Avacta opens Phase 1 trial for sustained-release tumor-targeted exatecan therapy

Avacta Group plc ( (GB:AVCT) ) has issued an update.

Avacta Therapeutics has opened a Phase 1 trial for FAP-Exd (AVA6103), its second clinical program and first sustained-release pre|CISION peptide-drug conjugate, at specialty oncology centers in Virginia and Texas. The investigational therapy is a fibroblast activation protein–activated version of exatecan, a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor intended to concentrate its effect in solid tumors.

The Phase 1a dose-escalation study will assess safety, tumor and plasma pharmacokinetics, and early signals of efficacy in adults with advanced pancreatic, cervical and vulvar, gastric and gastroesophageal junction, and small cell lung cancers, on biweekly and triweekly dosing schedules. Avacta’s chief executive highlighted that AVA6103 has progressed into the clinic faster than typical industry timelines and is expected to enhance exatecan’s efficacy while mitigating the severe toxicities that limited its earlier clinical use, marking a key milestone in expanding the company’s oncology pipeline.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:AVCT) stock is a Hold with a £48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Avacta Group plc stock, see the GB:AVCT Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on AVCT Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, AVCT is a Neutral.

Avacta Group plc’s overall stock score is primarily impacted by its weak financial performance and bearish technical indicators. While there is some progress in clinical programs, financial constraints and lack of partnerships remain significant risks. The stock’s valuation is unattractive due to negative earnings and no dividend yield.

To see Spark’s full report on AVCT stock, click here.

More about Avacta Group plc

Avacta Therapeutics, a unit of Avacta Group plc, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, developing its proprietary pre|CISION platform to deliver highly potent cancer therapies. The company’s pipeline includes pre|CISION peptide-drug conjugates and Affimer-based drug conjugates designed to release cytotoxic payloads selectively in the tumor microenvironment, aiming to improve efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity.

Average Trading Volume: 2,179,939

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: £310.6M

See more data about AVCT stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.