Close menu




June 6th, 2023 | 07:15 CEST

MediGene, BioNTech, BioNxt Solutions - New opportunities after the correction

  • Biotechnology
  • Pharma
  • Cancer
Photo credits: pixabay.com

Acquisitions by big pharma were increasingly expected in the biotechnology sector last year, but these largely failed to materialize. However, this trend could accelerate in the current year. On the one hand, pharmaceutical companies, such as the vaccine manufacturer Pfizer, have deep pockets and need new innovations for their product portfolio. On the other hand, second-tier stocks are attractive targets due to the strong correction.

time to read: 4 minutes | Author: Stefan Feulner
ISIN: MEDIGENE AG NA O.N. | DE000A1X3W00 , BIONTECH SE SPON. ADRS 1 | US09075V1026 , Bionxt Solutions Inc. | CA0909741062

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

     

    BioNTech - Downturn ended for the time being

    The Mainz-based biotechnology company BioNTech has lost over 75% of its share price since its high in August 2021. At that time, the share price was USD 464.00. After the Corona pandemic subsided and the resulting drastic decline in sales, the share price fell close to the USD 100 mark. Here the vaccine manufacturer's chart should find a bottom, at least in the short term. On the one hand, the relative strength indicator turned upwards and is about to generate a buy signal on a weekly basis; on the other hand, the trend-following indicator MACD has already formed positive divergences in recent weeks. The first trading target should be the high from 2020 at USD 131.00. The 200-week moving average is currently at USD 139.87.

    The Mainz-based company received support for a successful bottoming from the United States. Together with partner OncoC4, they announced promising clinical Phase I/II data for their antibody candidate BNT316/ONC-392. This is intended for the treatment of difficult-to-treat non-small cell lung cancer. As non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases, developing effective therapies for this form of cancer represents significant potential. The data presented demonstrate "encouraging signals of clinical anti-tumour activity as well as a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic, PD-L1-resistant non-small cell lung cancer", BioNTech said. A final Phase III trial is already planned for the promising antibody candidate, which is expected to start in the third quarter of 2023.

    The analysts at Goldman Sachs reiterated their "neutral" rating on BioNTech in their latest report and continue to see a price target of USD 140.

    After the correction, the BioNxt Solutions share is on prominent support lines. Source: Refinitiv Eikon

    BioNxt Solutions - Significant approval

    Since the beginning of the year, the shares of the German-Canadian biotech company BioNxt Solutions have performed much better than the Corona winner BioNTech. The share price performance is around 30%, whereby the annual high of CAD 0.83 from March was significantly higher. Since then, the Company, which is distinguished by its broadly diversified product portfolio, has corrected to CAD 0.58, but it lies on a prominent support zone. The steady news flow could create an attractive long-term entry opportunity here.

    The life sciences accelerator focuses on next-generation drug formulations and drug delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and the manufacture and evaluation of new active pharmaceutical ingredients.

    An important step was the recently announced approval for a European human bioavailability study of its rotigotine transdermal patch for treating Parkinson's disease. According to market researcher Research and Markets, the global market for transdermal skin patches was valued at just under USD 6.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to around USD 20 billion by 2028.

    The formulation of BioNxt Solutions is compared with an established branded product. The human trial is being conducted in Europe according to the highest standards of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines on the quality of transdermal patches.

    All transdermal patch samples for the clinical trial have already been manufactured. This important step was completed with the help of the innovative TDS platform technology of the wholly-owned German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH. Results are expected as early as 4 to 6 weeks after trial completion.

    MediGene AG - Portfolio expanded

    The Martinsried-based company wants to get back on "the radar of investors", as IR head Pamela Keck announced at the spring conference in Frankfurt. The Company is fully financed until the last quarter of the coming year and cooperates with BioNTech and the US National Cancer Institute.

    The immuno-oncology platform company also announced the expansion of its pipeline to include neoantigens with programs targeting multiple KRAS mutations and HLAs. KRAS mutations are considered the most common oncogene mutations in hard-to-treat solid tumors and occur in approximately 30% of solid cancers such as pancreatic, colorectal, endometrial and non-small cell lung cancer. The global incidence of solid tumors harbouring KRAS mutations is estimated at over 300 000 patients.

    "Our pipeline expansion to include neoantigens with multiple KRAS targets is an important step in our quest to develop first-in-class TCR-T therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat solid tumors", said Dr Selwyn Ho, Chief Executive Officer at MediGene. "We are pleased that this latest milestone further validates MediGene's proprietary end-to-end platform as the foundation for our highly specific, sensitive and potentially safer TCRs with optimal binding capabilities. These TCRs are combined with the PD1-41BB and/or CD40L-CD28 costimulatory switch receptors to enhance proliferation and longevity of TCR T cells and mitigate the immunosuppressive effects of the tumour microenvironment."

    MediGene's shares have been in freefall since the February 2018 highs of EUR 19.40, losing around 92% of their value. At EUR 1.58, the share is trading close to a new low for the year.


    After the sell-off of the past weeks, BioNTech could start to form a short-term bottom. The German-Canadian biotech company BioNxt Solutions received the necessary approval for a landmark study. MediGene is planning to expand its product pipeline.


    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

    Stefan Feulner

    The native Franconian has more than 20 years of stock exchange experience and a broadly diversified network.
    He is passionate about analyzing a wide variety of business models and investigating new trends.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by Armin Schulz on April 17th, 2025 | 08:10 CEST

    Blockbuster or takeover fever? Why Novo Nordisk, Defence Therapeutics, and Pfizer are now attracting attention

    • Biotechnology
    • Biotech
    • Pharma

    The biotech and pharmaceutical industry resembles a billion-dollar chessboard! A single move – whether a takeover or drug approval – can double share prices in a matter of hours or completely reshape entire markets. While investors are still marveling at the spectacular rally of Theratechnologies, which opened with a gap up and then soared another 45% in a single day, or analyzing the Phase-3 explosion at Corcept, the next players are already lining up for the big coup. Because in this arena, it is not just about who develops the next blockbuster but also who buys, sells, or forms strategic alliances. There are three names to have on your radar: Novo Nordisk, Defence Therapeutics, and Pfizer. Each of these companies is pursuing its own master plan.

    Read

    Commented by Nico Popp on April 16th, 2025 | 07:50 CEST

    Takeover speculation! What is going on at Pfizer, Sanofi, and NetraMark

    • Biotechnology
    • Biotech
    • Pharma

    Developing drugs is expensive - so expensive that 22% of all Phase III studies fail due to budget constraints, as shown by scientific studies. When pharmaceutical companies discontinue a late-stage project, it also moves the stock markets. Recently, Pfizer pulled the plug on its weight loss drug, Danuglipron. The reason: a participant in the study experienced liver damage. This further backfires on Pfizer in the important market of obesity drugs, leaving it further behind Viking Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk. To ensure that more drug trials are successful in the future, the publicly listed tech company NetraMark is relying on AI. The first pharmaceutical multinationals have already set their sights on this hidden gem.

    Read

    Commented by Nico Popp on April 15th, 2025 | 09:50 CEST

    Bayer, BioNTech, Defence Therapeutics: The new biotech reality opens up opportunities

    • Biotechnology
    • Biotech
    • Pharma

    The pharmaceutical sector is exempt from US tariffs. But does that mean everything will be okay for the industry? During the German Biotech Days in Heidelberg, which took place last week, market experts were cautious. Following the layoffs at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are concerns among pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms that the US could lose its leading position in research and development. According to the researchers at the conference, Europe could step into the breach under certain conditions – however, partnerships with other regions remain crucial for continued progress.

    Read