Actuate Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ACTU) surged 14.41% to $2.46 in after-hours trading on Wednesday after Nature Medicine published Phase 2 pancreatic cancer trial data showing improved median overall survival with elraglusib plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel versus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone.
Elraglusib is a first-in-class, potent, small-molecule inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) that targets tumor survival pathways, reverses chemoresistance, and exhibits immunomodulatory properties.
What Is The Survival Benefit In Phase 2 Study
The randomized study in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma reported median overall survival of 10.1 months versus 7.2 months in patients receiving gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone, representing a 38% reduction in risk of death.
Daniel Schmitt, CEO of Actuate Therapeutics, said, “Elraglusib containing regimen delivered a 40% improvement in median overall survival, a 38% lower risk of death, and doubled the survival rate at one year compared to the current first-line chemotherapy regimen of GnP alone.”
According to the clinical-stage company, researchers reported increased intratumoral immune-cell activity in tumor samples and a generally manageable safety profile across the treatment arm.
“Collectively, these results provide a rationale for continued investigation of elraglusib-based combinations in pancreatic cancer and potentially other difficult-to-treat malignancies,” said Dr. Devalingam Mahalingam, lead author of the manuscript.
Trading Metrics, Technical Analysis
Actuate Therapeutics has a market capitalization of $50.97 million, with a 52-week range of $1.58 to $11.99.
The stock has a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 42.
Over the past 12 months, ACTU has dropped 73.88%.
The small-cap stock is currently trading about 5.5% above its 52-week low, indicating it remains near the lower end of its annual range.
The biotech stock has declined sharply and is trading close to its annual low, reflecting sustained pressure on its price. Investors are likely to look for clear signs of recovery before confidence returns.
HC Wainwright & Co. maintained a Buy rating on Actuate Therapeutics on Monday, with a revised price target of $15, down from $20.
Price Action: According to Benzinga Pro data, ACTU closed the regular session at $2.15, up 3.37%.
Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate ACTU stock has a negative price trend across all time frames.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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