Biotech: Corona is back! The doublers are lurking here: BioNTech, Evotec, Defence Therapeutics and Bayer

BioNTech versus Bayer - Who will bounce back sooner?

The heydays of BioNTech and Bayer are seemingly over, as both stocks have suffered a severe downturn on the capital markets, although the balance sheet details do not sound so bad. Although BioNTech reported a sharp decline in sales from EUR 18 billion in 2022 to just EUR 4.1 billion in 2023 due to reduced vaccine sales, the Mainz-based company is still sitting on a cash position of a good EUR 17 billion. Bayer's revenue fell by a noticeable 6% from EUR 50.7 billion to EUR 47.6 billion, with the ongoing glyphosate lawsuits in the US still having a negative impact. The Leverkusen-based company share price fell back to EUR 30.25. Since the high of around EUR 140 in 2016, 80% of the valuation has been lost. In addition, the Group's debt has doubled in the same period to currently EUR 92 billion. Despite ongoing challenges, Bayer can maintain its high dividend payout of over 6% thanks to current earnings.

Analysts on the Refinitiv Eikon platform are divided. In the case of BioNTech, there are as many as 8 "Buy" recommendations out of 17 available ratings, but the average price target is only set at USD 120 - 15% above the current price. For Bayer, the experts are even more skeptical, with only 7 out of 24 giving a "Buy" recommendation, but still with a consensus price target of around EUR 45.50. This promises a potential of at least 34% over the next 12 months. In chart terms, overcoming the EUR 115 mark for BioNTech would turn the signal to green, which is only the case for Bayer shares when the EUR 52 mark is conquered.

Defence Therapeutics - AccuTOX® shows efficacy in lung cancer

Canadian biotech specialist Defence Therapeutics has launched another formulation of its successfully tested cancer drug AccuTOX® in the new year. The drug, known as ACCUM-002TM Dimer CDCA-SV40, has proven to be effective in the treatment of lung tumors, thus extending the scope of AccuTOX® to the treatment of solid tumors. AccuTOX® represents an optimization of the Accum™ molecule and platform technology developed by Defence.

In recent studies, the compound was shown to have improved therapeutic properties and a broader range of applications in cancer treatments. It successfully killed more than a dozen murine and human cancer cell lines. Prospectively, such a therapy could be used as an alternative to surgery or chemotherapy. When initially administered intranasally, AccuTOX® showed a strong effect in inhibiting tumor growth of existing lung nodules in mice. Defence used a Kent Scientific Corporation nebulizer to administer its drug in the least invasive way possible. When used as a monotherapy, AccuTOX® significantly inhibited the growth of lung nodules. This effect is further enhanced when combined with the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD1.

According to Precedence Research, the global market for cancer therapeutics is expected to reach around USD 393 billion by 2032, starting from USD 164 billion in 2022. Defence would like to participate disproportionately in the expected growth. To this end, CAD 2.7 million was successfully raised via a capital increase at the end of last week. Since December 19, 2023, the share has also been tradable on the US OTCQB over-the-counter segment under the symbol "DTCFF". With just under 46 million shares, the Company is currently valued at EUR 68.5 million. This is a very low valuation given the advanced stage of development of the ACCUM™ platform. Defence could become a top performer in the immuno-oncology peer group in 2024.

Evotec - Long-time CEO Lanthaler leaves the Company

There is a sell-off mood at the German biotech company Evotec. The resignation of the previous CEO, Werner Lanthaler, continues to weigh heavily. Mario Polywka has now taken over the position of CEO for the time being; he was previously a member of the Supervisory Board and previously active as COO. Meanwhile, the search for a new CEO is in full swing. Apart from personnel matters, there is further news. Evotec has joined an American foundation that focuses on research into inflammatory bowel diseases. The collaboration with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation IBD Therapeutics Incubator program will leverage Evotec's research and development platforms to advance drug discovery for two innovative targets.

The experts of the Canadian bank RBC have left their rating on Evotec at "Sector Perform" and a price target of EUR 18.60. A milestone payment from the US pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb significantly reduces the risk of achieving the next operating targets. Warburg also remains on the buy side with a price target of EUR 29. The annual figures for 2023 will be published on April 24, which is still relatively far away. The fundamental opportunities for the Hamburg-based company, therefore, remain good, but volatility is likely to remain high due to a large number of incoming reports. The recapture of the 200-day line at around EUR 19.70 would provide an initial positive technical signal.

The biotech sector has had a subdued start to the year. Smaller technical consolidations can be seen in Bayer, BioNTech and Defence Therapeutics. Fundamentally, Defence is making good progress in the field of lung cancer, while the departure of CEO Werner Lanthaler leaves a significant gap.