Vascular Biogenics Ltd (VBLT)

[davidal66]

This was my fear as well during my due diligence phase in investing in VBLT. I've read that Avastin can create an hypoxic environment in glioblastoma(already a hypoxic environment to begin with). In theory, this could dampen immune therapies such as VB-111. There is actually a paper suggesting the order of Avastin plus immune therapies may be important--ie immune therapies first, then Avastin. However, I've read other papers suggesting Avastin may potentiate immune therapies and this is what the second cohort suggests in the phase II trial, so we will only know when the final results come out.

In looking again at VB-111, I'm more convinced than ever that it works, i.e. it has a biological effect. I'm less convinced that rGBM was/is the right initial target. I do recognize the companies mindset, an untapped, fairly large indication to gain a foothold with zero treatment options. Should they succeed, they can expand to newly diagnosed and other cancer indications. Should they fail, will they proceed with ovarian? moving to Modin? or will they retrench and move onward to the VB600 series and wait to proceed with ovarian after they finalize a NASH partnership.