BioNTech, va-Q-tec, Cardiol Therapeutics, Ambrx Biopharma - Biotech second-line stocks explode

BioNTech - Partner va-Q-tec is acquired

The BioNTech share has also lost over 50% of its value since the beginning of the year. In the meantime, the share price has only fallen by a good 28%. The main reason is that the Corona pandemic has flattened out and there is corresponding uncertainty as to whether the company will continue to earn so well. Due to the BioNTech weakness, the specialist for temperature-controlled transport solutions va-Q-tec may also have been dragged down. The company is one of BioNTech's service providers to safely transport vaccines. But it is not only the TempChain logistics business segment that has performed well.

This has not gone unnoticed by EQT and so a takeover offer at EUR 26 was published on December 9. In the morning, the share was still available at 16.32 EUR. According to the takeover bid, EQT wants to further develop all business areas of va-Q-tec. For the deal to go through, 62.5% of all shareholders must approve the offer. The support of the founding family, which holds 25.8%, is probably certain. If the offer is approved by the shareholders, a capital increase of 10% at EUR 26 will subsequently be subscribed by EQT.

BioNTech itself is investing EUR 40 million in Ryvu Therapeutics, which is developing oncology therapeutics. In return, the Mainz-based company will receive the exclusive license for the STING agonist portfolio. In addition, the two companies will jointly implement drug development and research projects. The deal will enable BioNTech's immunotherapy pipeline against cancer to be supplemented with potent immunomodulatory agents. On Dec. 9, the combined Corona/flu vaccine received fast-track designation from the FDA. This facilitates testing. The Mainz share exited Xetra trading on Friday at EUR 161.45, once again failing to break the EUR 162.60 mark on a closing price basis.

Cardiol Therapeutics - Good study results

Canadian biotech company Cardiol Therapeutics is listed on the NASDAQ and has suffered a 75% setback since the beginning of the year. It is logical for investors to dump the stock in December, realizing losses to offset gains and thus keep their tax payments low. However, last Friday, the share shot up and went out of trading with a plus of 46%. If you start looking for clues, you will not find any news. The Company was trading below cash as of December 8, and volume in the stock has skyrocketed. Does anyone know more?

Cardiol Therapeutics is pioneering innovative anti-inflammatory treatments for cardiovascular disease. Their lead product, CardiolRx, is a high-quality and concentrated oral cannabidiol formulation. The focus is on completing the Multicenter Phase II pilot study in recurrent pericarditis. On November 7, the Company announced that pharmaceutically produced cannabidiol in CardiolRx can significantly reduce pericardial effusion and thickening in acute pericarditis. Relevant study results were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2022.

Alongside this, patient recruitment for the ARCHER acute myocarditis trial is intensifying, and work is underway on a heart failure formulation that can be injected under the skin. Operationally, things are going well, but the trials cost money. In the first 9 months, the Company invested already a lot in research, development and studies and posted a loss of CAD 23.42 million. At the end of September, there was still CAD 65.5 million in its coffers, meaning the Company is financed through 2026. With further positive study results, the share, currently quoted at CAD 1.01, should take off again. The last analyst recommendation came from Cantor Fitzgerald and had a price target of USD 4.00. One should keep a close eye on how the stock fares in the coming days.

Ambrx Biopharma - Share with +1,000%

Ambrx Biopharma shows how fast it can go. On December 8, the share went out of trading at USD 0.41. One day later, at the close of trading, the bottom line is a closing price of USD 4.54, a gain of over 1,000%! The explosion was triggered by positive study results of the Ambrx drug ARX788 in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with Roche's Kadcyla. A total of two Phase III studies and one Phase II study are being conducted in China by partner NovoCodex Biopharmaceuticals.

Results showed an overall response rate of 51.7% and a disease control rate of 100% in 7 patients. Treatment with ARX788 was well tolerated, with 85.7% of patients having drug-related adverse events of any grade and no serious adverse events. The median duration of ARX788 therapy was 7.2 months. Currently, the Company is looking for partners outside of China. With the trial results, they may now have opened some doors.

The next trial results are expected in 2023. The example of Ambrx Biopharma shows how volatile the biotech sector is. One piece of positive news can change everything. Then the big players suddenly take notice, and with a strategic partner, the future of a biotech company can change very quickly.

Conclusion
The biotech market remains exciting, even though the interest rate hikes have forced the market to correct. BioNTech is working on the next blockbuster drug and has targeted a growth market with cancer therapy. va-Q-tec has grown through BioNTech, making it a takeover candidate. Cardiol Therapeutics has skyrocketed without any news. It is worth following the news here in the next few days - there may be results to follow. The example of Ambrx Biopharma shows how quickly a share can be revalued.