Why Shares of Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc Are Crashing Today

What: Shares ofNorthwest Biotherapeutics , a small-cap clinical biotech company with a focus on immuno-oncology, are down more than 16% today on news of a phase 3 clinical trial halt for the company's lead compound.

So what:According to the EU clinical trial register, the company's current phase 3 clinical trial that is evaluating DCVas-L as a treatment for Glioblastoma multiform, a lethal brain cancer, is currently listed as "temporarily halted".

As of 1:30 today, the company has yet to comment on the trial's status with a pressrelease, and investors are selling the stock hard as a result of the news

Now what: As DCVax-L is the company's compound that is furthest along in development, the news of the trial being halted is a worrisome sign for investors. Although the company boasts a few other trials currently under way, it will still be years before any of them could possibly find there way to market.

Source: Northwest Biotherapeutics

In addition the company's cash position is really starting to get tight as it reported only slightly more than $19 million in cash on its balance sheet as of June 30th, and yet the company lost more than $38 million last quarter from operations alone. Total net loss for the quarter actually landed at more than $66 million when you include the change in fair value of its derivative liability position.

This once high flying company has been an awfully toughstock to hold for a long time, as shares are now down more than 99% since hitting the public markets more than a decade ago.

Given the long-term underperformance of this stock and the company's current precarious cash position, I'm more than content to keep my investment dollar far aware from this stock.

The article Why Shares of Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc Are Crashing Today originally appeared on Fool.com.

Brian Feroldi has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.