Important piece of the puzzle in the fight against cancer: Vidac Pharma, Roche, Merck & Co.

Vidac Pharma puts an end to cancer cells

Vidac Pharma is a London-listed biotech company focused on developing innovative cancer therapeutics. Its goal is to reverse the so-called Warburg effect in tumor cells. Specifically, Vidac develops small molecules that detach the enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2) from the mitochondria, thereby "normalizing" tumor cell metabolism. This process is intended to selectively enable tumor cells to undergo programmed cell death, while sparing healthy tissue. In practice, Vidac's drug candidates aim to neutralize the acidic tumor microbiology environment, a key factor that often promotes resistance to chemotherapy, while simultaneously reactivating the body's immune response against the tumor.

Vidac's lead candidate is the active ingredient VDA-1102, a topical ointment for the treatment of actinic keratosis (white skin cancer) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In one analysis, VDA-1102 achieved a 40% complete cure rate while demonstrating a remarkably low inflammation profile. VDA-1275, another promising candidate from Vidac Pharma, acts systemically against solid tumors and has already shown strong monotherapeutic efficacy and synergistic effects with standard therapies in both animal and organoid models.

Synergistic effect – Vidac is compatible

These results qualify Vidac Pharma as a potential partner for major pharmaceutical companies. The Company's approach of targeting the metabolic checkpoint of tumors is truly unique. The synergistic mode of action represents a great opportunity. For instance, normalizing the tumor microenvironment could improve the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors or even targeted antibodies. Excellent tolerability is another advantage over conventional cancer creams. In addition, Vidac has an experienced management team and a strong patent portfolio.

Merck & Co.: Strong in immune checkpoint inhibitors

Merck, for example, is strong in the field of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The US company is a global research heavyweight in the pharmaceutical and vaccine sector. With revenue of USD 64.2 billion in 2024, the group is one of the industry's giants. Its core business lies in patent-protected drugs in the fields of oncology, immunology, cardiology, and diabetes, as well as vaccines. Examples include vaccines against HPV, influenza, and COVID. Merck's immune checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda generated revenues of around USD 30 billion in 2024. Vidac's class of active ingredients could come into play here by shifting the acidic tumor environment, thereby making immune checkpoint inhibitors more efficient. Normalizing the microenvironment can help overcome tumor cells that were previously immune-resistant—a strong argument in favor of Vidac Pharma's technology.

Roche: Pharmaceutical giant and diagnostics specialist

Vidac also has potential synergies with Roche. Roche is a long-established Swiss pharmaceutical company with a strong focus on oncology, immunology, neurology, and rare diseases. The Basel-based company is unique in its two-pronged approach: in addition to its pharmaceuticals division, Roche operates a large diagnostics division, focusing on laboratory tests, imaging, and molecular diagnostics. In 2024, Roche generated revenue of around CHF 64 billion. Two-thirds of this came from the pharmaceuticals business and around one-third from diagnostics. This division combines high margins in the pharmaceutical sector with stable, recurring revenues from diagnostics and laboratory equipment. Roche's advanced diagnostics favor individualized therapeutic approaches and can also help, for example, in screening for Warburg signatures. Warburg signatures are characteristic metabolic patterns of tumor cells and are considered an indication of mitochondrial overload.

Great potential, low valuation: Vidac Pharma

While Merck & Co. and Roche are established heavyweights with different focuses, countless products, and bulging pipelines, Vidac Pharma focuses on its niche in the field of tumor cell metabolism. Since previous studies have yielded promising results and Vidac's research is fundamentally compatible with the pipelines of the big players in the biotech business, investors should consider taking a look at Vidac Pharma's stock. Although the share must be considered speculative, its low market capitalization of only around EUR 26 million indicates its great potential in the event of success. The stock could serve as a speculative addition to diversified portfolios, where small positions can yield outsized returns if the Company succeeds. One thing seems certain: even a single partnership with a major pharmaceutical company could send the share price soaring.