Bayer, Defence Therapeutics, Morphosys - Biotech sector still on the upswing

Bayer - A harsh blow

The 0:0 draw for Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon was not the only bitter disappointment for the chemicals and pharmaceuticals group. The second shock announcement at the weekend was much more severe. The Company lost another trial concerning the herbicide glyphosate.

A jury in Philadelphia sentenced Bayer to pay USD 2.25 billion in damages. A landscaper suffering from cancer attributed his illness to the use of Roundup, a weedkiller containing glyphosate. In this context, the court awarded him USD 250 million in compensation for losses suffered and an additional USD 2 billion in damages. This total sum represents the highest payment to date in the series of lawsuits against the controversial herbicide. Bayer, the Company behind Roundup, plans to appeal the verdict, citing scientific evidence that classifies glyphosate as non-carcinogenic. Bayer also emphasizes that in previous similar cases, claims for damages were reduced by over 90% following the appeal.

The reaction to the horror story was devastating. At EUR 30.67, the share price plummeted by more than 5% and traded close to last year's low of EUR 30.22.

Defence Therapeutics - Important hurdle overcome

One of Canada's leading biotech companies in the field of immuno-oncology is also likely to have attracted international pharmaceutical interest with its versatile ACCUM™ platform technology. ACCUM™ has the unique selling point that it enables the precise transport of vaccine antigens or ADCs in the intact form to the target cells. As a result, improved efficiency and efficacy against serious diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases can be achieved.

Defence Therapeutics announced a success story with its new formulation, AccuTOX®. After successfully completing the preclinical efficacy study, the biopharmaceutical company submitted an application for the Phase I study at the end of last year. This plan was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the trials, an injectable cancer molecule is used to treat solid cancer tumors in the hope of achieving positive effects against cancer.

The Company has now reported further success in its application to lung tumors. AccuTOX® was shown to destroy more than a dozen different mouse and human cancer cell lines. In mice, nasal administration of AccuTOX® at a dose of 3 mg per kg body weight inhibited the growth of lung nodules when used as the sole treatment. An increase in efficacy was achieved by combining AccuTOX® with the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD1.

Defence shares came under significant pressure recently when the Company announced that it was conducting a non-brokered private placement of up to CAD 2.25 million, consisting of 1.5 million units. Each unit comprises one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional share at a price of CAD 2.00 per share for a period of 24 months. Defence Therapeutics' original plan was to raise CAD 2.79 million. In this context, acquiring additional shares at a price of CAD 2.25 should be possible. As a result, the share price fell by around 20% to a low of CAD 1.66 but was able to reverse the losses within three trading days and is once again trading above the critical support level of CAD 2.05.

Morphosys - Next takeover candidate

The takeover carousel in the biotechnology sector continues to run at full speed. The volume of M&A transactions was already at a record level in 2023. And the hunger for innovation among pharmaceutical giants does not seem to be satisfied in the new year either. A new "takeover victim" could now lose its independence. There is speculation on the market that the recent positive study data on the active ingredient pelabresib for treating myelofibrosis has caused an international stir.

Whether Morphosys will really be sold for the current stock market value of EUR 1.49 billion is questionable. On the one hand, a capital increase was completed last December with gross issue proceeds of around EUR 102.70 million. On the other hand, the free float is relatively high at 36.19%. Incidentally, the largest shareholders are Goldman Sachs with 9.03% and JP Morgan Asset Management with 7.71%.

Nevertheless, the Munich-based company's shares shot up by around 17% to EUR 40.87 last Friday.

The takeover wave is rolling. The German biotech company Morphosys is already being traded by experts as the next object of desire. Defence Therapeutics has achieved another milestone.