Watch out: BioNTech, NervGen, MorphoSys, Valneva: Biotech shares in check!

BioNTech and Valneva - The vaccine has had its day as a unique selling point

After successfully containing the Corona pandemic, vaccine manufacturers must now turn to new topics in order to present their investors with a catchy growth story. After all, Corona has lost its scare with the latest Omicron variant. Vaccination rates will also no longer move significantly upward because people have now learned to deal with the virus. As a result, the opportunities for the ex-stock market darlings present themselves in a new light.

Although BioNTech's share price has plunged 60% from the top, the stock now appears quite favorable, with a 2022 P/E ratio of 5. Investors believe that the Mainz-based company is capable of much more than many other protagonists. Together with the US giant Pfizer, they developed the vaccine Comirnaty and earned splendidly from it in the first quarter. At EUR 6.4 billion, the biotech company generated almost three times as much revenue as in the same period last year. Net income increased from EUR 1.1 billion to EUR 3.7 billion, but there are doubts for the coming quarters, as government orders have probably been largely priced in.

In the case of Valneva, the situation is a little more difficult to assess, as this is a classic latecomer with strong competition. Although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has now accepted the marketing authorization application for the corona vaccine VLA2001, a new EU supply order has not yet been issued. There is also a second promising product against chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. To date, there are no effective treatments or preventive vaccines against this disease, according to Valneva. That could put it in pole position in this area.

Still, both BioNTech and Valneva are battered from a chart perspective. When the correction in the sector is over, we prefer the standard stock BioNTech for a new investment. At present, only speculators are likely to be interested in Valneva.

NervGen Pharma - Research on the human nervous system

The Canadian company, NervGen Pharma Corp. from Vancouver, concentrates on the human nervous system. The main areas of application are seen in the indications of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other spinal cord injuries, and the widespread disease of stroke. For the development and establishment of the Company, one looks back to the outstanding work of Dr Jerry Silver. He developed technologies in the 1990s that are now on the verge of therapeutic breakthroughs.

Recently, the regulatory authorities approved an increase in the loading dose in the current Phase 1 trial of the compound NVG-291, a good sign because such a risk increase is only possible if initial positive evidence can already be provided. NervGen's approach sounds groundbreaking because the therapeutic approach is based on a molecule that restarts the natural healing process, even though the body's own substances promote scarring. In the positive case, the renewal process in the nerve tissue starts at the old scarring, which previously represented the endpoint of healing.

A Phase II trial for multiple sclerosis (MS) is expected to start in the first half of 2023. In a recent interview, Chairman Bill Radvak described observations in animal studies where stem cells also penetrate damaged nerve areas during strokes and promote healing. Now, this sounds like a good thing. The listing on NASDAQ should be implemented before the end of 2022; currently, NervGen is tradable on the TSX and in Frankfurt. Trading is still thin, but turnover is likely to increase sharply with the US listing.

MorphoSys - This could turn into a rally

German biotech MorphoSys has had a long losing streak. From the top, the share lost a full 90% to EUR 16.50 - then a strong countermovement set in. In the last two weeks, courageous investors were able to take a 25% increase, but now the question is, what will happen next? The fact remains that MorphoSys is a share with a strong short ratio, which at its peak had developed to 15% of the outstanding capital. Currently, this is gradually decreasing again because hedge funds do not like to be caught on the wrong foot.

Fundamentally, the cost burdens due to the acquisition of Constellation Pharma remain high for the time being, increasing from EUR 33.3 million to EUR 65.0 million in the first quarter. Sales fell analogously from EUR 47.2 million to EUR 41.5 million. However, in the previous year, there was a milestone payment from Glaxo of EUR 16 million. All in all, MorphoSys posted a loss of EUR 122.7 million at the beginning of the year, and cash and cash equivalents declined from EUR 976.9 million to EUR 846.9 million. When calculated with a sharp pencil, the share is currently still trading at EUR 180 million below cash. The recent AGM for 2021 went well, with all proposed items being approved by shareholders.

The overall technical picture has now improved significantly. The plus of the last few days brings the share closer to an important chart hurdle. This critical turning point is just under EUR 21. Yesterday's close was one tick above this line, so the next few days promise to be highly exciting. Stay on the lookout. In the event of a confirmed breakout, things will move very quickly. Put a few pieces aside at the current price.

Biotech stocks have experienced a major sell-off. Now it is time to find the pearls because a downward movement would not last forever. For BioNTech and MorphoSys, the positive signs are increasing. NervGen, with its pipeline, is an excellent opportunity to profit from ongoing future topics, so pay close attention to the news flow in the coming weeks.