Greetings, Doug, Proponent of the PCYC Thread.
I also bought some PCYC shares and have owned competitor, DUSA, in the past. Owning DUSA caused me to research photodynamic therapy in general, and PCYC, QLTIF, and PDTI in particular.
PCYC was the best stock-buy-candidate of the group, because it has a cash cow type product, Gadolite, pending FDA approval (since Fall). Gadolite is an MRI gastrointestinal contrast agent which provides "intense" images. The company has agreements with Wellcome (GLX) for manufacture, and EZ-EM (the market leader in MRI agents) for marketing, so they will be able to roll out Gadolite at minimal cost and with broad exposure.
If Gadolite provides a steady source of revenue, PCYC will be able to fund its very exciting programs in photodynamic therapy with minimal diluting partnerships and secondary offers of stock.
The advantages of PCYC's approach to PDT are threefold: 1) They use proprietary texaphyrins ("Texas-sized porphyrins") as PDT agents to release singlet oxygen. Partially metallic, they are easily imaged through diagnostic tools and have minimal bio-activity; hence a low side effect profile. 2) Their agents bind to cancerous cells, localizing effects. 3) Their agents are activated by light at the red frequency (not blue like delta-aminolevulinic acid) so effects penetrate deeper into tissue. They can be used to treat highly pigmented individuals and pigmented cancers (like Kaposi's Sarcoma).
Clinical results presented thus far have been stunning, particularly for breast cancer. At the June Atlanta Photobiology Conference, their study in breast cancer showed 68% complete response.
QLTIF and PDTI are also investigating proprietary photodynamic therapy agents. In my view, an advancement for any of these companies will cause more recognition and credibility for each of them.
Regards |
