Close menu




July 28th, 2022 | 13:35 CEST

BioNTech, Defence Therapeutics, Valneva - Will the fall bring a new boost?

  • Biotechnology
  • Covid19
  • vaccine
Photo credits: pixabay.com

Officials expect the Corona pandemic to intensify sharply in the fall. Already, the number of cases is rising, as is the number of hospitalizations. To be better equipped against the currently prevalent Omicron variant, BioNTech/Pfizer have specifically adapted the Comirnaty vaccine to it. Valneva's recently approved vaccine also provides good protection against Omicron through a broader immune response to its inactivated vaccine. Also involved in vaccine development is the Canadian company Defence Therapeutics. It is currently attracting attention with its cancer-fighting developments and could become a real gem.

time to read: 4 minutes | Author: Carsten Mainitz
ISIN: BIONTECH SE SPON. ADRS 1 | US09075V1026 , DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS INC | CA24463V1013 , VALNEVA SE EO -_15 | FR0004056851

Table of contents:


    BioNTech - New Omicron vaccine filed for approval

    BioNTech, together with its US partner Pfizer, has developed a new variant of its COVID-19 vaccine that is explicitly adapted to the currently rampant Omicron variant. It is said to provide significantly better protection than the original version of the Comirnaty vaccine. The Company has now submitted applications for approval of the new vaccine variant to the US FDA and the European EMA.

    At the same time, it was announced that the US government has already ordered 105 million doses of the new vaccine at a cost of USD 3.2 billion, with an option for an additional 195 million doses. Good news for the Company currently sitting on a mountain of USD 6.8 billion in cash with another USD 14.1 billion in receivables outstanding. The Company will report the exact figures for the 2nd quarter of the current fiscal year on August 8.

    More decisive will be the outcome of patent lawsuits filed by competitors such as the Tübingen-based CureVac Group, which the Company is currently facing. Together with its American partner, the Mainz-based company is now taking aggressive action against the latter: The Company recently announced that it had filed a lawsuit with a district court in the US state of Massachusetts. In any case, analysts are positive and currently see a share price potential of over 40%.

    Defence Therapeutics - Will a new study bring about the turnaround?

    The last few months have been a tough test for investors in the Canadian biotech company Defence Therapeutics. The share lost ground disproportionately. The ADC specialists at Defence Therapeutics (ADC = Antibody Drug Conjugates, i.e. the antibody-drug combination in a "piggyback" process, similar to BioNTech's mRNA technology) opened the year with positive announcements.

    For example, the final step of the preclinical phase for the breast cancer drug candidate AccuTOX™ was initiated. To this end, Eurofins Advinus Limited, a leading contract research organization, was contracted to conduct a GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) study. The Company has since announced numerous other research collaborations. These include the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center, Finland's largest cancer treatment center.

    Advanced in vivo studies, including a head-to-head comparison of Roche-developed T-DM1 ("Kadcyla") with AccumTM-T-DM1 developed on Defence Therapeutics' platform, or combined treatment with intratumoral injection of AccuTOX™ variants using different preclinical PDX (patient-derived xenograft) models in existing and as yet unestablished tumors, are currently taking place there.

    The results are encouraging. It turns out that the agents developed using Accum™ technology are not only capable of preventing HPV (human papillomavirus) infections but even destroying existing tumors. If these results can be verified in clinical trials and possibly even transferred to other types of cancer, this would be a milestone. The share price is likely to react accordingly. In this respect, the current weakness with a market capitalization of only CAD 68 million should be considered an interesting entry opportunity.

    Valneva - Will the approval bring the hoped-for rally?

    Shareholders of the French vaccine manufacturer Valneva also need strong nerves and staying power. The share price has fallen by more than two-thirds since the high in November last year. At least the share price stabilized at just under EUR 10 in the face of good news. At the end of June, the EMA gave the green light to approve the vaccine in the EU.

    It is thus the first true inactivated vaccine containing the complete, inactivated SARS-CoV2 virus. However, the preparation requires two adjuvants (boosters): Alum and CpG 1018. While Alum is a known aluminium salt, CpG 2018 consists of a single-stranded, short piece of DNA composed of 22 building blocks in which the nucleotides cytidine and guanosine are coupled. Utilizing the Toll-like receptor 9, this is recognized by the body as foreign DNA and thus stimulates the antibody response.

    It is doubtful whether a vaccine that uses both aluminium, which is suspected of promoting the development of certain types of cancer, and a DNA strand as an effect enhancer will be more readily accepted by vaccine skeptics than an mRNA vaccine. After all, studies have shown that Valneva's vaccine has a stronger immune response than AstraZeneca's vaccine. Also, after the third vaccination, the agent is said to be more effective against the current Omicron variant than the unadapted version of BioNTech's Comirnaty product. The analysts at First Berlin raised the price target slightly from EUR 12 to EUR 12.50. The investment recommendation thus changed to "buy".


    It should be a hot Corona autumn. At least the manufacturers of vaccines against the SARS-CoV2 virus should be pleased. After the bottoming of BioNTech shares, the paper is ready to attack again. Valneva, too, should finally get its foot off the brake again with the approval of its vaccine. Those willing to take a bigger risk should take a closer look at the share of Defence Therapeutics. The potential of the patented technologies is enormous and promises bold investors rich returns.


    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 Juliane Zielonka on September 29th, 2023 | 07:00 CEST

    Defence Therapeutics, Schott Pharma, Allianz Group: Focus on Innovation, Growth and Portfolio Optimization

    • Biotechnology
    • Pharma
    • Investments

    According to a recent study, biotech company Defence Therapeutics achieves twice the immune response of conventional mRNA therapies with its Accum® mRNA technology. That translates to fewer side effects and a more effective treatment. According to Precedence Research, the market size for mRNA therapeutics is projected to reach approximately USD 137.59 billion by 2032. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2023 to 2032. In order to inject these active ingredients, precision-fit medical vials are required, and Schott Pharma is ensuring this with their IPO launched on the German stock exchange this week, which could bring a valuation of around EUR 4 billion. The Allianz Group, on the other hand, is focusing on consolidation, selling its business in the Middle East and thus flushing around EUR 210 million cash into its coffers.

    Read

    Commented by Nico Popp on September 27th, 2023 | 07:10 CEST

    Rich as a Sheikh? Here is what's happening: Schott Pharma, BioNTech, Cardiol Therapeutics

    • Biotechnology
    • Pharma

    High-tech or add-on? When Schott Pharma's shares go public in Frankfurt on Thursday, investors are likely to have a clear opinion. The manufacturer of pharmaceutical packaging may be attracting significant interest precisely because its business model is clearly defined. But what sets Schott apart, and which companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry might also become interesting? We provide insights and deliver answers!

    Read

    Commented by Juliane Zielonka on September 22nd, 2023 | 06:50 CEST

    Cardiol Therapeutics, BioNTech, BYD - At top speed to new markets

    • Biotechnology
    • Pharma
    • Electromobility

    Cardiol Therapeutics is enjoying a remarkable development. The biotech company is now rolling out its ARCHER patient recruitment trial internationally at 35 participating centers. This accelerates research in the development of their therapy to combat myocarditis, a heart inflammation which has been associated with COVID-19 vaccination. For Cardiol Therapeutics, this represents an opportunity to get its therapy approved as an orphan drug. Approval is also at stake for BioNTech. With a multimillion-dollar funding boost, the Company is working on accelerated approval for a vaccine against a virus that caused quite a stir last year. The shortened development time is likely to impress investors. While business nations agree on fighting viruses, they disagree on commodities for the road. The EU would prefer to restrict BYD's successful sales on domestic roads - by imposing tariffs. BYD, meanwhile, is tapping into a completely different market.

    Read