On The Block

Transdel Pharmaceuticals Inc. has been considering its options with the help of American MedTech Advisors and ESC Advisors. The goal is to further develop Transdel’s lead pain treatment, TDLP-110, or Ketotransdel. Transdel is developing a pain relief treatment in the form of a skin ointment. The La Jolla, Calif.-based company plans to review the possibility of forming a partnership or other collaboration. It could also pursue a merger, a financing or the sale of the entire specialty pharmaceutical concern.

BioElectronics Corp. plans to explore various strategic alternatives. The Frederick, Md.-based company brought Scarsdale Equities LLC, New York, on board as a financial adviser to help with the review process. BioElectronics makes and develops drug-free anti-inflammatory devices including Allay, which is designed to eliminate menstrual pain. As of Sept. 30, the company had total liabilities of about $4.1 million and total assets of about $1.6 million.

First National Community Bancorp Inc.’s board hired Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP as financial adviser to help with a review of capital and strategic alternatives. The holding company’s First National Community Bank unit signed a consent order with the Office of the Comptroller in September. This required the bank to have minimum capital ratio of 13 percent for total capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets, among other requirements. First National Community Bancorp of Dunmore, Pa., operates in northeastern Pennsylvania.

ProspEx Resources Ltd’s directors plan to review business options because they believe the company’s stock is trading at a “substantial discount to the net asset value of its underlying assets.” The natural gas explorer hired Cormack Securities Inc. as a financial adviser. ProspEx, of Calgary, will consider selling a material portion of its assets or selling the entire company. It will also explore a merger, a business combination or an acquisition. The board believes a sale of one or a combination of assets is most likely to best enhance shareholder value.