ImmunoCellular (OTC: IMUC.OB): Top Gainer in Cancer Immunotherapy Index

The increased interest in the immunotherapy companies and growth of the sector followed the positive Phase 3 results of Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN), a CI Index component company, for its prostate cancer product Provenge and resulting 1,000% share price improvement 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. The different companies target different proteins for different cancers or cancer components. 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 $3.6 Billion. In addition to ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and Dendreon, the CI Index features Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: ONTY), Antigenics (NASDAQ: AGEN), Biovest (PINK SHEETS: BVTI.PK), Celldex Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CLDX), Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTC: NWBO.OB), CEL–SCI Corp. (AMEX:CVM), Generex Biotechnolgy (NASDAQ: GNBT) (as a proxy for its wholly-owned immunotherapeutic subsidiary, Antigen Express) and Mentor Capital, Inc. (PINK SHEETS: MNTR.PK) as proxy for its privately-held investee Quantum Immunologics, Inc.

The stock research section of BioMedReports.com has been expanded to include medical, scientific, and industry research report categories – including five new files for privately-held Quantum Immunologics (QI) related to its experimental dendritic cell (DC) cancer immunotherapy (CI) that targets OFA-iLRP (oncofetal antigen – immature laminin receptor protein) and most recent corporate presentation. Click here for my updated article on QI, following its presentation last week at the Rodman & Renshaw Healthcare conference.

In addition, QI’s cancer immunotherapy video is available at my YouTube channel for a three-minute visual animation of the underlying technology, which is currently being evaluated in a FDA-authorized Phase I/II trial is for Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients. In addition to breast cancer, the OFA-iLRP is present in multiple cancer lines and activates the immune system to attack cancer cells on a targeted basis with less harsh side effects (e.g. transient, flu-like symptoms resulting from immune system activation) as compared to chemo or radiation therapy.

The CI Index was developed in consultation with Mike Havrilla, PhD, co-founder and Managing Editor of BioMedReports.com. Dr. Havrilla actively manages 23 indexes, 12 of which are focused on modern healthcare trends. The Mentor Capital Cancer Immunotherapy Index is primarily an immunotherapy subset of his Cancer Diagnostic & Therapeutic (Dx/Tx) Micro-Cap Index. Weekly detail updates of the Cancer Immunotherapy Index may be reviewed at Mentor Capital’s recently revamped and expanded website.

Disclosure: Long IMUC.OB, MNTR.PK. See my full disclaimer at MikeHavRx.com at the bottom of any page.