We recently published a list of the 13 Best Biotech Penny Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) stands against other biotech penny stocks.

Peter Marks’s departure from the FDA has left innovators concerned regarding the current state of the review program at the FDA. Marks had impacts on two key areas. First the vaccine approvals and the subsequent resurgence of new vaccines over the past two decades, and then the establishment of the cell and gene therapy field that he’s credited for. He was involved in developing policies aimed at optimizing the process of bringing several innovative products to the market. Following his resignation, a substantial number of other departures are also anticipated, which implies upcoming destabilization at the FDA for its existing expertise and processes.

Stifel head of biotech research Paul Matteis suggests looking for biotech names not dependent on the FDA while this sector uncertainty lasts. On March 31, Paul Matteis appeared on CNBC’s ‘The Exchange’ and noted that biotech investors, particularly those who are focused on developmental-stage companies, are now facing risk. These include scientific, clinical trials, commercial, patent, competition, and regulatory risks. Hence, investors now need to be more selective about their stock selections. Previously, the FDA has been a stabilizing force for the biotech sector and is known for accelerating approvals in areas such as rare diseases and biomarkers. But recent developments have introduced unpredictability.

Matteis highlighted that there could be short-term delays in drug approvals due to personnel changes at the FDA, such as the recent departure of the head of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CEDAR). Investors may even need to reevaluate agreements between companies and the FDA regarding drug approvals. While this doesn’t make biotech investments completely unsustainable, it does shift the focus toward companies with more predictable growth prospects. This could point to specifically commercial-stage firms or those less reliant on FDA consistency. Talking about vaccine stocks particularly, Matteis pointed out that as much as Peter Marks influenced vaccine-related decisions, he also impacted broader areas like gene therapies and oncology. He fostered innovation through programs like breakthrough therapy designations and initiatives that were aimed at streamlining approvals.

Investors are now gravitating toward companies with de-risked profiles that are less dependent on FDA flexibility. Matteis noted that the companies relatively outperforming right now are those that have their success tied to commercial launches rather than regulatory decisions.

Our Methodology

We sifted through ETFs, stock screeners, and financial media reports to compile a list of the top biotech penny stocks that were trading below $5 as of April 14. We then selected the 13 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q4 2024. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database which tracks the moves of over 1000 elite money managers.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

A medical staff in white coats monitoring the progress of cancer immunotherapy trials.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA)

Share Price as of April 14: $3.3

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44

Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) develops and commercializes cell therapies using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and other solid tumor cancer. It has collaborations and licensing agreements with several companies and institutes such as WuXi Advanced Therapies Inc. and the National Cancer Institute.

Iovance’s main growth engine is Amtagvi, which is the first FDA-approved TIL cell therapy for advanced melanoma post-anti-PD-1 treatment. In 2024, Amtagvi generated $103.6 million in revenue and contributed to the total product revenue of $164.1 million at the company. More than 200 patients were treated in its initial launch phase. Iovance’s manufacturing network can now support more than 1,200 patients annually and is expanding.

It established a network of around 70 authorized treatment centers (ATCs) across 32 US states and provides reimbursement access to over 95% of covered lives. Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) projects total product revenue of $450 to $475 million for 2025, which would be fueled by increased Amtagvi utilization and new ATCs.

Earlier last year, Artisan Small Cap Fund stated the following regarding Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

“Among our top performers in Q1 were Shockwave, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) and Wingstop. Iovance Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on innovating, developing and delivering novel polyclonal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapies for cancer patients. Immuno-oncology remains a key area of drug development, and Iovance is the leader in TIL development and manufacturing, having secured the technology through collaborations with the leading academic institutions in TIL reseach. Shares rallied significantly after the company announced that the FDA approved AMTAGVI™ (lifileucel) for advanced melanoma. We added to the position.”

Overall, IOVA ranks 2nd on our list of the best biotech penny stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the growth potential of IOVA, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IOVA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.