Tiziana Life Sciences (TILS) has continued its battle to discover a treatment for severe forms of cancer. Metastatic cancers - those with cells that divide and spread uncontrollably - are among the most deadly, and the group is currently working on a potential treatment known as milciclib. In 2015, Tiziana concluded negotiations with milciclib's owners, Italian company Nerviano, for its exclusive licence.
In May 2015, Tiziana became involved in a second research project with the University of Cardiff to develop a novel anti-cancer stem cell technology. The agent - OH14 - is expected to make it possible for tumour cells to perform programmed cell death, which is crucial in helping stop proliferation of the cancer.
Financially, the story remains the same. Losses in the period widened thanks to a near eightfold increase in research and development costs to £6.29m. But the company has an impressive ability to raise money - suggesting a show of faith in its clinical developments. In 2015, it completed four separate fundraisings, ending the year with £8.9m on the balance sheet.
Just how Tiziana will register a profit from its drug programmes seems slightly unclear at present. However, biopharmaceutical tycoon Jim Tripp has recently been added to the management team as chief operating officer and it is expected he will help guide development progress using his 20 years of industry expertise.
TIZIANA LIFE SCIENCES (TILS) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD PRICE: | 130p | MARKET VALUE: | £121m | |
| TOUCH: | 128-138p | 12-MONTHHIGH: | 250p | LOW: 102p |
| DIVIDEND YIELD: | NIL | PE RATIO: | NA | |
| NET ASSET VALUE: | 9p | NET CASH: | £8.9m | |
| Year to 31 Dec | Turnover (£m) | Pre-tax profit (£m) | Earnings per share (p) | Dividend per share (p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011* | nil | -0.3 | -0.1 | nil |
| 2012* | nil | -0.7 | -0.2 | nil |
| 2013* | nil | -0.3 | -0.1 | nil |
| 2014** | nil | -3.4 | -14.6 | nil |
| 2015 | nil | -8.6 | -9.5 | nil |
| % change | - | - | - | - |
Ex-div: na Payment: na *Comparables as per 2014 prospectus **Restated figures | ||||
