NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

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March 13,2014 By Joseph Hill - Oncology stocks that could offer SUPERNORMAL returns. The second treatment, the medium risk/medium reward treatments, is Northwest Biotherapeutics' (NWBO) DCVax-L. DCVax-L is an immunotherapy treatment targeted at glioblastoma multiforme, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. The science behind this treatment roots itself in a patient's immune system. To simplify, there is a special type of immune system cell called a dendritic cell, which help the immune system identify, among others, cancer cells. They break the cancer cells down into antigens, which signal the immune system and elicit an immune response. The immune system attacks every cell that displays the antigens, removing the cancerous cells from the body. Northwest Biotherapeutics manufactures the vaccine from a small piece of tumor (removed via surgery), and the treatment is administered intravenously.
In a small phase I/II trial DCVax-L demonstrated significant efficacy, with 20 patients more than doubling the current standard of care overall survival rate of 14.6 months to 36 months. A much larger phase III trial is currently underway and, if Northwest Biotherapeutics can replicate the early trial results, DCVax-L could expose the company to a multi-billion dollar market. Northwest Biotherapeutics expects to publish the results for the trial before the end of 2015.

To summarize this addition to the portfolio, Northwest Biotherapeutics is a development stage company with no current approved treatments. The company's dependency on the success of its pipeline makes it a risky investment. However, its lead treatment has demonstrated significant efficacy in human trials and final phase trials are currently underway. The company is currently valued $273M, which offers plenty of upside potential in the event of FDA approval for DCVax-L. http://www.investing.com/analysis/oncology-stocks-that-could-offer-supernormal-returns-205913