points on remarks that most interested […]

SmithOnStocks Mailbox About the Mailbox: My mailbox comments are brief articles on stocks in which I am involved. These can come from recent events or from subscribers’ questions. They are meant to address specific issues about these stocks and are not full and balanced reports. Please refer to the Reports section of my website for […]