Evgen Pharma Share Discussion Threads

[bumpa33] 21/3/2021 15:02

The link for GWP was more a general example of an ‘end result’ of what can happen when there’s a fundamental step change in view for a substance that was once seen as ‘just’ an illegal recreational drug.

We’re still ‘just’ a cruciferous vegetable to 99.9% of the population.

[moneymunch] 21/3/2021 11:58

I wonder if the planned IND for SFX-01 in the US is related to Prof Thu Le's ongoing work and evaluation of SFX-01 for CKD at University of Rochester, New York....now that would be big news imho....Gla ;-)


February 2020

Professor Le and colleagues have previously published research showing an association between CKD patients with the GSTM1 null allele and more rapid CKD progression, and also that consumption of cruciferous vegetables (a source of sulforaphane) is associated with lower risks of kidney failure, with stronger effects in those having the GSTM1 null allele. On this basis, Professor Le approached Evgen, the developer of SFX-01, a stable form of sulforaphane that has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability in previous clinical trials.

Thu Le, Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Rochester Medical Center said: "We are pleased that Evgen will support our plans to undertake a clinical trial on SFX-01 in patients with CKD. Increased oxidative stress is a major molecular underpinning of CKD progression and our research suggests that patients with the GSTM1 null allele may particularly benefit from sulforaphane treatment via SFX-01 dosing."



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January 2021

Eat Your Broccoli: Oxidative Stress, NRF2, and Sulforaphane in Chronic Kidney Disease

January 2021 Nutrients 13(1):266

DOI: 10.3390/nu13010266
Authors:
Scott Liebman

University of Rochester

Thu H Le

University of Rochester Medical Center

Abstract and Figures

The mainstay of therapy for chronic kidney disease is control of blood pressure and proteinuria through the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that were introduced more than 20 years ago. Yet, many chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients still progress to end-stage kidney disease—the ultimate in failed prevention. While increased oxidative stress is a major molecular underpinning of CKD progression, no treatment modality specifically targeting oxidative stress has been established clinically. Here, we review the influence of oxidative stress in CKD, and discuss regarding the role of the Nrf2 pathway in kidney disease from studies using genetic and pharmacologic approaches in animal models and clinical trials. We will then focus on the promising therapeutic potential of sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables that has garnered significant attention over the past decade for its potent Nrf2-activating effect, and implications for precision medicine.



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January 2020

University of Rochester

Thu H Le

University of Rochester Medical Center

GSTM1 Deletion Exaggerates Kidney Injury in Experimental Mouse Models and Confers the Protective Effect of Cruciferous Vegetables in Mice and Humans
Significance Statement

GSTM1 encodes a member of a superfamily of antioxidant enzymes, and a highly prevalent GSTM1 deletion variant is associated with kidney disease progression in two human study cohorts. In this study, the authors demonstrate that Gstm1 knockout mice exhibit increased oxidative stress, kidney injury, and inflammation in models of CKD and hypertension, and that Gstm1 loss in the parenchyma but not in bone marrow–derived cells drives renal inflammation. Importantly, consumption of broccoli powder or cruciferous vegetables was protective against kidney disease only in Gstm1 knockout mice, and was observed mainly in the human participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who were homozygous for GSTM1 deletion. These findings suggest that targeting antioxidant therapy specifically in individuals carrying the GSTM1 deletion variant may be effective in delaying kidney disease progression.

[moneymunch] 21/3/2021 11:46

Evgen have been around a while too, and i wouldn't be surprised if a Nasdaq listing is in the planning in the not too distant, if data confirms the likelihood of efficacy in any of their disease targets, as well as the current work to file an IND for SFX-01 in the US, which we're awaiting news on detail etc. Gl ;-)


History

Evgen Pharma was founded in 2007 by two venture capital investors.

In 2010, the decision was taken to focus on intellectual property secured under licence from PharmAgra Labs Inc, a US chemical synthesis company that had discovered a method for synthesising and stabilising sulforaphane in a sugar lattice. The company branded the stabilised sulforaphane technology, Sulforadex®, and began building its pharmaceutical development capability.

Evgen Pharma joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2015 and subsequently acquired the world-wide rights to a series of novel sulforaphane analogues from the Spanish Research Council and the University of Seville.

In March 2019, Evgen Pharma announced positive results from the open-label Phase II trial of SFX-01 in patients with oestrogen-positive metastatic breast cancer that had become resistant to all prior lines of hormone therapy.

Evgen announced a collaboration with the University of Dundee on the STAR trial in June 2020, investigating whether SFX-01 can reduce the severity, or prevent the onset of, acute respiratory distress syndrome (“ARDS”) in respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. This is a 300-patient randomised, controlled trial.

In September 2020 Evgen announced a licence agreement with Juvenescence for SFX-01 in non-pharmaceutical applications for high-end nutritional health products. JuvLife is a US-based company developing IP-protected dietary products and functional foods to support consumers as they manage their health and affect the onset of age-related conditions.

Evgen’s Board is led by Barry Clare and the company welcomed Richard Moulson as Chief Financial Officer in January 2017. Dr Huw Jones joined Evgen in October 2020 as Chief Executive Officer.

[the stigologist] 21/3/2021 10:07

GWP took 20 years and them listing on NASDAQ though...

[bumpa33] 21/3/2021 09:13

News articles like the above are what keep me from being too impatient - when you have a naturally occurring substance that the market goes crazy for, largely because it suddenly/rapidly recognizes its myriad number of therapeutic capabilities.

And then values them accordingly. Well, the rewards are obvious.



See the parallels??

[moneymunch] 20/3/2021 20:07

Cheers thehitman1 very much appreciated, and let's hope the "Death Cross" signal reversal is coming our way The Stig, and if I remember rightly, you were the fist person to correctly suggest that funding for SFX-01's Covid trial could come from LifeArc, spot on mate, which also suggests that Bumpa can't be that impatient, because he was around when you suggested it....All good things...Gla:-)

[bumpa33] 20/3/2021 16:56

Haha Rb, yes you are so right ;)

[the stigologist] 20/3/2021 16:02

Chartwise this looks a Double Bottom

Turning around that 'Death Cross' signal would be a double whammy technical positive indicator

The 'scepticism'/boredom/tetchiness on here would indicate to me a lot of stale bulls or people who've thrown in the towel/capitulated etc

I also don't think you can divorce the backdrop of US biotech (XBI) index being hugely sold off as a result of long bond yield rising/risk off trade

[thehitman1] 20/3/2021 15:06

Money, good post.

[moneymunch] 20/3/2021 08:13

The calm before the storm..... I reckon the digestive period for the 8p placing shares is near enough done, hence the likelihood we're now due some imminent upside momentum, especially as it seems the majority of shares that have been sold at 8p and below have been mopped up on the quiet, judging by some of the large late reported trades , and so with the 8p placing shares settling in firm hands, it's inevitable that the share price will start heading upwards as more investors are attracted by Evgen's exceptionally strong cash position and the fact they have so many opportunities to deliver shareholder value.

There's multiple positive newsflow that could drop at anytime, but the big one is obviously Prof Chalmers interim analysis on the efficacy data on SFX-01 Covid/Ards patient trial, expected Q2...positive data will be a game changer and will no doubt see the share price multi-bag, but finding effective treatments for Covid/Ards has been extremely difficult with very few that have been approved and a long list of promising drugs that have failed to meet their clinical end points, and so I'm sure there must be many investors who are nervous about investing here at the moment just incase news from Prof Chalmers isn't good.

This would obviously impact the share price dramatically, but only temporarily , c£13m cash in the bank and a raft of other potential positive news expected near term from the rest of the pipeline would see the share price recover quickly imho....and of course if Prof Chalmers delivers good news, then those invested now will reap the rewards.

SFX-01 for Covid/Ards isn't a shot in the dark and there's endless documented research that suggests Sulforaphane's influence on Nrf2 / oxidative stress etc associated with respiratory inflammation disorders , could be of therapeutic benefit, and so the risk reward going forward is firmly in our favour regardless....no doubt the same prospects and potential that were compelling to Octopus, Chelverton and Rab and why they have invested heavily at this most exciting time of Evgen's development....fortune favours the brave and those that have done their research and due diligence...Everything firmly crossed for success....Undoubted Transformational Upside on multiple fronts. Gla :-)

[moneymunch] 18/3/2021 15:44

I think we've seen the bottom at long last...time for some UPward momentum. Gla Holders....On and UP!!! ;-)

[moneymunch] 18/3/2021 07:59

It's taken longer than first envisaged Bumpa, that's a fact, but Evgen now have c£13m cash to accelerate development of their multiple disease target pipline, and newsflow is likely to come thick and fast from now on in, and so every chance that our patience will be duly rewarded in due course as Evgen delivers on their potential and prospects........just need the 8p placing shares to settle in firm hands, an accumulation is in progress imho.......and we'll be ready for take off......Evgen are all set for growth and potential transformational shareholder value....Hold tight and enjoy the ride!!! ;-)

[bumpa33] 18/3/2021 07:32

just being facetious re KP mm, in seriousness it’s good to get some media coverage at least - as opposed to zero before - however the company could do a lot more in that area. Let’s hope in that case that forthcoming news does the talking. To be frank I’m getting a little impatient.

[moneymunch] 18/3/2021 06:53

Maybe longer term than most, but obviously here for a potential multibag like the majority, after indepth research and due diligence, and just as excited by the sounds of it. Gl ;-)

[awise355] 18/3/2021 06:42

Great stuff

[moneymunch] 17/3/2021 21:08

The reason they've just invested £1.75m in Evgen. Gla :-)

We invest in small, relatively early-stage businesses. These micro cap companies tend to be sub-100 million. In general, we're looking for companies that can become relevant in their particular sector on a global scale and have the potential to grow to a multiple of the size they are at the point of investment.

Our philosophy is to become long-term co-owners in businesses that are very progressive and will become increasingly relevant in the world. We won't do what some other micro-cap funds might do, which is sell when companies get to a certain market cap. We'll continue to hold them until we think that they have reached a point where all of the upside is in the share price.

[moneymunch] 17/3/2021 20:53

Event Voice: Your Questions Answered by Octopus Investments at Investment Select

Richard Power, Head of Quoted Smaller Companies at Octopus

Can you give a brief overview of your strategy in terms of what you are trying to achieve for investors, your investment process and the make-up of the investment team?

The lead manager of the fund is Richard Power, who has been running the fund since its launch in 2007. Richard is directly assisted by Chris McVey and Dominic Weller in addition to the wider Quoted Companies Team at Octopus which consists of 8 investment professionals.  The team manage a range of mandates focused on quoted smaller companies, including two AIM Venture Capital Trusts which ensures a good focus on, and understanding of, the smallest quoted companies. Collectively, the team manage £2.2bn.

We invest in small, relatively early-stage businesses. These micro cap companies tend to be sub-100 million. In general, we're looking for companies that can become relevant in their particular sector on a global scale and have the potential to grow to a multiple of the size they are at the point of investment.

Our philosophy is to become long-term co-owners in businesses that are very progressive and will become increasingly relevant in the world. We won't do what some other micro-cap funds might do, which is sell when companies get to a certain market cap. We'll continue to hold them until we think that they have reached a point where all of the upside is in the share price.

That means we've got a core portfolio of companies that are profitable and on a recognisable growth trajectory. We hope those businesses can double their profits in a three to five-year time horizon. A lot of our holdings have been in the portfolio for ten years and have gone up ten, 15 or 20-fold in that time.

How have you been trying to weather the storm caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and what could be the longer-term implications for your strategy?

Equity markets get increasingly inefficient during periods of volatility which presents investors with opportunities. That was certainly the case in 2020, and small companies respond well during periods of accelerated change. We therefore remain excited about the prospects for our funds and the asset class over the next few years.

Can you identify a couple of key investment opportunities for your fund you are playing at the moment in the portfolio? This could be at a stock, sector or thematic level.

We've got a core portfolio of companies that are profitable and on a recognisable growth trajectory. Our expectation is that these companies can double their profits in a three to five-year time horizon. Many of our holdings have been in the portfolio for ten years and have grown significantly since the original investment. For example, ID verification software provider GB Group has grown its profits from £1mn to over £40mn since the fund invested in 2010. As a result, the market cap of the company has grown from £20mn to £1.8bn over that period. Similarly RWS Holdings, a patent translation business with a market cap of £60mn at the point of investment, is today valued at £2.3bn. Other examples include Future which has grown its market value from £66mn to £1.8bn and Keywords Studios which has grown from £90mn to £2.0bn over the period the fund has been invested.

To find out more, join our webinar on Tuesday 23rd March at 11am where Richard Power will discuss why he is excited about the opportunities in the UK and how current fund positioning has aided returns

[moneymunch] 17/3/2021 20:42

I think she's great.;-)

[awise355] 17/3/2021 20:36

Keep it real guys her style is actually more direct than most and she gets to ask the odd cheeky question that mostly gets rebutted but actually she's a good addition to the team! / ok also she isn't exactly difficult to watch

[moneymunch] 17/3/2021 20:32

Lol...chance would be a fine thing....anyways, I reckon Huw will have loads to speak to her about, very soon....this is getting ready for a re-rate or two imho.Gl ;-)