Cyclacel Stock Tumbles Over 76% Since Regaining Nasdaq Compliance: What’s Ailing the Nanocap Biopharma Firm?

The company’s rebranding and leadership shuffle have failed to stem the stock’s decline, indicating investor skepticism about its future direction.

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CYCC) has been in a downward spiral in 2025, with its stock plunging over 94% year-to-date and more than 76% even after it regained Nasdaq compliance earlier this month.

The clinical-stage biotech firm, based in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, focuses on cancer treatments targeting cell cycle, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics, and mitosis. However, its lead candidates—fadraciclib (a CDK2/9 inhibitor) and plogosertib (a PLK1 inhibitor)—have failed to inspire investor confidence.

The trouble began in October 2024, when initial Phase 2 data from a trial of fadraciclib in solid tumors showed only two patients with stable disease among six efficacy-evaluable participants.

Research firm Roth MKM called the results “not encouraging,” especially given the patients' favorable genetics, adding that Cyclacel required three or more patient responses to justify continued development.

That triggered a sharp fall in Cyclacel shares. Struggling to stay afloat, the company then turned to investor David Lazar in January for a $3.1 million funding deal, which included leadership shuffling. Lazar was named interim CEO, replacing longtime chief Spiro Rombotis, and several board members stepped down.

In March, Cyclacel raised another $1 million through a private placement of convertible preferred stock. 

Two months later, Cyclacel pivoted sharply, announcing plans to acquire Fitters Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian firm focused on fire safety and waste-to-resource solutions. The deal, structured as a share exchange with FITTERS Diversified Bhd., will give the parent company nearly 20% of Cyclacel’s stock. Cyclacel shareholders will retain 80%, and the company said it would rebrand as Bio Green Med Solution, Inc., with a new ticker on the Nasdaq.

The merger still requires shareholder approval and must close by Aug. 31.

Retail sentiment for CYCC has turned increasingly ‘bearish’ over this period, accompanied by a fourfold jump in message volume over the past month.

The company’s rebranding and Nasdaq compliance milestone have failed to stem the stock’s decline, indicating investor skepticism about the firm’s future direction.

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