Avacta (AIM: AVCT) has enjoyed a strong recovery in sentiment during the second half of 2025, with the share price rising from around 30 pence in early July to 58.00 pence at the time of writing. This improvement reflects increased investor confidence following the company’s transition into a pure-play oncology group, supported by the completion of the Coris BioConcept sale and a strengthened cash runway into 2026.
The company’s interim half year results for 2025 confirm that £6.5 million was raised earlier in the year, while a further £16 million equity placing was completed in October to support clinical progress across its expanding oncology pipeline. These funds now underpin the development of AVA6000, AVA6103, and the wider pre|CISION programmes. With a reinforced balance sheet and new leadership across its scientific and clinical teams, Avacta is beginning to reshape its long term strategic positioning in the cancer therapeutics market.
The core driver of Avacta’s valuation remains AVA6000, the company’s first pre|CISION enabled therapeutic designed to deliver doxorubicin directly into the tumour microenvironment while sparing healthy tissue. Updated data from the Phase 1b trial, confirms durable responses in both salivary gland cancer and soft tissue sarcoma, with further signs of tumour shrinkage in selected patients.
These results show dramatic reductions in cardiac, haematologic, and gastrointestinal toxicity when compared with conventional doxorubicin. The company also recently presented data at the EORTC-NCI-AACR molecular targets symposium, further validating the platform’s ability to achieve a one-hundred-fold tumour-to-plasma drug concentration ratio. With expansion cohorts now recruiting patients with salivary gland cancer, high grade soft tissue sarcoma, and triple negative breast cancer, the clinical case for AVA6000 is strengthening.
As AVA6000 advances, Avacta is preparing to take AVA6103, its pre|CISION enabled exatecan programme, into first-in-human studies. Recent announcements outline how the programme was supported by preclinical results, where the candidate demonstrated sustained tumour release and complete responses in high potency models. These findings mirror the detailed scientific data shown in the company’s most recent corporate presentation.
Avacta is targeting a Phase 1 trial initiation in the first quarter of 2026, leveraging its collaboration with Tempus AI to identify optimal indications through tumour FAP profiling and SLFN11 responsiveness modelling. This data driven approach is expected to improve trial design, patient selection, and ultimately the speed at which AVA6103 progresses through early development.
Alongside its clinical programmes, Avacta is building a stronger operational and commercial foundation under its extensive leadership. The company’s management team, headed by CEO Christina Coughlin, includes senior oncology specialists with extensive industry experience across drug discovery, early stage clinical development, and regulatory interactions. Their expertise is reflected in Avacta’s streamlined organisational strategy which supports its goal of becoming a fully integrated oncology.
The recent shortlisting for AIM Technology of the Year adds further external recognition to the company’s position as an innovator in targeted oncology. With AVA6000 progressing through expansion cohorts, AVA6103 approaching Phase 1, and the broader pre|CISION platform demonstrating versatility across multiple payload classes, Avacta enters 2026 with clear momentum and several major clinical catalysts ahead.
