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TICKERS: BCLI

Analyst: Question Lingers Over Biotech’s Cell Therapy
Research Report

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The Quick Take

  • DawsonJames maintained its Neutral rating and no price target on Brainstorm given the uncertainty concerning both NurOwn's efficacy and the biotech's path forward regarding its cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
  • The critical question regarding Brainstorm today is whether or not its NurOwn mesenchymal stem cells secreting neurotrophic factors (MSC-NTF) are effective and consistently so, noted DawsonJames analyst Jason Kolbert in a Dec. 22 research note.
  • Brainstorm's Phase 3 trial of MSC-NTF cells in ALS did not meet the primary endpoint.
  • The biotech's latest-stage clinical program is in ALS.
  • Brainstorm ended Q3/21 with $26 million in cash, only about a year's worth of capital for it.

DawsonJames analyst Jason Kolbert pointed out that in BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s (BCLI:NASDAQ) Q3/21 corporate presentation, management highlighted three sets of data, from preclinical to Phase 3, surrounding NurOwn. But the critical piece of information, according to Kolbert, is the Phase 3 study, evaluating the biotech's stem cell therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), failed.

"All the data has shown that the safety is great, but the efficacy, at best, is minimal and in auto-immune diseases, that waxes and wanes," Kolbert noted.

Because efficacy of the cell therapy in this indication is "small, at best," the analyst wrote, another large, expensive and long pivotal clinical trial of MSC-NTF cell therapy in ALS, with revised criteria for participation, will need to be conducted. At this point, whether or not Brainstorm intends to carry this out, and when and how are unknown.

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Disclosures for Dawson James Securities Inc., Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., Dec. 22, 2021

Dawson James Securities, Inc. (the "Firm") is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC").
The Firm does not make a market in the securities of the subject company(s). The Firm has NOT engaged in investment banking relationships with BCLI in the prior twelve months, as a manager or co-manager of a public offering and has NOT received compensation resulting from those relationships. The Firm may seek compensation for investment banking services in the future from the subject company(s). The Firm has not received other compensation from the subject company(s) in the last 12 months for services unrelated to managing or co-managing of a public offering.
Neither the research analyst(s) whose name appears on this report nor any member of his (their) household is an officer, director or advisory board member of these companies. The Firm and/or its directors and employees may own securities of the company(s) in this report and may increase or decrease holdings in the future. As of November 30, 2021, the Firm as a whole did not beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity securities of the subject company(s) of this report. The Firm, its officers, directors, analysts or employees may affect transactions in and have long or short positions in the securities (or options or warrants related to those securities) of the company(s) subject to this report. The Firm may affect transactions as principal or agent in those securities.
Analysts receive no direct compensation in connection with the Firm's investment banking business. All Firm employees, including the analyst(s) responsible for preparing this report, may be eligible to receive non-product or service-specific monetary bonus compensation that is based upon various factors, including total revenues of the Firm and its affiliates as well as a portion of the proceeds from a broad pool of investment vehicles consisting of components of the compensation generated by investment banking activities, including but not limited to shares of stock and/or warrants, which may or may not include the securities referenced in this report.
Although the statements in this report have been obtained from and are based upon recognized statistical services, issuer reports or communications, or other sources that the Firm believes to be reliable, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. All opinions and estimates included in this report constitute the analyst's judgment as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice.
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