Close menu




March 14th, 2022 | 12:47 CET

BioNTech, Defence Therapeutics, MorphoSys - Shares with blockbuster potential!

  • Biotechnology
Photo credits: pixabay.com

Developing a blockbuster drug is the highest achievement in the pharmaceutical industry. A blockbuster is defined as a drug that can generate more than USD 1 billion in revenues per year. According to experts, the vaccine Comirnaty, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, is likely to have brought in sales of well over USD 30 billion, thus clearly breaking the blockbuster barrier. Outside of vaccine research, there are also numerous companies with high long-term potential.

time to read: 3 minutes | Author: Carsten Mainitz
ISIN: BIONTECH SE SPON. ADRS 1 | US09075V1026 , DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS INC | CA24463V1013 , MORPHOSYS AG O.N. | DE0006632003

Table of contents:


    David Elsley, CEO, Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.
    "[...] As a company dedicated to developing treatments for rare heart diseases, we see this as an opportune moment to contribute to the fight against heart disease and make meaningful strides in improving heart health worldwide. [...]" David Elsley, CEO, Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.

    Full interview

     

    Defence Therapeutics - Comprehensive pipeline

    Canadian company Defence Therapeutics is undoubtedly uniquely positioned with its patented Accum technology. It has blockbuster potential in the long term, but the road to a finished drug is still long.

    Defence Therapeutics' business is divided into two segments. The first segment is immuno-oncology, the second is research into infectious diseases. Here, the young Company is researching vaccines against breast and skin cancer and is pursuing an innovative therapeutic approach in tumor therapy with the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). In the area of infectious diseases, Defence Therapeutics is researching vaccines against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV).

    At the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023, a phase I study is to start activities against breast and skin cancer. Until then, the necessary preliminary work will be carried out according to the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Further data will be collected that will be useful for further approval.

    Recently, the first peer-reviewed efficacy study of AccuVAC-D001L was announced and published in the prestigious journal Cell Reports Medicine. Currently, only one FDA-approved DC vaccine is on the market to treat prostate cancer. However, the vaccine did not achieve the hoped-for clinical effect due to major obstacles related to antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) versus responding T cells. This is where AccumTM technology proves to be an important advantage, as it allows circumventing the main enemy of any antigen, i.e. entrapment in the endosome.

    The market capitalization of the Canadians is currently CAD 145 million. In an in-depth interview, Dr. Moutih Rafei, director and VP of R&D at Defence Therapeutics, highlights the strengths of Accum's platform technology.

    MorphoSys - High depreciation

    The MorphoSys share price knew only one direction last year, down. While the share was still quoted at prices above EUR 100 in 2021, it can currently be bought for EUR 23.60 per share. Last week, the Martinsried-based biotechnology company announced that it would have to take write-downs of around EUR 231 million. These write-downs are necessary following the acquisition of the US cancer specialist Constellation Pharmaceuticals. The write-downs are not cash-effective, but they will negatively impact the Group's operating result in the amount of EUR 231 million.

    Despite the somewhat negative news, the share price reacted with gains. On March 16, the biotech group plans to publish its financial statements for the past fiscal year. After the high write-down on the US acquisition Constellation, Deutsche Bank left its rating for MorphoSys at "Hold", the price target was confirmed at EUR 46. The Company is currently valued at around EUR 800 million.

    BioNTech - At important support

    Vaccine producer BioNTech has also seen a sell-off in recent weeks, with the share price plummeting from USD 464.00 to currently USD 135.64 in recent months. The area around USD 131 is important here. Should this be broken, the next striking support area would be found at USD 105.

    The three founders of the pharmaceutical Company BioNTech had something to celebrate. Ugur Sahin, Özlem Türeci and Christoph Huber were appointed honorary citizens by the city of Mainz. In doing so, Mainz wants to honor the "outstanding achievements of these exceptional scientists in the field of medical research and biotechnology." Operationally, BioNTech continues to expand its partnership with the US biotech company Regeneron to develop cancer therapies. The two partners are planning a joint clinical trial of BioNTech's cancer vaccine BNT116 in combination with Regeneron's cancer drug Libtayo to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.


    BioNTech was able to launch a blockbuster with its Comirnaty vaccine. Defence Therapeutics also has the potential to generate annual sales in the billions with its Accum platform. At MorphoSys, on the other hand, there is a need for write-downs.


    Conflict of interest

    Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Relevant Persons") may hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies in the future or may bet on rising or falling prices and thus a conflict of interest may arise in the future. The Relevant Persons reserve the right to buy or sell shares or other financial instruments of the Company at any time (hereinafter each a "Transaction"). Transactions may, under certain circumstances, influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company.

    In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual relationships.

    For this reason, there is a concrete conflict of interest.

    The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies.

    Risk notice

    Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and the like on news.financial. These contents are exclusively for the information of the readers and do not represent any call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price developments. The contents do not replace individual expert investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the discussed share(s) or other financial instruments, nor an invitation to buy or sell such.

    The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but a journalistic or advertising text. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis of the information provided here do so entirely at their own risk. No contractual relationship is established between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the investment decision of the reader or user.

    The acquisition of financial instruments involves high risks, which can lead to the total loss of the invested capital. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors is based on careful research. Nevertheless, no liability is assumed for financial losses or a content-related guarantee for the topicality, correctness, appropriateness and completeness of the content provided here. Please also note our Terms of use.


    Der Autor

    Carsten Mainitz

    The native Rhineland-Palatinate has been a passionate market participant for more than 25 years. After studying business administration in Mannheim, he worked as a journalist, in equity sales and many years in equity research.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by Nico Popp on January 30th, 2026 | 07:25 CET

    The hunt for the cancer pill from BioNTech & Co.: Why Eli Lilly's billion-dollar bet is a wake-up call for Vidac Pharma

    • Biotechnology
    • Biotech
    • Pharma
    • Cancer

    It is one of the oldest rules in the biotech sector: when the big pharmaceutical companies can no longer grow on their own, they open their coffers. The latest billion-dollar deal between US giant Eli Lilly and Dresden-based startup Seamless Therapeutics is more than just a headline – it is a wake-up call for the entire industry. Eli Lilly, now one of the most valuable companies in the world, is desperately seeking innovations to secure its pipeline beyond its booming weight-loss injections. This hunger for new mechanisms of action inevitably focuses attention on small, specialized companies researching revolutionary approaches. In this environment, Vidac Pharma is becoming the focus of strategic investors. The Company is working on an approach that is as elegant as it is radical: it aims to starve cancer rather than poison it by manipulating its metabolism. While Eli Lilly and BioNTech are spreading their billions across a wide range of areas, Vidac is delivering precisely the kind of specialized "deep science" that is often lacking in the pipelines of the big players.

    Read

    Commented by Fabian Lorenz on January 29th, 2026 | 07:00 CET

    Puma takeover is becoming more concrete! Should investors buy Evotec and Silver Viper shares next?

    • Mining
    • Silver
    • Commodities
    • Biotechnology
    • Sportswear
    • Takeover

    Takeover speculation has been swirling around Puma for some time. Now it has become more tangible: Anta has secured a 29% stake in the German sporting goods group, paying EUR 35 per share. However, the euphoria on the stock market is limited. Are there better opportunities for investors to profit from takeover speculation? One candidate in the hot silver market is Silver Viper. The Company is pushing ahead with exciting projects in Mexico. Its recent capital increase met with strong demand, and a financially powerful potential buyer already has a foot in the door. And what about Evotec? The perennial takeover candidate is still not gaining momentum. That said, the biotech company is benefiting from the sale of one of its own holdings, which is expected to bring in around USD 160 million.

    Read

    Commented by André Will-Laudien on January 26th, 2026 | 07:30 CET

    Biotech and life sciences are booming, and now Mercosur is joining the fray! Bayer, MustGrow, Novo Nordisk, and BioNxt Solutions in focus

    • Biotechnology
    • Pharma
    • Agriculture
    • Biotech

    The 2026 stock market year has a few surprises in store for investors. In addition to a quick resolution to the Greenland dispute, the Mercosur trade agreement with several South American countries is also moving forward. This agreement is particularly significant for the agricultural industry. This global sector of human supply is increasingly characterized by regulatory pressure, which is effectively ending the use of many synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This development is forcing established agricultural companies to integrate effective biological alternatives into their portfolios faster than planned. In this environment, MustGrow Biologics is positioning itself as a strategic technology provider whose active ingredients have already been validated by leading market players. An expanded sector view also covers the life sciences industry with the protagonists Bayer, Novo Nordisk, and BioNxt. Up 50% in just a few weeks, here they are!

    Read