Buy BioNTech after the crash? Valneva with vaccine problems! Vidac Pharma shares show potential!

Vidac Pharma: Strong news flow - Will the stock turn around?

Vidac Pharma's stock currently offers very exciting catch-up potential. The share price development is clearly lagging behind the positive news flow. Analysts even believe that the share price could multiply. The key price drivers are the two oncological and onco-dermatological drug candidates, VDA-1275 and VDA-1102. They are based on Vidac's patented approach of reversing the malignant metabolism of cancer cells and restoring normal cell function. This would represent a new class in cancer treatment.

On the operational side, Vidac Pharma recently announced the formation of a research consortium to combat pediatric brain tumors. The TME++ consortium includes three university research groups and two leading hospitals. The partners aim to accelerate research and bring new perspectives to the field. The work of TME++ is based on Vidac's ALMAVID™ product, a tumor microenvironment (TME) modifier. Vidac's latest formulation is promising not only for pediatric brain tumors but could also form the basis for treating other solid tumors.

In addition, Vidac CEO Dr. Max Herzberg presented significant progress in a new formulation of the drug candidate VDA-1102, which was developed for subcutaneous administration to improve systemic delivery and achieve therapeutic concentrations across the blood-brain barrier. Vidac demonstrated this in a study involving a five-year-old child with recurrent ependymoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor.

Despite operational progress in the current year, Vidac shares are trading at EUR 0.50, the same level as in November 2024. Far too low in Sphene Capital's view. The analysts recommend the stock with a price target of EUR 4.90.

BioNTech: Buy the dip?

BioNTech shares are currently trying to digest Friday's crash. Within a very short time, the share price slipped from EUR 100 to EUR 90. The reason was not news from BioNTech itself but from Summit Therapeutics. The industry portal Stat News reported negative data from an ongoing study. Survival data for the lung cancer drug Ivonescimab had fallen short of expectations. As a result, Summit shares plummeted by 30% – and BioNTech was caught in the crossfire.

The German biotech heavyweight announced on Thursday that it would present data on selected candidates from its diversified oncology pipeline at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The data presented would highlight both the progress of BioNTech's core programs in cancer treatment and the implementation of the Company's combination strategy in oncology. As part of this combination strategy, BioNTech will present initial data on the combination of its PD-L1xVEGF-A bispecific antibody candidate BNT327 with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

BioNTech CEO Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci commented: "Our presentations at this year's AACR Annual Meeting support our approach of combining complementary mechanisms of action to promote synergistic anti-tumor activity. The data presented demonstrate that we are well positioned to realize our vision of improving treatment outcomes for patients with cancer across the entire spectrum of the disease."

Analysts see the share price setback as a buying opportunity. Deutsche Bank confirmed its "Buy" recommendation with a price target of USD 140 on Friday. Jefferies even sees the fair value of BioNTech shares at USD 149. However, the shares have not yet benefited from the positive comments.

Valneva: Vaccine causes rollercoaster ride

Valneva shares are currently experiencing a rollercoaster ride. Initially, shareholders were delighted by the news that the US advisory committee ACIP had once again recommended using Valneva's chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq. The vaccine will continue to be administered to people aged 18 and over traveling to regions where chikungunya is present. The vaccination should also be considered for longer stays in areas with an increased risk for US travelers.

Then came the shock on Monday: The French health authority has paused the administration of Valneva's vaccine against the chikungunya virus in people over 65 to investigate a potential safety issue. The safety issue appears to involve adverse events in older people with underlying medical conditions during an ongoing vaccination campaign in the French overseas territories of La Réunion and Mayotte. Ixchiq has been used since the beginning of the year to help the French government combat a major chikungunya outbreak in La Réunion, where more than 40,000 cases of the disease have been reported.

Valneva CMO Juan Carlos Jaramillo commented: "We welcome the precautionary decision taken by the authorities while investigations are still ongoing and within the context of the active vaccination campaign."

Ixchiq was the first chikungunya vaccine to hit the market and was approved by the FDA in November 2023. Approvals in Europe and Canada followed in June 2024. A competing vaccine from Bavarian Nordic (Vimkunya) has since been approved in the US and the EU.

Vidac Pharma's stock currently has a lot of catch-up potential. The development of the share does not reflect the positive newsflow, and analysts also see significant upside potential. A purchase of Valneva shares is not compelling at the moment. BioNTech is and remains a core investment in the biotech sector.