Published on August 29, 2009 at 4:00 AM
The Cancer Immunotherapy Index of ten leading cancer immunotherapy stocks increased 23% since its inception July 10, 2009. The CI Index was developed by Mentor Capital as a peer group index against which investors could bench mark stock performance in the rapidly growing immunotherapy sector. In this first reporting, the strong six-week CI Index gain was paced by the 78% share price improvement of Mentor Capital, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MNTR). On July 10, 2009, Mentor Capital announced it had acquired a significant interest in and was a new public market proxy for Quantum Immunologics, Inc., a private company in FDA breast cancer trials. Oncothyreon (NASDAQ:ONTY), with significant lung cancer involvement, followed in CI Index performance with a 71% gain in its stock. Dendreon (NASDAQ:DNDN), with $2.7 Billion market capitalization, is the largest company in the Cancer Immunotherapy Index, and experienced a 1,000% share price gain during the Spring of 2009.
In cancer immunotherapy, instead of chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation, the body’s own immune system is triggered to attack cancer cells. Patients report only flu-like symptoms as their now activated natural defenses attempt to eradicate or stabilize the targeted cancers. The USA market addressed by the Cancer Immunotherapy Index companies is estimated at $45 Billion. The current combined market cap of the index component companies is $3.4 Billion. In addition to Mentor Capital, Oncothyreon and Dendreon, the CI Index features ImmunoCellular Theraputics (IMUC.OB), Antigenics (NASDAQ:AGEN), Biovest International (BVTI.PK), Celldex Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CLDX), Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO.OB), CEL – SCI Corp. (AMEX:CVM) and Generex Biotechnology (NASDAQ:GNBT) as a proxy for its wholly-owned immunotherapeutic subsidiary, Antigen Express.
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