ImmuPharma has lit up the market with its shares climbing 572 per cent in the last month.
While they started moving in late August, take-off came on 1 September after the company filed a new patent for its lead drug, P140. On the face of it, this was a fairly bog-standard update.
However, scratching the surface, the detail reveals ImmuPharma could be sitting on something special.
Currently being developed to treat Lupus, P140 potentially has a far wider and more fundamental application as an ‘immunormaliser’. Don’t worry if you don’t know what this term means, I’ll explain.
Put simply, P140 is being repurposed to correct an overactive immune system without weakening the body’s natural defences.
The patent, which could secure 20 years of protection, covers both the therapy and a new diagnostic test aimed at patients with a recently defined ‘Type M’ immune disorder.
This dual approach could speed diagnosis, sharpen trial results and widen the scope of P140 across as many as 50 autoimmune conditions.
By offering a way to restore immune balance without the side effects of conventional immunosuppressants, the drug has been hailed as a potential breakthrough.
P140 is being repurposed to correct an overactive immune system without weakening the body’s natural defences.
Chief executive Tim McCarthy called it ‘a game changer’, saying it strengthened the group’s hand in talks with partners.
Investors appear to agree: the shares have rocketed as hopes grow that P140 could succeed where other treatments have fallen short. The stock ended the week 138 per cent higher.
After a ropey mid-week dip, the AIM All-Share index was up 0.5 per cent over the five trading days after a strong rally at 769.74. However, it significantly underperformed the blue-chips, which rose 1.3 per cent.
Sticking with the week’s winners, shares in 80 Mile surged 50 per cent after Pelican Acquisition Corporation’s merger deal implied a $92 million value for the company’s retained 30 per cent stake in the Jameson hydrocarbon project in Greenland. The valuation highlights growing investor optimism ahead of the project’s long-awaited drilling campaign.
Rockfire Resources rocketed 48 per cent after the company confirmed diamond drilling is under way at its Molaoi zinc project in Greece. The 10,000-metre programme aims to upgrade resources and outline germanium potential, with management promising a steady flow of updates as work continues into early 2026.
SEEEN advanced 24 per cent this week after the video technology group reported 2024 revenues up 48 per cent to $3.04million, with growth accelerating in 2025. The company hit monthly cashflow breakeven and flagged a potential $3.5 million contract, boosting confidence in its pipeline and outlook for the year.
Onto the fallers. ANGLE, which has developed a cancer diagnostic, dropped 57 per cent in the wake of poorly received interim results earlier in the week. On Friday it notified the market that founder and long-serving chief executive Andrew Newland and finance director Ian Griffiths will step down from the board following discussions with a major shareholder.
Finseta shares are down 37 per cent this week after the payments group cut full-year growth guidance, blaming weaker-than-expected US dollar trading. First-half revenue rose 16 per cent to £5.9 million, but earnings slipped as the company invested in new initiatives. Management said recent expansion moves should support stronger growth over the medium term.
Shares in Distil, the maker of posh spirits where greentech entrepreneur Graham Cooley has been stake-building, succumbed to a bout of profit-taking. Having rallied 130 per cent in the last six months, the shares lost 33 per cent in just a week… and on zero news.
Finally, one that has flown under the radar. Scancell’s prelims brought into focus the significant clinical progress made in the last 12 months, as well as spelling out what investors should expect next.
Its preparations follow encouraging results from its melanoma vaccine trial in July, and Panmure Liberum, its house broker, reckons the next 18 months will be busy.
The house keeps a ‘buy’ rating and a 32p target, compared with Thursday’s 8.45p share price. It argues that the shares already discount much of the risk.
Data from SCOPE and Modi-1, regulatory feedback, a potential partner for iSCIB1+ and progress with GlyMab are all in the diary.
The risk is still high. A randomised trial is expensive and demanding, and further funding will be needed.
But after years of work, Scancell has produced evidence that has convinced its broker to call it a step towards registrational development. The next question is whether it can persuade regulators and partners, too.
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