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List of Publicly Traded Small-Cap Cancer Stocks
Comprehensive tracking of high-growth oncology firms with market caps between $300M and $2B, focused on next-generation immunotherapies and clinical breakthroughs.
This page is for informational and educational purposes only and does
not constitute investment advice. Always consult a qualified financial
professional before making investment decisions.
Navigating the List of Publicly Traded Small-Cap Cancer Stocks offers investors unique exposure to the high-stakes world of clinical-stage biotechnology. These companies, typically valued between $300M and $2B, focus on pioneering treatments within the specialized cancer section of the healthcare market. In 2026, the sector is defined by rapid advancements in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and T-cell therapies, where positive trial data can lead to triple-digit percentage gains. While highly volatile, these stocks are essential for those tracking the next wave of FDA approvals in the broader biotech section. The following data highlights the current performance leaders and critical pipeline milestones for this year.
Key Takeaways
01
Immuno-Oncology Momentum
Therapeutic vaccines and T-cell therapies are driving massive 2026 returns, with leaders like SLS and IOBT posting gains of over 100% YTD.
02
FDA Breakthrough Status
Breakthrough designations for combination therapies (e.g., Keytruda combos) remain the primary catalyst for small-cap valuation reratings.
03
M&A Consolidation Trends
Large-cap pharma firms continue to acquire successful small-cap pipelines to replenish their oncology portfolios following major delistings and acquisitions in 2025.
04
Clinical Trial Sensitivity
Phase 2 and 3 readouts for blood cancers and melanoma are the focal point for 2026, often acting as binary events for share price direction.
Top List of Publicly Traded Small-Cap Cancer Stocks by Market Cap (2026)
The following table tracks the most active small-cap oncology innovators by market capitalization and 2026 year-to-date performance.
| Rank | Ticker | Company | Cancer Focus | Market Cap | YTD % | Trial Phase | Lead Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLS | SELLAS Life Sciences | AML / Blood | $477M | +210% | Phase 3 | Galinpepimut-S |
| 2 | CADL | Candel Therapeutics | Immunotherapy | $371M | +518%* | Phase 2 | CAN-2409 |
| 3 | TLSA | Tiziana Life Sciences | Liver / Neuro | $184M | +125% | Phase 2 | Foralumab |
| 4 | IOBT | IO Biotech | Melanoma | $144M | +129% | Phase 3 | IO102-IO103 |
| 5 | VSTM | Verastem Oncology | RAS-driven | $310M | Stable | Phase 2 | Avutometinib |
| 6 | CRDF | Cardiff Oncology | Colorectal | $285M | +15% | Phase 2 | Onvansertib |
| 7 | MRKR | Marker Therapeutics | Multi-cancer | $115M | Volatile | Phase 1/2 | MT-401 |
Market data is approximate and reflects early Q2 2026 figures. *CADL return reflects prior year momentum carrying into current cycle. Not a recommendation to buy or sell.
List of Publicly Traded Small-Cap Cancer Stocks — Complete Company List
List of Publicly Traded Small-Cap Cancer Stocks Listed on Major U.S. Exchanges
Cancer: Small-Cap Stocks
- Acceleron Pharma Inc. (XLRN) (Cancer and orphan diseases)
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (ADAP) (IPO in May 2015, United Kingdom, biopharmaceutical company: cancer immunotherapy products)
- Aduro BioTech, Inc. (ADRO) (IPO in April 2015: Cancer immunotherapy; pancreatic cancer)
- Advaxis, Inc. (ADXS) (Clinical-stage biotechnology company: immunotherapies to treat cancer)
- Agenus Inc. (AGEN) (Immunology: cancer, infectious diseases)
- AngioDynamics, Inc. (ANGO) (Medical devices used treatment of cancer and peripheral vascular disease)
- Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS) (IPO March 15, 2018; biopharmaceutical company: cancer immunotherapies)
- argenx SE (ARGX) (IPO May 18, 2017; biotech company: autoimmune diseases and cancer)
- ARMO BioSciences, Inc. (ARMO) (IPO January 26, 2018; immuno-oncology company)
- Array BioPharma Inc. (ARRY) (Biopharmaceutical company: targeted small molecule drugs used to treat patients afflicted with cancer)
- Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ATRA) (Molecularly-targeted product candidates and T-cell product candidates; cancer, kidney disease and other illnesses)
- Athenex, Inc. (ANTX) (IPO June 14, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- Beigene, Ltd. (BGNE) (IPO February 3, 2016: Biopharmaceutical company with therapeutics designed to treat cancer)
- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BLCM) (Biopharmaceutical company: cellular immunotherapies for various forms of cancer; hematological and solid tumors, orphan inherited blood disorders)
- BeyondSpring Inc. (BYSI) (IPO March 9, 2017; cancer therapies)
- Blueprint Medicines Corporation (BPMC) (IPO in April 2015: Biopharmaceutical company: kinase inhibitors for genomically defined cancers)
- Cellectis SA (CLLS) (IPO in March 2015, France: Gene-editing company; cancer therapies based on engineered T cells)
- Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (CLDX) (Therapeutic antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, immune system modulators and vaccines; brain cancer, triple negative breast cancer)
- ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI) (Biopharmaceutical company: orally-administered therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders and cancer)
- Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CRVS) (IPO March 23, 2016: Biopharmaceutical company focused on immuno-oncology therapies for cancer)
- Cue Biopharma, Inc. (CUE) (IPO January 2, 2018; biopharmaceutical company: cancer and autoimmune disorders)
- Curis, Inc. (CRIS) (Drug candidates for the treatment of human cancers)
- CytomX Therapeutics Inc. (CTMX) (IPO in October 2015: Biopharmaceutical company; antibody therapeutics, oncology)
- Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (DCPH) (IPO September 28, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (EGRX) (Injectable products: critical care and oncology)
- Epizyme, Inc. (EPZM) (Biopharmaceutical company: therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers)
- ERYTECH Pharma S.A. (ERYP) (IPO November 10, 2017; France: biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN) (Biopharmaceutical company: anemia in chronic kidney disease, liver fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, corneal blindness)
- G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (GTHX) (IPO May 17, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- Geron Corporation (GERN) (Biopharmaceutical company: telomerase inhibitor in hematologic myeloid malignancies)
- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO) (Oncology therapies that target the tumor microenvironment)
- Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (HRTX) (Pharmaceutical products for patients suffering from cancer or pain)
- Hutchison China MediTech Limited (HCM) (IPO March 17, 2016: Biopharmaceutical company focused on immunological diseases and oncology in addition to consumer health products)
- Immunomedics, Inc. (IMMU) (Biopharmaceutical company: antibody-based products for the targeted treatment of cancer, autoimmune and other serious diseases)
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) (Cancer, infectious diseases, vaccines)
- Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (IOVA) (Immunotherapies based on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes)
- Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (JNCE) (IPO January 27, 2017; cancer immunotherapies)
- Kadmon Holdings, Inc. (KDMN) (IPO July 27, 2016: biopharmaceutical company developing product candidates within autoimmune and fibrotic diseases, oncology and genetic diseases)
- Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (KPTI) (Drugs for the treatment of cancer and other major diseases)
- Loxo Oncology, Inc. (LOXO) (Cancer therapies)
- MacroGenics, Inc. (MGNX) (Biopharmaceutical company: monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases)
- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MACK) (Biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (MRSN) (IPO June 28, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: cancer)
- Mesoblast Ltd. (MESO) (IPO in November 2015, Australia: regenerative medicine company; areas of focus include inflammation, cardiovascular disease and back pain)
- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA) (Therapeutics for oncology and autoimmune indications)
- NewLink Genetics Corporation (NLNK) (Biopharmaceutical company: immunotherapy products, pancreatic cancer)
- NovoCure Ltd. (NVCR) (IPO in October 2015, oncology company: treatment of solid tumor cancers)
- NuCana plc (NCNA) (IPO September 28, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: medicines designed to overcome key cancer resistance mechanisms using proprietary ProTide technology)
- Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. (ODT) (IPO December 7, 2017; pharmaceutical company: cancer)
- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OMED) (Biopharmaceutical company: antibody therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells)
- Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PGNX) (Oncology company: diagnostic and therapeutic needs of prostate cancer patients)
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTCT) (Biopharmaceutical company: oral treatments)
- Puma Biotechnology Inc. (PBYI) (Biopharmaceutical company: products for the treatment of various forms of cancer)
- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (RIGL) (Small-molecule drugs for the treatment of immune diseases and cancers)
- Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SPPI) (Hematology, oncology)
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SYRS) (IPO June 30, 2016: Biopharmaceutical company, gene control medicines)
- TG Therapeutics, Inc. (TGTX) (Biopharmaceutical company: B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases)
- Unum Therapeutics Inc. (UMRX) (IPO March 29, 2018; biopharmaceutical company: immunotherapy products)
- Xbiotech Inc. (XBIT) (Biopharmaceutical company: cancer antibodies)
- Zai Lab Limited (ZLAB) (IPO September 20, 2017; biopharmaceutical company: autoimmune diseases, cancer, infectious diseases)
- Ziopharm Oncology Inc. (ZIOP) (Biopharmaceutical company: cell-based therapies for the treatment of cancer)
Risks & Considerations
Binary Trial Outcomes
Small-cap biotech stocks are highly dependent on clinical success. A failed Phase 3 readout can result in an immediate 80-90% loss of market value overnight.
Cash Runway & Dilution
Most clinical-stage cancer firms are pre-revenue. Frequent secondary offerings are required to fund R&D, often diluting existing shareholders at lower prices.
FDA Regulatory Hurdles
Even successful trials do not guarantee approval. The FDA may require additional data or identify manufacturing issues, leading to significant commercialization delays.
High Market Volatility
The small-cap oncology sector is sensitive to interest rates and macro shifts. These stocks typically trade with high betas, magnifying broader market swings.
These risk factors are for educational purposes only and are not exhaustive. Refer to our Small-Cap Cancer Industry Comparison Widget for specific metric benchmarking.
Frequently Asked Questions
SELLAS Life Sciences (SLS) leads the sector with a 210% YTD gain, followed by IO Biotech (IOBT) and Tiziana Life Sciences (TLSA). These firms are currently leading in the development of AML and melanoma vaccines.
Small-cap cancer stocks are biotech companies with market capitalizations typically between $300M and $2B. They primarily focus on developing novel oncology therapies like ADCs, TCR-T, or therapeutic vaccines.
They offer massive growth potential (e.g., CADL +518% momentum), but are extremely high-risk. A neutral long-term hold or diversified approach is advised due to clinical trial volatility.
Iovance (IOVA) is widely watched for TIL therapies in lung cancer, while SELLAS (SLS) has a high-promise Phase 3 vaccine for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Verastem (VSTM) is also a leader in targeting RAS-driven tumors.
Key players include IO Biotech (IOBT) and Candel Therapeutics (CADL). These firms develop treatments that utilize the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
Performance has been explosive for trial leaders; SLS is up over 210% and IOBT is up 129% YTD. However, the sector remains volatile, with frequent pullbacks following rapid gains.
Corcept Therapeutics (CORT) is often cited for its profitable metrics and high fundamental score. For clinical progress, SELLAS and Iovance are frequently noted as top-tier innovators.
An FDA breakthrough designation often acts as a major catalyst, accelerating the approval timeline and significantly increasing the market cap of companies like IO Biotech (IOBT).
Last updated April 2026 · Data sourced from U.S. exchange filings