AI in Biotech: The Future of Cancer Therapy?Lantern Pharma Inc. is making waves in the biotech sector, leveraging its proprietary RADR® AI platform to accelerate the development of targeted cancer therapies. The company recently achieved significant milestones, including FDA clearance for a Phase 1b/2 trial of LP-184 in a difficult-to-treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subset. This patient population, characterized by specific genetic mutations and poor response to existing treatments, represents a substantial unmet medical need and a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity. LP-184's mechanism, which selectively targets cancer cells overexpressing the PTGR1 enzyme, offers a precision approach aimed at improving efficacy while reducing toxicity.
LP-184's potential extends beyond NSCLC, having received multiple FDA Fast Track Designations for aggressive cancers like Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and Glioblastoma. Preclinical data support its activity in these areas, including synergy with other therapies and favorable properties like brain penetrance for CNS cancers. Furthermore, Lantern Pharma has demonstrated a commitment to rare pediatric cancers, securing Rare Pediatric Disease Designations for LP-184 in MRT, RMS, and hepatoblastoma, which could also yield valuable priority review vouchers.
The company's financial position, marked by strong liquidity according to InvestingPro data, supports its ongoing investment in R&D and its AI-driven pipeline. While reporting a net loss reflecting these investments, Lantern Pharma anticipates key data readouts in 2025 and actively seeks further funding. Analysts view the stock as potentially undervalued, with price targets suggesting future growth. Lantern Pharma's strategy of combining advanced AI with a deep understanding of cancer biology positions it to address high-need patient populations and potentially transform oncology drug development.
LTRN trade ideas
LTRN Lower Float, Light Vol, Big News Now What?LTRN is a stranger to high volume. For the last 2 quarters, it hasn't traded more than 355k shares on a GOOD day. Many days even see less than 100k shares trade. The current OS on it is 11 M suggesting the float is, at the very most, 11 million as of the last reported OS. This morning the company announced FDA news and was granted Orphan Drug Designation for its LP-184 pancreatic cancer treatment. "This orphan designation is one of many upcoming milestones that we expect to achieve for our LP-184 program in pancreatic cancer. We recently reported that LP-184 demonstrated significant and rapid pancreatic tumor shrinkage, by over 90%, within in-vivo mouse models over 8 weeks. In comparison, the tumors in the untreated mice grew by over eleven-fold in volume during the same 8-week period. We are excited to advance this groundbreaking research to help patients suffering from this devastating disease where the benefits of current treatment options are very limited." - Panna Sharma, President & CEO of Lantern Pharma.
Taking a look at the chart and fib retracement using recent lows and the anchor, you can see how the 786 fib line has remained a consistent pivot on the chart. It was a previous support that LTRN bounced off of. Now, over more recent weeks it has become more of a resistance with the stock now treading water during premarket trading on Aug 11. Though LTRN has broken above the 50DMA for the first time in quite a while, it was rejected during premarket trading when it tested the 200DMA level around $16. Considering all of these major areas of focus, it will be interesting to see if enough momentum is in play for any meaningful move to persist or if LTRN will fall back once again.
If there's one thing that has been in the spotlight this summer it has been cancer treatment stocks.
Sanofi (SNY) Acquired Translate Bio (TBIO)
Bristol Myers' (BMY) Opdivo Showed Significant Growth
Merck's drug gained FDA approval
CYTK broke out big sparking a biotech rally
Fate Therapeutics Progressed with its trial
You also had a bunch of momentum building off the back of biotech breakouts, in general this week. "a few former penny stocks on Robinhood raised eyebrows in the analyst community. In fact, these analysts have given targets between 23% and 368% higher than where these stocks currently trade."
Quote Source & Read more: Hot Stocks To Watch On Robinhood With Analyst Targets Up To 368%
Lantern Pharma's financials are a bit concerning. Lantern should be avoided right now until a bottom is confirmed. The company is not a buy right now. In June Lantern IPOd 1.75M shares for $26,250,000.
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $23.8 million as of June 30, 2020, compared to $1.2 million as of December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to proceeds from the IPO in June 2020.
They had a cash position of $1.2M in December and after the cash injection they only spent $157k on R&D after having spent $361k - not a good sign development is going well & then finished the quarter with a $833,422 loss.... which essentially means even if the company zombied out they could live off of this amount for 7.5 years before burning out of cash.
They did exactly what you do not want a startup to do - they blew up Administrative expenses to $676,399 compared to $268,120 the prior quarter.
If you are trying to bring cancer therapies to market through utilization of A.I. - you invest in R&D and not admin bloat.