Close menu




February 14th, 2023 | 15:46 CET

Biotech stocks on the verge of a breakout? Evotec, BioNTech, Cardiol Therapeutics

  • Biotechnology
  • Cannabis
  • Cancer
Photo credits: BioNTech AG

Biotech stocks have largely missed out on the rally of recent weeks. But this could change. Some have interesting chart constellations or a positive news flow. Sooner or later, the stock should then also react with a breakout. After the horror year 2022, Evotec received several positive reports within a few days. The share price has also jumped. At BioNTech, investors are looking away from the COVID-19 vaccine and towards the development pipeline. But, analysts disagree. Are 100% share price gains on the cards? Analysts believe that Cardiol Therapeutics' stock has even more potential than that. Its main product against heart inflammation is already in the Phase II pilot study, and the necessary capital for further development is available. All three shares are recommended as a buy by analysts.

time to read: 4 minutes | Author: Fabian Lorenz
ISIN: EVOTEC SE INH O.N. | DE0005664809 , BIONTECH SE SPON. ADRS 1 | US09075V1026 , CARDIOL THERAPEUTICS | CA14161Y2006

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

     

    Cardiol Therapeutics: When will the stock react?

    Cardiol Therapeutics is the smallest of the featured companies. Nevertheless, it has the greatest share price opportunities if analysts have their way. The experts at Leede Jones Gable Inc. recommend the stock, which is traded on Nasdaq and in Germany (e.g. Tradegate), as a buy with a price target of CAD 4.50. The Canadian biotech company's stock is currently trading at CAD 0.81, barely higher than its cash position. The stock has not reacted to the latest positive news. Yet the Company is solidly financed.

    The Company conducts research in a highly attractive market: diseases of the cardiovascular system. At least 17.9 million people worldwide die of these every year. Worldwide, 35% of women die from cardiovascular disease - making it the leading cause of death. To change this, Cardiol has developed an active ingredient based on cannabidiol. It is designed to cure inflammation of the heart. Cardiol Therapeutics has now successfully enrolled the first patient in a Phase II pilot study. The study's objective is to evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of CardiolRx™ in patients with recurrent pericarditis. The study is designed to assess improvement in objective indicators of disease, as well as the feasibility of discontinuing concomitant treatment, including corticosteroids, for an extended period while taking CardiolRx™ simultaneously, in addition to standard safety assessments.

    If approved, CardiolRx™ will open up a billion-dollar market. It is estimated that 38,000 patients in the US require treatment for recurrent pericarditis each year. The only therapy approved by the US FDA to date, ARCALYST®, has been on the market since 2021 and costs around USD 6,000 per application. In view of this, Cardiol's current market capitalization of less than EUR 50 million would be a "bargain".

    Event update: Cardiol will present at the 6th International Investment Forum tomorrow (February 15, 2023). Registration for the virtual event is free.

    BioNTech: Shares with a 100% chance, according to Berenberg

    BioNTech is probably not a "bargain" at the moment. After all, the Mainz-based biotech gem brings EUR 32 billion to the stock exchange scales. At the same time, revenues from the COVID-19 vaccine are declining, and it will take several more years until the products under development are ready for the market. For this reason, numerous analysts recommend the share as a buy. Among them are the experts at Berenberg. Their price target for the BioNTech share is USD 300, resulting in a price potential of over 100%. UBS is more cautious. Their analysts rate the Mainz-based company's stock as "Neutral" with a price target of USD 168. In their view, the revenue from vaccine sales continues to be the focus of investors. And the amount of these revenues is subject to great uncertainty. These two different views are expressed in the share price. The share price has been moving sideways for a good year. An upward breakout seems possible only in the event of a major COVID-19 wave or variant or a spectacular research success.

    Evotec: On the upswing after a horror year

    Evotec shareholders have had a challenging year. The share of the German biotech company more than halved in 2022 from over EUR 40 to EUR 15. But now the chart situation is brightening. In a few days, it went up by about 20%, and the chances are good that the downward trend can be left behind. In the meantime, there is also positive newsflow again. Evotec recently secured a EUR 150 million loan from the European Investment Bank. The unsecured funds will be used for research & development and company investments. It will also support the construction of a new biologics manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France. The facility will be based on Evotec's J.POD® technology. J.POD uses autonomous clean rooms with small, high-density production processes, which is expected to reduce the cost of producing biologics. The loan funds are available to the Company for seven years from drawdown. Evotec CFO Enno Spiller, soon to join Formycon, said, "We are very pleased to enter into this second financing agreement with the European Investment Bank. By funding transformative projects in key areas of high public interest, the EIB is a key driver of innovation in the EU. We are honored and look forward to new opportunities for R&D partnerships - and to establishing Europe's first J.POD biologics manufacturing facility under very attractive terms through the EIB's innovative financing model."

    Previously, a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech was announced. The collaboration relates to immune-based cancer therapies. Evotec will receive payments for the research work and an upfront payment. Performance-based milestone payments of more than USD 350 million have been agreed upon. In addition, Evotec will receive a royalty on sales when drugs from the collaboration reach the market.

    Warburg Research recommends Evotec shares as a buy with a price target of EUR 29. The analysts view the recent extension of the partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb as positive. Eight of eleven analysts recommend the German biotech company's stock with a "buy" or "outperform" rating. The average price target of all eleven analysts is EUR 28. And thus significantly above the current price of EUR 18.33.


    Biotech shareholders need strong nerves. In the case of BioNTech, a breakout - upwards or downwards - from the sideways trend, which has lasted for more than a year, is likely to be violent. In contrast, Cardiol Therapeutics appears to have limited downside risk. The Company is trading at cash, and the positive newsflow of the past weeks has been ignored so far. At Evotec, it may take some time for investors to regain confidence after the horror year.


    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

    Fabian Lorenz

    For more than twenty years, the Cologne native has been intensively involved with the stock market, both professionally and privately. He is particularly passionate about national and international small and micro caps.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by Fabian Lorenz on March 28th, 2024 | 08:55 CET

    Shares on a high: Up to 300% with Canopy Growth, Super Micro Computer, Aspermont

    • Technology
    • Digitization
    • Cannabis

    Is the German cannabis market on the verge of a tenfold increase? The head of Canopy Growth thinks so. The Company wants to profit from the boom. Canopy shares have already benefited and more than doubled. What are the Company's plans here in Germany? Super Micro Computer shares have already multiplied, but analysts remain bullish. Growth is expected to remain high. Aspermont offers a hot turnaround story. The B2B media company for the raw materials industry has freed itself from legacy burdens and now aims to grow more strongly again. Analysts see a high free cash flow and 300% share price potential!

    Read

    Commented by Armin Schulz on March 28th, 2024 | 08:45 CET

    TUI, dynaCERT, Evotec - The profit is in buying

    • Hydrogen
    • greenhydrogen
    • travel
    • Biotechnology

    In the world of the financial markets, the timeless maxim applies: "The profit is in buying". This tried and tested stock market adage, which may seem trivial at first glance, is actually the key to financial success. Indeed, the price at which an investment is purchased often determines its subsequent triumph or failure long before the sale is even considered. Despite advances in technology and the complexity of markets, the basic lesson remains - buying wisely and at a well-considered price lays the foundation for profits. We have picked out three interesting candidates.

    Read

    Commented by Fabian Lorenz on March 26th, 2024 | 07:00 CET

    Out of BioNTech and into Defence Therapeutics and Evotec shares?

    • Biotechnology
    • Pharma

    The BioNTech share is currently out of steam. Although sentiment in the sector is improving, as star investor Cathie Wood recently invested in Moderna, the German biotech leader is not making any headway. The latest figures have not convinced analysts, and the price targets have even been further reduced. In contrast, the shares of Defence Therapeutics and Evotec appear to have more upside momentum. The Canadian cancer specialist has just raised new capital to develop its exciting pipeline. The Company has recently been granted a new US patent for its approach to cancer therapy. Evotec has a "Buy" recommendation. Could this mean the share is on the verge of an upward trend?

    Read