There is much wealth to be found in China, the one-time sleeping giant of the Far East that is only now starting to be untapped. With more rumblings taking place out from behind what used to be a bamboo curtain, and the Communist nation taking on more capitalist trappings, attention is turning to solving other problems in that country that the government of Chairman Mao could not.
To that end, Dallas-based Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:ACCP), has as its main objective the conquest of cancer in countries far and near, and as summer gave way to fall, saw its efforts at healing rewarded. ACCP was awarded a $30-million supply agreement with RHEI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on bringing proprietary medicines to the China market, for the former’s flagship product, MuGard.
ACCP has also approved a sub-license agreement between RHEI and Shenzhen-based Jian An Pharmaceuticals Limited, to leverage Jian An's extensive sales, marketing and regulatory infrastructure for the launch of MuGard in China and Taiwan.
Cancer is a nasty companion that doesn’t take kindly to being fought. Mucositis is a frequent side-effect of cancer therapy for which there is no established treatment. MuGard is ACCP’s approved proprietary nanopolymer formulation for the management of mucositis, a rinse that provides a soothing oral coating.
A clinical study has shown that when MuGard is used by patients at the start of cancer therapy, the incidence and severity of mucositis are reduced. MuGard is available in Europe by prescription through ACCP’s marketing partner, SpePharm. The parent firm is getting MuGard’s name out there in this country, and, as we’ve seen, is pushing to make inroads in China and South Korea.
ACCP’s employees have been busy of late on other fronts, too; the firm currently has one Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved product, two products in Phase II clinical development, and three in preclinical development. Several of the company's products are based on ACCP’s proprietary nanopolymer technologies which provide enhanced drug delivery options for both new and approved pharmaceutical active ingredients.
ACCP’s stock bottomed out last month around $1.75 a share, after enjoying the heights around $3.59 late last October. The news about the contract with China shook things up a bit; with more than 129,000 shares changing hands, even though the stock finds itself trading just above $2.10 on September 22nd. This is supremely good news for those prospective investors seeking an economical, progressive small-cap stock with international ambitions. ACCP could prove ''good for whatever ails'' your portfolio.
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