Geert Kersten: Targeting New Solutions for Head and Neck Cancer
Geert discusses CelSci’s drug treatment and trial which focuses on head and neck cancers. The standard protocol for such cancers is surgery and removal of tissue followed by chemotherapy or radiation. This can be very life changing for patients even if they survive. Their method instead focuses on boosting the immune systems ability to recognize and fight off the cancer before any other treatment occurs. All of the current drug treatments are used after conventional treatments. Geert says, “It makes more sense to boost your immune system while it is still healthy.”
They are nearing the end of an eight-year Phase III study of their drug Multikine and they have several large partners. The study will not end until a specific number of (283) deaths have occurred which could be a few months to perhaps another year. He knows it sounds terrible but that is the protocol they have to abide by. They are blinded to the exact data and the fact that deaths are not occurring almost certainly means the trial is a success.
Investors should consider CelSci if they want to help make this cancer treatment a success. Currently, they have a 200 million dollar market cap and Geert says that any “cancer drug that improves overall survivability have always sold for between five and twelve billion dollars.”
Time Stamp References:
0:45 – Overview of CelSci.
1:20 – Phase III Study.
2:40 – Drug market and the immune system.
3:30 – Awaiting the results of the study.
4:25 – Why investors should be interested.
Talking Points From This Week’s Episode
• Potentially revolutionary cancer drug.
• The trial should end in a few months to a year.
• The medicine helps the body’s immune system.
• Treatment and study appear to be successful.
Geert Kersten has served in his current leadership role as Director and Chief Executive Officer at CEL-SCI since 1995. Mr. Kersten has been with CEL-SCI from the early days of its inception since 1987. He has been involved in the pioneering field of cancer immunotherapy for almost two decades and has successfully steered CEL-SCI through many challenging cycles in the biotechnology industry.
Mr. Kersten also provides CEL-SCI with significant expertise in the fields of finance and law and has a unique vision of how the company’s Multikine product will change the way cancer is treated. Prior to CEL-SCI, Mr. Kersten worked at the law firm of Finley & Kumble and worked at Source Capital, an investment banking firm located in McLean, VA. He is a native of Germany, graduated from Millfield School in England, and completed his studies in the US. Mr. Kersten completed his Undergraduate Degree in Accounting, received an M.B.A. from George Washington University, and a law degree (J.D.) from American University in Washington, DC. Mr. Kersten is also the inventor of a patent on the potential use of Multikine in managing cholesterol. You can find out more at: https://cel-sci.com/