ASX Health Stocks: ACCC gives the OK for API takeover by Wesfarmers

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 Health Index (XHJ) is down 2%, while the benchmark ASX 200 is also falling by 0.75%.

The path is now open for pharma distributor Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (ASX: API) to be acquired by Wesfarmers (ASX: WES), following the ACCC decision not to oppose the takeover.

Competition regulator ACCC’s review specifically focused on the competitive markets for the over-the-counter pharmaceutical and beauty & personal care products if the takeover was to go ahead.

“Our investigation showed that there are many large and well-established retailers, including Chemist Warehouse, Woolworths and Coles, that will compete strongly with Wesfarmers after the acquisition,” said ACCC commissioner, Stephen Ridgeway.

A small number of industry participants had raised some competition concerns about the acquisition, but upon consultation with a wide range of stakeholders during the investigation, ACCC concluded the relevant markets have a large number of suppliers and retailers to compete on an even footing.

This development ended months of negotiations between API and Wesfarmers, which already owns 19.3% of API.

After beating Sigma Healthcare in the bidding war, the $763.6 million deal marks Wesfarmers’ first foray into the pharmacy sector, giving it immediate access to API’s retail networks which include the Priceline brand.

The API share price is little moved on the latest news.

API share price today:

Impedimed to progress SOZO trial

Medtech company Impedimed (ASX:IPD) announced an agreement for its SOZO platform obvservational trial to treat patients with end stage renal disease.

The company entered into an agreement with Balboa Research and Frenova Renal Research to conduct the initial observational trial.

Impedimed also announced the appointments of Dr Mark Boiskin and Dr Dylan Steer as Principal Investigators for both the observational trial and a pivotal interventional trial, which will be used to support an eventual FDA clearance for renal failure.

The primary goal of the observational trial is to assess the applicability of the SOZO platform in a dialysis setting, and collect data that can be used to refine the protocol for an interventional trial.

Somewhat similar to the body fat monitors seen in some gyms, the SOZO device runs a painless electrical current through the body to measure its composition.

The HF-Dex index will present clinicians with a patient’s fluid levels over time, together with a normal fluid volume range.

Impedimed share price today:

Actinogen expects trial results in April

Neurological specialist Actinogen (ASX:ACW) says that following the final trial patient visit yesterday, it now expects top-line results for the XanaMIA Part A trial to be available in April.

This allows for an approximate two-month period of data entry, quality control and analysis.

The Part A trial is part of the Phase 2 trial on XanaMIA, a drug which is being studied for patients with Fragile X Syndrome.

The trial is established to assess the efficacy of 5mg and 10mg Xanamem doses compared to placebo in older healthy patients (aged 50 to 80 years old), over six weeks, to confirm the minimum effective dose needed to improve cognition.