Some good news on the cancer front today from two similarly named companies.
VolitionRx (NYSE:VNRX) has reported more high cancer detection rates from its NuQ blood tests, this time in a study of lung cancer sufferers.
The nucleosome-based tests accurately detected more than 90% of lung cancer cases in a study of 73 patients, Volition said.
Cancer drug developer ValiRx (LON:VAL) is close to completing the dose escalation part of its Phase l/ll trial for advanced prostate cancer compound VAL201.
No significant adverse effects were recorded, it said, with other measurements comparable to pre-clinical results
Midatech (LON:MPTH) is poised to buy a cancer support care business for up to US$5mln, it revealed today.
Discussions are under way though the deal has yet to be concluded.
The initial consideration will be between US$3-5mln plus a deferred consideration based on revenues.
It has been a typically busy day in the energy sector.
88 Energy (LON:88E) is expanding its footprint on Alaska’s North Slope, with some 174,240 acres being added to the portfolio.
The company and its joint venture partner Burgundy Xploration have been confirmed as the high bidders for the acreage, which is contiguous with the existing project Icewine licences.
Aminex (LON:AEX) said it has cut a deal with Bowleven (LON:BLVN), one of the few juniors with cash in the bank, worth just over US$24mln that involves the sale and farm-down of assets in Tanzania.
Bowleven is buying a 25% stake in the Kiliwani North Development, while taking a 50% stake in the hugely prospective Ruvuma acreage.
There is a trickle down for Solo Oil (LON:SOLO), which is a partner in Ruvuma, and has agreed to vend in a 12.5% stake to the transaction.
The carry and bonuses are worth just over US$3.6mln to Solo.
San Leon Energy (LON:SLE) said the Rawicz-15 development well in Poland has been spudded.
It is expected to take around 35 days for the well to be drilled to a depth of around 1,600 metres,
On the mining front, Noricum Gold (LON:NMG) has found a new copper target at Kvemo Bolnisi, one of the explorer’s two deposits in the Republic of Georgia.
Greg Kuenzel, Noricum’s managing director, said while it was looking for gold primarily the discovery was a fantastic opportunity with potential to find a lot more copper on the prospect.
Polo Resources (LON:POL) has acquired interests in an Australian gold project which promises near term production via a A$2.1mln investment.
The AIM-quoted natural resources investor is increasing its direct stake in Australian group Blackham Resources (ASX:BLK) to 7.36% from 2.37%.
It is to buy 10mln ordinary shares at a price of 21 Australian cents, a discount of about 10% to the market price, from its partially owned associate Perfectus Management. In turn, Perfectus is being paid in Polo shares. It will receive 25mln new Polo shares at a premium price of 3.92p (36% more than Wednesday’s close of 2.88p).
SolGold (LON:SOLG) has replenished its coffers and paid off some bills by issuing shares.
In all, 62.2mln new shares have be issued at 1.5p a throw. Of these, 34.2mln have been placed with certain investors, raising £513,790, while just over 28mln shares have been handed over to settle fees of around £420,000 for services rendered.
Also raising funds was engineering group Hayward Tyler (LON:HAYT), which has raised £8.4mln that will be used to invest in the business and repay a bridging loan.
Shares have been placed with investors at last night's closing price of 90p. Shares rose 2p to 92p on the news.
I am not sure what FTSE sector bricks and marble would go in, but they seem to fit together.
Marble miner Fox Marble (LON:FOX) has opened a new quarry in Malesheva, Central Kosovo.
Fox has started digging at the site and has sent the first blocks of the milk-white Bianco Illirco marble for sampling.
Michelmersh Brick (LON:MBH) has picked up more than a quarter of the accolades on offer at this year's Brick Awards.
The company won 'Best Refurbishment Project', 'Best Public & Education Building', 'Best Urban Regeneration Project' and the 'BDA Chairman's Award'.
There has been some activity on the directors' deals front with biomass expert Active Energy (LON:AEG) revealing chief executive Richard Spinks has bought 175,000 shares at 5.5p per share.
Spinks now owns 10.1mln shares, as a result of the transaction, totalling around 1.75% of the company.
China Nonferrous Gold (LON:CNG) announced non-executive director Abuali Ismatov sold 250,000 shares at 22p per share reducing his stake to 1.13%.
Moving to software, and Exeter-based enterprise services platform and marketplace blur Group (LON:BLUR) announced it has completed the transition to a fully enterprise-focused model.
Enterprise businesses, companies with at least 50 employees, now accounts for 49% of all its ‘pitching on’ projects, with the number of projects rising 72% from the previous quarter.
Theme park technology expert Accesso Technologies (LON:ACSO) has signed a deal to provide additional point-of-sale technology to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Accesso Siriusware, which is software to improve the sales of the park, will be used at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 2016.
Lastly, tidal power expert Atlantis Resources (LON:ARL) is looking for long-term investors to bankroll its Scottish tidal power portfolio.
The group, which owns a majority stake in the world’s largest tidal current power project MeyGen, has engaged Macquarie Capital to review its options and attract strategic new investors.