Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Public, OTC:PVCT)
StocksHaven Investments profiles one of the most exciting up-and-coming anti-cancer companies in the industry, Provectus Pharmaceuticals (OTC:PVCT). They have one of the deepest pipelines of any small cap biotech, focusing on treatments for: Melanoma, Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis, Breast Cancer, and Liver Metastasis. With three drugs nearly ready to enter Phase III, including one nearly entering Phase II for Breast Cancer, one of the largest target markets worldwide and seeking "compassionate use" in Australia and USA, look for Provectus to make a splash within the next couple of months.
They are developing and testing one of the most exciting anti- cancer compounds. It has been demonstrating significant effectiveness against Melanoma in Phase 2 clinical trials and it offers promising treatment for breast, liver and other solid tumor based metastatic cancers. The compound developed by Provectus, known as PV-10, is a liquid that is injected directly into certain types of tumors and has been shown to obliterate many of them with little or no toxic side effects.
Further, Provectus researchers have also seen something which was initially unexpected. Injection of the compound often causes a reduction in non-targeted tumors as well as the ones that have been directly injected. This surprising systemic effect is called the "bystander effect". It also suggests the emergence of a powerful and safe systemic anti-metastatic treatment.
The primary ingredient in the compound, known as PV-10, has a long history of use as a "maker die" and is known to have few, if any, toxic side effects in humans and other mammals. The current trials have been confirming the general safety of the compound. Provectus is moving as quickly as it can, without sacrificing the integrity of the study, to complete its Phase 2 clinical trials on Melanoma, to move forward on Phase 1 trial in liver and perhaps Phase 2 in breast cancer and to open up PV-10 for "compassionate use" in both Australia and the US. A compassionate use application is one where other cancers are treated beyond any FDA protocol.
About Provectus Pharmaceuticals
Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company that is focusing on developing invasive products for the treatment of psoriasis and other topical diseases, and certain forms of cancer including recurrent breast carcinoma, metastatic melanoma and liver cancer. The Company through its subsidiaries develops, licenses, markets and plans to sell products in three sectors of the healthcare industry, which include Over-the-counter products (OTC products), Prescription drugs and Medical device systems. The Company conducts its business through its seven wholly owned subsidiaries, namely Xantech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pure-ific Corporation, Provectus Biotech, Inc., Provectus Devicetech, Inc., Provectus Imaging, Inc., IP Tech, Inc. and Provectus Pharmatech, Inc. The Company's prescription drug products encompass the areas of dermatology and oncology and involve several types of small molecule-based drugs.
Products ( click image to enlarge )
PV-10 for Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye. It is one of the less common types of skin cancer but causes the majority (75%) of skin cancer related deaths. Melanocytes are normally present in skin, being responsible for the production of the dark pigment melanin. Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical research, the greatest chance of cure is in the early surgical resection of thin tumours.
Around 160,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in males and Caucasians. It is more common in Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, or in those who use tanning salons. According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year.
