Understanding metabolism, generating returns: Vidac Pharma, Roche, AstraZeneca

Roche goes where it pays off

It makes sense for companies to align themselves with major long-term trends. In the healthcare sector in particular, the challenges are clear: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurology are considered growth areas within the industry. The Swiss company Roche is specifically addressing these three areas, which will account for around 50% of the total disease burden by 2035. Most recently, quarterly revenue rose by 6%** to CHF 15.4 billion. Key growth drivers included the blockbusters Phesgo (breast cancer), Vabysmo (eyes) and Hemlibra (hemophilia). Roche's diagnostics division also remained stable despite general price pressure.

The Swiss company, which is strongly driven by research and development, is pursuing approaches that target human metabolism, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Roche has sought out partners for this purpose. Together with Zealand Pharma, Roche is promoting an amylin analog therapy that combines Roche's active ingredient CT-388 and is designed to promote weight loss. The project is also investigating the effects on diabetes and fatty liver disease.

AstraZeneca: Focus on oncology

AstraZeneca is also primarily focusing on drugs for obesity when it comes to metabolism—its biggest seller right now is the SGLT2 inhibitor Farxiga. However, oral GLP-1 agonists (AZD5004, Phase II), dual peptide agonists (GLP-1/amylin: AZD9550+AZD6234, Phase II) and therapies for chronic weight management are also in the pipeline. However, the most important growth area for AstraZeneca remains oncology, whose revenue grew more significantly in the past quarter (18%) than at the group level (+12%).

One company that targets metabolism within cells is the biotech company Vidac Pharma. The Company develops oncological dermatological agents and focuses on reversing the Warburg effect. Cancer cells have an altered energy metabolism: instead of efficiently generating energy, they prefer to rely on the rapid fermentation of glucose (known as the Warburg effect). As a result, they consume large amounts of sugar and drive their own growth.
Vidac Pharma is developing novel active ingredients that specifically detach the enzyme hexokinase-2 (HK2) from the mitochondria. This is intended to bring the pathological metabolism of cancer cells back into order. The goal: to stop uncontrolled cell division and enable the natural cell death of cancer cells again.

Vidac Pharma manipulates the cell metabolism of cancer cells

While researchers agree that reversing the Warburg effect is not as simple as flipping a switch, studies have demonstrated impressive success across multiple levels. Vidac Pharma currently has two promising drug candidates in development: a topical ointment for skin cancer, already in Phase 2 of clinical development, and a systemic therapy targeting solid tumors. The topical ointment in particular has delivered particularly strong early results. In an open-label study involving patients with early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL, Stage I), 56% of participants responded to treatment. Among them, 22% achieved complete remission within eight weeks, while 34% showed partial tumor regression after eight to twelve weeks. Notably, the disease remained stable in all study participants for at least four months, with no further cancer progression observed during that period.

There were also positive developments with the active ingredient that Vidac Pharma is developing for solid tumors (liver and colon cancer): A specialist article emphasizes that the active ingredient developed by Vidac can be used both as a standalone therapy and as a combination preparation. The study showed that the active ingredient reverses the Warburg effect, can restore programmed cell death, and can also create a microenvironment within diseased cells that increases the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents and promotes a pro-immune response.

Vidac Pharma: Potential in many directions

Despite these positive developments and optimistic analyst comments, including a recent "Buy" recommendation in August, Vidac Pharma's stock has continued to trade sideways. For investors, this consolidation phase offers a good opportunity to take a closer look at the Warburg effect and current therapeutic approaches. While the topic of "metabolism" is primarily mentioned in connection with diet and weight-loss treatments at companies like Roche and AstraZeneca, it is worth noting that both companies also have extensive oncology portfolios. Since Vidac Pharma's approach can have a synergistic effect, it offers numerous points of connection.