BioNTech, Cardiol Therapeutics, Bayer - Caution, turnaround!

BioNTech - Expansion in all areas

Both spatially and in terms of the product pipeline, the signs are pointing to expansion for the Mainz-based pharmaceutical company BioNTech. At "An der Goldgrube 12", the number of employees is to increase from 3,000 to 5,000 in the next few years. According to a report in the VRM newspapers, including the "Allgemeine Zeitung" published in Mainz, BioNTech is also expanding its operations in the Hessian city of Marburg. Another production site is Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The biopharma company is currently expanding its research and production facilities in Mainz. According to the VRM report, total investments of several billion euros are planned in the coming years.

The vaccine manufacturer, which currently has only one product on the market, can also report positive news at the product level. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress, the Mainz-based company presented further encouraging data from a Phase I/II study with the CAR-T program BNT211 in difficult-to-treat solid tumors. The trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of BNT211 in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced solid tumors. The results showed encouraging signs of anti-tumor activity. A controllable safety profile continued to be observed at both dose levels studied.

Analysts are optimistic about the biotech company. The Hamburg-based Berenberg Bank has left its rating at "buy" with a price target of USD 312. Currently, the share price stands at USD 150.81. The analysts therefore see a price opportunity of more than 100%.

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Cardiol Therapeutics - Bottoming out and enthusiastic analysts

Cardiol Therapeutics, an emerging life sciences company, has not been immune to the market correction. Since the beginning of the year, the share price has halved. Cardiol shares have corrected by around 88% from the peak price in February 2019. For months, however, a bottoming out has been taking place in the area of USD 1.10, which could come to an end with the breakout from the downward trend formed since November at currently USD 1.35. It is also important to bear in mind that the stock is one of the most highly shorted stocks on the Nasdaq, at around 30% in some cases.

Fundamentally, the Canadian company, which uses highly pure cannabidiol to treat cardiovascular diseases, is clearly on a growth course with its most important product, CardiolRx. It is currently in clinical development for use in cardiovascular medicine. CardiolRx is being investigated in a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II/III study. This LANCER study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx™ as a cardioprotective therapeutic agent to reduce serious cardiovascular and respiratory events in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or risk factors for CVD and to evaluate the impact of CardiolRx™ on key biomarkers of heart disease.

In addition, Cardiol Therapeutics received IND approval to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx for two orphan drug indications. The first patient was enrolled in the ARCHER study, which is in the Phase II clinical development program. The study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of CardiolRx and its effects on myocardial regeneration in patients with acute myocarditis. A total of 100 patients from major cardiac centers in North America, Europe, Latin America and Israel will be enrolled.

Analysts at Canacord Genuity Capital Markets are optimistic. The Canadian research house spoke with the CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics, David Elsley, on the occasion of its 42nd annual growth conference. The analysts were enthusiastic about CardiolRX due to the variety of indications for the Company's lead product and believe that the product has the potential to become a successful anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapy. The verdict for the Nasdaq stock is "buy", with a price target of USD 7.00. Compared to the current share price, which is quoted at USD 1.15, this means a price potential of more than 500%.

Investors wanting to meet the CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics, David Elsley, can make a note of September 27, 2022. On this day, the 4th IIF - International Investment Forum will take place live via Zoom, and Mr Elsley will present his company. Participation is free of charge.

Bayer AG - Optimistic data

Like BioNTech, pharmaceutical and agricultural giant Bayer presented at ESMO, the largest European cross-indication cancer congress, and delivered positive trial data on its prostate cancer drug darolutamide (Nubeqa). The data show that the active ingredient darolutamide improves overall survival in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and prolongs the time to worsening disease-related symptoms and pain, the Company announced at ESMO. The pharmaceutical and agricultural group calculates that Nubeqa will generate sales of more than EUR 3 billion per year.

Meanwhile, the chart picture continues to brighten. After successfully testing the support at EUR 51.84 and leaving the downward trend formed since June, the share price was able to turn north again. The next resistance zone is at EUR 55.12, after which the already rising 200-day line at EUR 56.21 beckons.

Biotechnology is becoming increasingly important in many areas of our lives. Nonetheless, the shares in this sector have been hit hard by the general market correction but now have significant upside potential at a lower price level. In addition to Bayer and BioNTech, the Nasdaq company Cardiol Therapeutics, which is equipped with a bulging product pipeline, is also promising.