July 25th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Key technology in the fight against cancer? Merck & Co., Vidac Pharma, AstraZeneca
Do you know what aerobic glycolysis is? No? Have you ever heard of the Warburg effect? Both terms describe the same phenomenon: cancer cells utilize glucose to produce lactate, even in the presence of oxygen and fully functional mitochondria. This is what distinguishes cancer cells from healthy cells. Current research suggests that targeted interventions in the Warburg effect could be suitable for killing cancer cells or making them more receptive to other therapies. Companies around the world are pushing forward research into this effect – the goal is nothing less than curing cancer. We present some of the companies and analyze whether their stocks could be good investments.
time to read: 3 minutes | Author: Nico Popp
ISIN: MERCK CO. DL-_01 | US58933Y1055 , VIDAC PHARMA HOLDING PLC | GB00BM9XQ619 , ASTRAZENECA PLC DL-_25 | GB0009895292
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Author
Nico Popp
At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories.
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Vidac Pharma is betting everything on the Warburg effect – Promising approaches
Current research approaches to the Warburg effect focus on depriving cancer cells of nutrients on the one hand and oxidative stress on the other, which makes other therapies more effective. The biotech company Vidac Pharma is fully committed to reversing the Warburg effect and focuses primarily on active ingredients for skin and liver cancer. In particular, VDA-1275, a drug candidate for solid tumors, has recently caused a stir: Preclinical studies have shown that VDA-1275 can increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents against liver cancer by a factor of 1000. The molecule showed statistically significant efficacy as a monotherapy and synergistic effects in combination with the active ingredients sorafenib and cisplatin. In addition, VDA-1275 triggered an immunological response. In a study of colon cancer in mice, VDA-1275 administered as monotherapy statistically significantly increased survival and delivered results comparable to those of Bristol-Myers Squibb's nivolumab. These promising results have led Vidac Pharma to also investigate the candidate VDA-1275 in brain tumors in collaboration with an Israeli clinic.
The drug candidate VDA-1102 targets skin cancer, specifically diseases such as actinic keratosis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The active ingredient has completed a Phase 2A study for both indications. Vidac is currently adjusting the formulation of the active ingredient and plans to start further clinical trials. Vidac holds comprehensive patents for both active ingredients. This patent protection secures the research work of recent years and gives value to the intellectual property.
AstraZeneca and Merck with potential links
With its patent portfolio, Vidac Pharma could complement the research of renowned pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The synergistic effect of Vidac Pharma's active ingredients with other drugs could be a particular opportunity. AstraZeneca currently has no drug candidates that reverse the Warburg effect, but is investigating the topic as part of its research into cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases. As AstraZeneca focuses on cell therapies (CAR-T and TCR-T therapies) in the field of oncology, there are further points of contact.
The situation is similar at Merck & Co. The New Jersey-based company's oncology pipeline focuses on immuno-oncology, tissue-targeted therapies, and precision molecular targeting. The three approaches involve influencing signaling pathways that drive cancer growth and identifying targets to weaken cancer. Although Merck & Co. does not explicitly mention the Warburg effect, cancer metabolism is a fundamental aspect of cell vulnerability – the synergistic use of Vidac Pharma's active ingredients with Merck & Co.'s candidates is therefore conceivable in principle. At the end of April 2025, Merck & Co. had over 50 programs in Phase 2, 30 in Phase 3, and 5 in regulatory review.** Active ingredients that have been proven to work synergistically and target the cell metabolism of cancer cells at a fundamental level could be a valuable addition to the portfolios of Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, or others.
Vidac Pharma: Patented technology opens up prospects for investors
Many of the major pharmaceutical companies have extensive oncology portfolios and are continually on the lookout for innovative mechanisms of action to expand their pipelines and gain competitive advantages. Since the major players do not explicitly highlight the Warburg effect as a primary target in their pipelines, Vidac Pharma could fill a strategic gap with its patented technology. The ability of VDA-1275 to achieve synergistic effects with existing chemotherapies and to remodel the tumor microenvironment sounds particularly attractive.
While companies such as Merck & Co. and AstraZeneca are worth several billion, Vidac Pharma's stock is a pure small cap – the Company is currently valued at around EUR 26 million. However, given the two drug candidates, both of which rely on the Warburg effect, the investment story is also much easier to understand: If the technology can be established as safe, effective, and superior to other drugs, shareholders can look forward to attractive returns. For large pharmaceutical multinationals, the approval of new drugs is generally far less important, but they are also less susceptible to setbacks.
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