BioNTech, NervGen, Sanofi - The rebound is on the way

BioNTech - On a knife's edge

The chart reflects what is currently happening at the Mainz-based biotech Company. The infection figures are going down, and compulsory vaccination is a distant prospect. In addition, the summer months point to a further easing of the Corona situation. It is a difficult situation for the single-product Company, which must defend its enormously high USD 35.1 billion valuation after the success of its Comirnaty vaccine.

BioNTech, along with partner Pfizer, now submitted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application to the FDA for a 10-µg booster dose of its BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11. In the submission, the companies included data from a Phase 2/3 trial testing a booster dose in children aged 5 to 11 years, about six months after completion of a primary series. In October 2021, the FDA approved a EUA for a primary series of the BNT162b2 vaccine for children between 5 and 11.

From a chart perspective, it is now a matter of the prominent support at USD 131.00. Should this fall, a significant sell-off would be possible due to the falling of several stop loss marks. The flags would only turn positive on the upside if the resistance at USD 183.27 is overcome.

NervGen - Broad spectrum

With a market capitalization of EUR 59.14 million, Vancouver-based NervGen has a history that dates back further than the vaccine manufacturer from Mainz. NervGen is also researching a drug intended to cure spinal cord injuries in addition to Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke. As early as the 1990s, founding scientist Dr. Jerry Silver recognized that the conditions mentioned above are associated with damage to the central nervous system.

The renowned spinal cord injury and regenerative medicine researcher and professor of neuroscience at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, saw that when the nervous system is damaged, whether by injury or disease, a scar forms around the injured area. The purpose of the scar is to encapsulate the injury site to prevent further damage and begin the healing process. However, a component of the scar, a glycoprotein called chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan ("CSPG"), inhibits the body's ability to regrow and regenerate the central nervous system. With the drug NVG-291, the natural self-healing powers of the nervous system are to be restored, and the growth of new nerve connections is to be ensured. In addition, the protective sheath around the nerves is to be renewed. Studies on paralyzed mice, which were able to move perfectly well after treatment with NVG-291, have shown that this works.

The appointment of Craig Thompson to NervGen's Board of Directors is a highly professional move. He was most recently CEO of Neurana Pharmaceuticals. In the past, he was involved in the more than CAD 700 million acquisition of Trius Therapeutics by Cubist Pharmaceuticals. He is expected to contribute his experience to the continuation of the Phase 1 clinical trial. In addition, the Company is planning to start Phase 1b/2 efficacy trials before the end of the current fiscal year. The planned listing on the Nasdaq in 2022 is likely to generate enormous share price potential. By then, at the latest, the innovative technology is expected to attract much more attention from a broader stock market audience. A detailed interview with the Management Board can be read here Interview.

Sanofi - On the right track

The Company beat analysts' forecasts for both profit and sales. The French pharmaceutical group formed by the merger of Sanofi-Synthélabo and Aventis has had a more than successful start to the year. In addition to the blockbuster drug Dupixent for atopic dermatitis and asthma, business with over-the-counter medicines also went better than expected. Group sales increased by 12.6% to EUR 9.67 billion. Operating profit, adjusted for special items, improved 16% to EUR 3.07 billion.

Commenting on the excellent results, Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said in a press release, "We have made a strong start to 2022, driven by the continued excellent performance of Dupixent®, double-digit growth of our CHC business and improved margins in the first quarter. In R&D, we increased our investments to advance our rapidly advancing pipeline, further strengthened by BD collaborations, including Seagen, IGM, Exscientia and Blackstone. As highlighted at our investor event in March, we remain focused on our path to industry leadership in immunology with a broad range of novel therapies in development, including additional indications for Dupixent® in diseases such as prurigo nodularis and eosinophilic esophagitis, for which regulatory submissions were recently filed.

In addition, we are particularly pleased with the positive results of the pivotal study for efanesoctogog alfa, our potentially revolutionary treatment for hemophilia A patients, which is planned to be filed in the middle of the year. We also executed well on our strategic priorities this quarter with the decision to proceed with the proposed listing of EUROAPI shares and the spin-off of the Company through an extraordinary dividend. Based on the solid first quarter, we are on track to meet our 2022 financial guidance despite the challenging business environment." Even before the numbers, the French company climbed to a new all-time high. Due to the overbought situation, investors should observe the value.

After another successful bounce off the 14,000 mark, the DAX could end its correction. In the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, Sanofi shines with figures. In the case of BioNTech, a further slide cannot be ruled out. The biotechnology company NervGen has great potential due to the innovative NervGen technology.