8 Top Oncology Companies

The oncology market covers every area of cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment, and is one of the biggest sectors in the life science space.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies alike are working to develop best-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of various cancers, including lung, breast and prostate cancer.

Fortune Business Insights states that the global prescription drug market is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 8.9 percent to reach US$1.56 trillion by 2026. This growth is attributed to the “increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.”

For its part, Research and Markets projects that the oncology drugs market will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent to reach US$222.38 billion in 2027.

Investors interested in stocks in the global oncology market should take a look at biotech and pharmaceutical companies with a focus on oncology drugs and testing.

This list of top-rated oncology stocks on the NASDAQ was gathered through SwingTradeBot.com. The top oncology companies are listed in order of market cap, and all figures below were current as of market close on August 25, 2021.

1. ALX Oncology Holdings (NASDAQ:ALXO)

Market cap: US$2.98 billion; current share price: US$73.80

First on this top oncology companies list is ALX Oncology Holdings, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that is developing a pipeline of therapies that block the CD47 pathway; many forms of cancers use this gene expression to evade a patient’s immune response. ALX Oncology is creating therapies for solid tumors (for example, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer) and hematology (such as myelodysplastic syndromes and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma).

The company, in partnership with Merck (NYSE:MRK), recently announced that dosing has begun for a Phase 2 ASPEN-04 study evaluating the combination of ALX148, a next-generation CD47 blocker, with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, and standard chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

2. Cullinan Oncology (NASDAQ:CGEM)

Market cap: US$1.17 billion; current share price: US$26.85

Cullinan Oncology is an early stage biopharmaceutical company developing a diversified pipeline of targeted oncology and immuno-oncology therapies. The company recently presented interim data from an ongoing Phase 1/2a trial evaluating CLN-081 in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 mutations.

Not long ago Cullinan also completed enrolment for a Phase 2a 100 milligram expansion cohort and initiated expansion at 150 milligrams. A clinical and regulatory update is planned for Q4 2021.

3. AngioDynamics (NASDAQ:ANGO)

Market cap:US$1.07 billion; current share price: US$27.76

AngioDynamics is a leading global provider of minimally invasive therapeutic and diagnostic devices used by healthcare professionals for the treatment of cancer and peripheral vascular disease.

In its 2020 financials, AngioDynamics reported oncology sector net sales of US$14.3 million, up 14.2 percent compared to the prior-year period. The company attributed the year-over-year growth to increased sales of its NanoKnife and Microwave disposables and sales of the BioSentry Tract Sealant System. In August 2021, it highlighted its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a pivotal study of its NanoKnife System for ablation of prostate cancer in an intermediate-risk patient population.

4. Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCYC)

Market cap: US$833.9 million; current share price: US$32.69

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing medicines with its proprietary bicyclic peptide technology to treat various cancers underserved by existing therapies.

The company’s lead product candidate, called BT1718, is undergoing safety, tolerability and efficacy studies in an ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial in collaboration with, and fully funded by, the Cancer Research UK Center for Drug Development.

Bicycle Therapeutics recently signed an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS) to develop tissue-targeted delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics using Bicycle’s proprietary technology.

5. PDS Biotechnology (NASDAQ:PDSB)

Market cap: US$384.29 million; current share price: US$13.52

PDS Biotechnology is developing oncology therapies based on its proprietary Versamune platform, which trains the immune system to unleash a powerful targeted T-cell attack on various forms of cancer. The company is working to show its pipeline of potential cancer treatments can work in combination with FDA-approved standards of care and with other clinical-stage immunotherapeutic agents.

In mid-2021, PDS Biotech presented interim data from the National Cancer Institute-led Phase 2 clinical for its lead product, PDS0101. In the study, tumor reduction was observed in 83 percent of advanced HPV16-positive cancer patients who had relapsed or failed treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, but had not been treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Tumor reduction was reported in 58 percent of HPV16-positive patients who in addition had also failed checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

6. Fennec Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:FENC)

Market cap: US$207.01 million; current share price: US$7.96

Fennec Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing PEDMARK, a treatment for pediatric cancer patients experiencing hearing loss as a result of platinum-based chemotherapy.

The FDA has accepted for filing Fennec’s new drug application for PEDMARK and has granted the application priority review status. PEDMARK received breakthrough therapy and fast-track designation from the FDA in March 2018, and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of November 27, 2021. The marketing authorization application for the drug under the trade name PEDMARQSI is currently under evaluation by the European Medicines Agency.

7. Ayala Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AYLA)

Market cap: US$166.18 million; current share price: US$12.54

Ayala Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology company developing small-molecule therapeutics for patients suffering from rare and aggressive cancers. The company has two product candidates under development, AL101 and AL102, for the treatment of a variety of tumors, including adenoid cystic carcinoma, breast cancer, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, desmoid tumors and multiple myeloma.

AL101 has received fast-track designation and orphan drug designation from the FDA and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma bearing Notch-activating mutations; it is also in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with triple negative breast cancer bearing Notch-activating mutations and other gene rearrangements. AL102 is currently being advanced to Phase 2/3 clinical trials for patients with desmoid tumors.

8. BriaCell Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCTX)

Market cap: US$91.16 million; current share price: US$5.97

BriaCell Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing innovative immunotherapies for treating cancer and infectious diseases. BriaCell’s lead candidate, Bria-IMT, is an immunotherapy currently being developed to treat advanced breast cancer. Bria-IMT recently achieved positive proof of concept, showing outstanding safety and efficacy data.

In August 2021, BriaCell announced a collaboration with ImaginAb, a market-leading global biotechnology company, to evaluate immunotherapy imaging technology in advanced breast cancer.

This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2018.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editorial Disclosure: BriaCell Therapeutics is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.

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