LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2016 / Now that investors have gotten their first taste of the potential returns from the treatment of liver diseases, such as hepatitis C, which generated over $12.5 billion in 2014 sales and another $14.3 billion in the first nine months of 2015 for Gilead, companies are now looking to target other large liver disease markets.
Several biotechs are working on treatments for a wide range of liver diseases from hepatitis B and fatty liver conditions caused by obesity to acute liver failure.
Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation caused by a buildup of fat in the liver and can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and death if left untreated. NASH is on track to become the leading cause of liver transplants by 2025, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. There is currently no approved treatment for NASH, but the market for a potential NASH treatment is estimated to be worth $35 billion by 2026, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank AG. Companies are also developing therapies to treat advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis as well, which, if approved, could each generate annual sales of over $10 billion.
Several smaller companies with drugs in the development pipeline are being looked at closely by investors, including Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Genfit, and Raptor Pharmaceuticals.
Another small company with an innovative approach to treating liver diseases that Investors should keep an eye on in 2016 is Endonovo Therapeutics (OTCQB: ENDV). Unlike other companies that are developing drugs, Endonovo is taking a radical new approach to the treatment of liver disease and other inflammatory conditions in the liver. ENDV is seeking to use bioelectronics to reduce inflammation in the liver and potentially help regenerate it. Reduced inflammation in the liver could result in a reversal of liver cirrhosis and other liver diseases. Endonovo's approach is truly cutting edge; its technology was originally developed at NASA to treat astronauts during long-term missions in outer space.
ENDV is a potential game changer for those suffering from liver diseases, such as acute liver failure, which has a mortality rate of approximately 50 percent in 28 days. ENDV's device targets inflammation and excessive cell death, which are viewed as drivers of the disease.
Endonovo's technology was previously shown to reduce acute inflammation in a Carrageenan Rat Footpad Edema (CFE) protocol, which is the drug/pharmaceutical industry gold standard for the initial screening of drugs and their effects on acute inflammation. In that study, Endonovo's technology was confirmed as a potentially effective anti-inflammatory non-invasive, non-implantable bioelectronic device. ENDV is now looking to replicate those results in the liver and other vital organs as well.
ENDV's bioelectronic approach would not only allow patients to avoid many of the potential side effects of drugs, but would also allow the company to potentially expand its technology to inflammatory conditions in other vital organs, such as the heart, lungs and kidneys as well.
The commercial application for this device is potentially endless and since bringing medical devices to market is much quicker and cheaper than drug development investors stand to benefit tremendously.
With some outlets calling for a major short squeeze on ENDV this could be the perfect time to enter the stock.
In other biotech news:
StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), a world leader in the research and development of cell-based therapeutics for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, today announced that Dr. Ian Massey, its President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed by the Board of Directors to succeed Martin McGlynn as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, effective today. Massey has additionally been elected to the Board. Investors will pay close attention to where the company's new CEO will steer STEM.
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) announced the dosing of the first patient in a phase II/III study (IMerge) with its sole pipeline candidate, imetelstat, in patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Geron's shares were up 5.8% on the news.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO), a developer of DNA-based immunotherapies and vaccines in combination with proprietary electroporation delivery devices to prevent and treat cancers and infectious diseases announced a collaboration with GeneOne Life Science, Inc. to develop a DNA-based vaccine for the rapidly spreading Zika Virus that is threatening Latin America and has seen new cases in the US. Inovio and its collaborators will leverage their past experience in designing and testing novel DNA-based vaccines for related viruses, including the West Nile, dengue, and chikungunya viruses.
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSTI) a leader in the research and development of placenta-expanded PLX-PAD cells for the treatment of various ischemic and inflammatory conditions announced that Japan's health regulators have given the company a green light to commence a pivotal trial of PLX-PAD in 75 patients in the treatment of critical limb ischemia. Critical Limb Ischemia is estimated to be a $12 billion global market. Pluristem's shares were up over 10% on the news.
Being on the verge of a short squeeze, ENDV is the most exciting stock among these biotechs and investors could benefit almost immediately.
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Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. ACR Communication, LLC. which owns Microcapspeculators.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. ACR Communication, LLC., which owns Microcapspeculators.com, may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. ACR Communication LLC., which owns Microcapspeculators.com, may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or in equity in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. ACR Communication, LLC has been compensated a total of $12,000 cash by A non-affiliate third party of ENDV.
SOURCE: ACR Communication, LLC
