Avacta Therapeutics (AVCT), a life sciences company developing next generation peptide drug conjugates (PDC) targeting powerful anti-tumor payloads directly to the tumor, announced preclinical results from its second pre|CISION® candidate FAP-EXd (AVA6103) and new analyses around the potential of the pre|CISION® platform at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
AVCT said “Our data presented today demonstrate that the platform can deliver potent payloads like exatecan with remarkable tumor selectivity and our novel sustained release mechanism. Together, these programs reinforce the broad potential of our pipeline to transform outcomes for patients and generate long-term value for shareholders.”
Comment: AVCT has been so tied up with its unsecured convertible bond, that this along with the drifting share price means that a jolly in Chicago must feel like a light distraction as it attempts to deliver its cancer slaying treatment.
Cornish Metals Inc. (CUSN), a mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its 100% owned and permitted South Crofty tin project in Cornwall, United Kingdom, announced the strengthening of the project and operations teams at South Crofty as the project transitions to construction and development. CUSN said “Following the successful closing of the recently announced fundraise, the executive search for key leadership roles at South Crofty has advanced with appointments made for a new General Manager and Project Director. Searches for other roles to further bolster the team at South Crofty are also underway.”
Comment: Having raised enough cash to pay for the NHS for at least an hour in March, it is jobs for the boys and girls time at CUSN. Hopefully, this will speed up the timelines for South Crofty.
Eco Buildings Group (ECOB), a UK-listed modular construction company, announced that its Albanian subsidiary, Eco Buildings Group Albania, has been awarded the ISO 14001:2015 certification for its Environmental Management System (EMS). This internationally recognized standard underscores the Group’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices.
Comment: For some strange reason the “Ikea” of modular construction seems to have interest from A List investors, after circling its particular airport for an extended period. Presumably its cash and operational needs have been delivered, and / or the pipeline, or someone is just good at investor relations.
Mendell Helium (MDH) provided an operational update on M3 Helium Corporation, along with a further update on the loan facility extended to M3 Helium previously announced on 7 April 2025. MDH said “The importance of Rost to M3 Helium and the Company is self-evident. This high pressure well with its high helium composition provides an opportunity to deliver meaningful revenues within the near term.”
Comment: MDH is very keen to underline the way that unless its contemporaries who may be still scratching around trying to find the stuff, or at least prove it up, it is producing and does not yet get the credit.
CyanConnode Holdings (CYAN), a global provider of IoT communication and smart metering solutions, provided a trading update for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. CYAN said “It is important to stress that underlying customer orders remain fully intact, and there is no change in the Government of India’s strong policy commitment to the nationwide transition to smart metering. The Government of India has also expanded its ambition, increasing the target deployment of smart meters from 250 million to 330 million, further reinforcing the scale of the opportunities for CyanConnode.”
Comment: Although today’s RNS has been treated as a warning, this is perhaps as much to do with it being described as one by the shorting conspiracy, rather than it necessarily being one. Perhaps the company highlighting the scale of the opportunity in India deserves a smaller decline for the stock of 20% in at market open.
Thor Energy (THR), the dual-listed natural hydrogen, helium and energy minerals exploration company, provided an update on its plan to commence geochemical survey acquisition at its HY-Range project, and an update on its project portfolio. THR said “This is an exciting time for Thor Energy as we build on last month’s prospective resource results, which provide the confidence and basis upon which to commence our exploration programme for Project HY-Range. This survey will provide critical new data to build on our foundational understanding of the project’s potential.”
Comment: This may be an exciting time for THR, but it would appear that this message has still not got out to the market, despite a string of recent interviews by the company. A little more work is perhaps required to get the stock off its current floor.
GreenX Metals (GRX) advised that it’s Tannenberg Copper Project (Tannenberg or Project) has expanded to 1,900km2 from 272km2 which includes a new region containing additional historic drill intercepts. The expanded project is highly prospective for sediment-hosted (Kupferschiefer type) copper deposits. GRX said “With the Tannenberg Copper Project expanding to 1,900km2, we now have an even larger scale, relatively shallow and potential high-grade copper brownfields exploration project that is strategically located in the heartland of German industry, with copper being recognised as a strategic raw material by the European Union.”
Comment: Given that the prospect of a mega win against Poland has not moved the share price dial yet, the latest project expansion helps, as does the backdrop of US interest in Greenland, and the need for critical metals in the wake of the China export ban.
Pulsar Helium Inc. (PLSR), a primary helium development company, announced an update for well-testing activities at Jetstream #1 and Jetstream #2 at its flagship Topaz project in Lake County, Minnesota. PLSR said “We are pleased with these preliminary findings and look forward to being able to resume flow testing when the rock dust has been removed from the wells. Our technical team is taking the necessary measures to complete the clean-up and we will advise investors as soon as these works are complete and when testing will be resumed.”
Comment: PLSR has kept its shareholders on the edge of their seats for an extended period. The longer the wait, the greater the expectation, and perhaps the cheaper the current rating appears.
Empire Metals Limited (EEE), the AIM-listed and OTCQB-traded resource exploration and development company, announced highly successful results from its recently completed Air Core (‘AC’) drilling programme at the Pitfield Project in Western Australia. EEE said “These exceptional results demonstrate the sheer scale and quality of titanium mineralisation at Pitfield. The consistency of high-grade intervals from near-surface, along with the depth and continuity of weathering, has surpassed our expectations. The bulk samples will now feed directly into upscaled metallurgical testwork aimed at fast-tracking product development.”
Comment: One cannot argue with “exceptional results” as described in a RNS. The main battle is for the shares to get through one year resistance at 12p, given the high grade news that the company has been serving up.
East Star Resources (EST), which is exploring for copper and gold in Kazakhstan, is pleased to announce that it has begun the digitisation process of historical data from the Rulikha Deposit, reported as 14.3Mt @ 1.2% Cu, 3.5% Zn, 0.28 g/t Au, and 13.5 g/t Ag. The historical reports demonstrate outstanding grades, including an 81.2m ore grade interval.
Comment: EST is finally getting the re-rate it deserves, backed by the latest newsflow, and the stock arguably dipping to new lows just before the tide turned as far as critical metals, tariffs, and the collapse of the dollar.
Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals (HEMO), the biopharmaceutical group developing new therapies and treatments for blood diseases, announces its final audited results for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Group incurred a loss for the year to 31 December 2024 of £5,625,478 (31 December 2023: £6,696,493 loss). The Company commenced Phase I clinical trials of its HG-CT-1product candidate. Continuing development of Chimeric Bait Receptor antiviral/biodefence platform, which gained attention at major conferences.
Comment: For the £5m a year cost, it might have been better for the company to just focus on just one thing it could get over the line, and rather than trying to land on the moon, just go for a Blue Origin type of goal in its chosen field.
European Metals Holdings (EMH) updated in relation to grant funding by the European Union for the Cinovec Project. Czech selection panel of the managing authority for the EU Just Transition Fund (“JTF”) has approved a CZK 800 million (US$ 36 million) grant to the Cinovec Project. The Cinovec Project is a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
Comment: Given that every mining company in town is currently hinting of government grants being forthcoming for critical metals, and not getting them, EMH is a positive standout, especially in terms of the quantum of the award.
Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:
The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. The commentators may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.
