Ayala Pharmaceuticals Inc (ADXS)

[equaloppforall]

Advaxis has a communication problem. Today's PR being a case in point. So what's wrong with communicating about their science being recognized in a peer reviewed publication? On its own, absolutely nothing; in fact it is actually great. But it is the timing that is completely ridiculous.

Advaxis ought to be aware that investors are extremely keen to know the company's strategy in the aftermath of Dan's departure 2 weeks ago. It could be a conference call by management to lay it out or a lengthy statement by the interim CEO or perhaps the striking of a major deal that would be self-explanatory with regard to direction (or even a buyout, although it is very unlikely, since the SP is ridiculously low to justify what I believe has to be a multi-billion valuation).

Many of us here know that the science is great, we've got the best ever data or at least great data in every indication, to the extent that we know them and that the most significant reason for where we are is the incessant HFT manipulation by shorts, with a distant second reason arguably being poor risk management or non-monetization of assets.

But Advaxis continues to make some rookie communication mistakes, which not only embolden shorts but also signify a tone-deaf quality on the part of management. This is typical of most speculative biotechs, but I don't consider Advaxis to be one. You shouldn't communicate about non-material issues that investors care very little about (or not at all) when the real issues to be communicated at this time (strategy, direction or a partnership to nullify the first two) remain unaddressed. The same goes for bad communication about what appears to be a dulling of relationship with AZN (leaving silly clues in a presentation).

While the shorts do their thing anyway, the company shouldn't provide that make people go "Is this the best update you've got to share while we are waiting for something vastly more important"? All significant catalysts that we hope to see materialize may still happen anytime, but I just dislike a general lack of common sense that emboldens the shorts.