There’s been a breakthrough in acne treatment. Picture Getty
Check Up: Big breakthrough in acne treatment, and recent ASX biotech winners
Health & Biotech
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- There’s been a breakthrough in acne treatment
- Scientists have found a way to use skin bacteria to control sebum production
- We look at the best and worst performing ASX health stocks in the past month
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in acne treatment by engineering skin bacteria to produce a therapeutic molecule – offering a promising alternative to traditional treatments with fewer side effects.
A recent experiment carried out at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, revealed that a particular skin bacterium can be successfully modified to generate a protein that controls sebum production.
This innovation is said to offer a potential solution for acne treatment while maintaining the balance of the skin microbiome.
Acne is a common skin condition that’s typically treated with antibiotics or isotretinoin, a drug that can cause side effects such as disrupting the skin microbiome.
However, this new engineered bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes (or C. acnes), has been modified to produce a protein that mimics the effects of isotretinoin, targeting sebum production.
Previously considered difficult to manipulate, C. acnes was successfully edited by researchers at the University to produce the therapeutic protein.
Experts now believe this breakthrough could pave the way for utilising living therapeutics in skin diseases beyond acne such as atopic dermatitis, leveraging the potential of engineered bacteria to revolutionise skincare.
While further validation is needed, the prospects of using these smart microbes in human treatments are promising, given the safety and effectiveness demonstrated in initial testing.
Acne-focused ASX stock
On the ASX, one company that focuses on acne treatment is Acrux (ASX:ACR).
The ACR stock price jumped by 3% on April 3 after launching its generic of Dapsone 5% Gel in the United States.
Dapsone 5% Gel is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat acne vulgaris. It helps decrease the number and severity of acne pimples, and helps pimples that do develop to heal more quickly.
Dapsone is an antibiotic and according to data from IQVIA, annual market sales for Dapsone 5% Gel products exceed US$15 million.
A generic of topical acne treatment, Aczone, Dapsone 5% Gel was already approved by the FDA in June 2023.
How ASX biotechs performed over the past month
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| CODE | COMPANY | PRICE | 1 WEEK RETURN % | 1 MONTH RETURN % | 6 MONTH RETURN % | 1 YEAR RETURN % | MARKET CAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSX | Osteopore Limited | 0.400 | 33% | 515% | 187% | 57% | $4,079,832 |
| MSB | Mesoblast Limited | 0.910 | 18% | 172% | 159% | -3% | $1,027,605,703 |
| CMB | Cambium Bio Limited | 0.009 | 0% | 80% | 80% | -40% | $6,128,738 |
| EZZ | EZZ Life Science | 0.905 | 6% | 77% | 35% | 123% | $39,527,748 |
| RCE | Recce Pharmaceutical | 0.670 | 22% | 46% | 52% | 6% | $132,568,711 |
| ATH | Alterity Therap Ltd | 0.006 | 10% | 38% | -21% | -21% | $31,428,107 |
| TD1 | Tali Digital Limited | 0.002 | 0% | 33% | 100% | 0% | $6,590,311 |
| FRE | Firebrickpharma | 0.065 | 25% | 27% | 71% | -68% | $11,631,538 |
| IDT | IDT Australia Ltd | 0.100 | 0% | 25% | 79% | 23% | $35,147,947 |
| ACR | Acrux Limited | 0.061 | 3% | 24% | 53% | 13% | $18,605,879 |
| CTE | Cryosite Limited | 0.840 | 20% | 24% | 41% | 25% | $40,511,937 |
| EYE | Nova EYE Medical Ltd | 0.270 | 6% | 23% | 39% | 3% | $60,631,278 |
| IVX | Invion Ltd | 0.006 | 20% | 20% | 0% | -14% | $38,547,193 |
| RHT | Resonance Health | 0.084 | 12% | 20% | 42% | 75% | $36,198,327 |
| PGC | Paragon Care Limited | 0.340 | 5% | 19% | 89% | 31% | $227,075,181 |
| MDR | Medadvisor Limited | 0.298 | 17% | 19% | 53% | 24% | $159,545,203 |
| ANR | Anatara Ls Ltd | 0.046 | 12% | 18% | 48% | 88% | $7,219,430 |
| OIL | Optiscan Imaging | 0.086 | -18% | 18% | 15% | -11% | $68,497,946 |
| TLX | Telix Pharmaceutical | 14.755 | 16% | 17% | 75% | 48% | $4,725,441,163 |
| GLH | Global Health Ltd | 0.115 | 5% | 15% | -23% | -43% | $6,675,697 |
| COV | Cleo Diagnostics | 0.195 | -3% | 15% | 26% | 0% | $13,708,500 |
| PTX | Prescient Ltd | 0.057 | 0% | 14% | -5% | -38% | $45,903,228 |
| IDX | Integral Diagnostics | 2.510 | 4% | 13% | -7% | -21% | $598,942,712 |
| PME | Pro Medicus Limited | 108.370 | 6% | 13% | 37% | 73% | $11,195,391,599 |
| PYC | PYC Therapeutics | 0.094 | 3% | 12% | 70% | 49% | $420,365,802 |
| AHX | Apiam Animal Health | 0.380 | 3% | 12% | 27% | -24% | $68,039,667 |
| IMM | Immutep Ltd | 0.430 | 19% | 12% | 30% | 71% | $457,701,305 |
| 1AI | Algorae Pharma | 0.010 | 0% | 11% | -17% | 25% | $16,863,517 |
| PCK | Painchek Ltd | 0.030 | 7% | 11% | -27% | 15% | $47,439,046 |
| AT1 | Atomo Diagnostics | 0.031 | 3% | 11% | 35% | -16% | $19,815,272 |
| CUV | Clinuvel Pharmaceut. | 15.260 | 1% | 11% | -3% | -24% | $746,395,050 |
| M7T | Mach7 Tech Limited | 0.740 | 10% | 9% | 17% | 23% | $168,868,733 |
| ANN | Ansell Limited | 25.470 | 2% | 8% | 17% | -8% | $3,672,030,932 |
| EBR | EBR Systems | 0.910 | 7% | 8% | 34% | 30% | $272,659,878 |
| SPL | Starpharma Holdings | 0.135 | 0% | 8% | 0% | -73% | $51,505,078 |
| BDX | Bcaldiagnostics | 0.095 | -10% | 8% | -5% | 27% | $23,967,998 |
| VBS | Vectus Biosystems | 0.275 | 10% | 8% | -24% | -47% | $14,632,574 |
| BOT | Botanix Pharma Ltd | 0.215 | 5% | 8% | 72% | 136% | $338,654,518 |
| 1AD | Adalta Limited | 0.029 | 7% | 7% | 21% | 7% | $15,248,608 |
| SIG | Sigma Health Ltd | 1.285 | 2% | 7% | 107% | 86% | $2,137,744,637 |
| RSH | Respiri Limited | 0.032 | -11% | 7% | -9% | -38% | $37,095,412 |
| CSX | Cleanspace Holdings | 0.330 | -6% | 6% | 10% | 0% | $25,521,359 |
| IME | Imexhs Limited | 0.545 | -1% | 6% | -11% | -13% | $24,299,562 |
| MVF | Monash IVF Group Ltd | 1.510 | 6% | 6% | 19% | 39% | $590,296,783 |
| CYP | Cynata Therapeutics | 0.200 | -5% | 5% | 67% | 5% | $35,926,357 |
| IMC | Immuron Limited | 0.105 | 5% | 5% | 38% | 33% | $22,799,835 |
| SDI | SDI Limited | 0.895 | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | $106,384,649 |
| NAN | Nanosonics Limited | 2.790 | -3% | 4% | -29% | -46% | $851,370,942 |
| NSB | Neuroscientific | 0.051 | -12% | 4% | -27% | -32% | $7,664,058 |
| LGP | Little Green Pharma | 0.130 | -4% | 4% | -19% | -26% | $40,737,682 |
| GSS | Genetic Signatures | 0.675 | -4% | 4% | 38% | -10% | $126,808,197 |
| HIQ | Hitiq Limited | 0.027 | 0% | 4% | 50% | -10% | $9,499,814 |
| AFP | Aft Pharmaceuticals | 2.850 | 1% | 4% | -9% | -10% | $298,868,841 |
| CGS | Cogstate Ltd | 1.340 | 4% | 3% | -4% | -7% | $221,130,933 |
| IPD | Impedimed Limited | 0.091 | -3% | 3% | -27% | -37% | $182,078,453 |
| AGH | Althea Group | 0.033 | 3% | 3% | -18% | -40% | $12,159,973 |
| DXB | Dimerix Ltd | 0.330 | 14% | 3% | 128% | 250% | $167,628,730 |
| FPH | Fisher & Paykel H. | 24.900 | 3% | 3% | 28% | 0% | $14,225,745,395 |
| ZLD | Zelira Therapeutics | 0.710 | -1% | 3% | -22% | -22% | $7,943,009 |
| AHC | Austco Healthcare | 0.195 | 0% | 3% | 15% | 50% | $58,105,032 |
| CBL | Control Bionics | 0.043 | 8% | 2% | -23% | -68% | $7,339,306 |
| TRJ | Trajan Group Holding | 1.070 | -9% | 2% | -18% | -35% | $171,243,096 |
| PBP | Probiotec Limited | 2.830 | -1% | 2% | 12% | 18% | $230,958,473 |
| AYA | Artryalimited | 0.300 | -14% | 2% | 43% | 30% | $24,004,718 |
| SNZ | Summerset Grp Hldgs | 10.470 | 3% | 1% | 15% | 43% | $2,469,234,479 |
| MYX | Mayne Pharma Ltd | 7.060 | 4% | 1% | 94% | 77% | $605,728,931 |
| VHT | Volpara Health Tech | 1.145 | 0% | 1% | 64% | 48% | $289,986,711 |
| HLS | Healius | 1.275 | 8% | 1% | -38% | -55% | $918,516,428 |
| AVR | Anteris Technologies | 23.020 | -1% | 0% | 11% | 0% | $443,758,300 |
| AC8 | Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd | 0.040 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | $17,621,884 |
| AHI | Advanced Health | 0.092 | 0% | 0% | -26% | 6% | $22,600,111 |
| AMT | Allegra Medical | 0.029 | 0% | 0% | -52% | -59% | $3,468,720 |
| BP8 | Bph Global Ltd | 0.001 | 0% | 0% | 0% | -80% | $1,954,116 |
| CAN | Cann Group Ltd | 0.062 | 0% | 0% | -48% | -58% | $27,123,891 |
| EPN | Epsilon Healthcare | 0.024 | 0% | 0% | -20% | 26% | $7,208,496 |
| HGV | Hygrovest Limited | 0.046 | -2% | 0% | -10% | -8% | $9,674,288 |
| HXL | Hexima | 0.013 | 8% | 0% | -41% | 0% | $2,171,515 |
| IBX | Imagion Biosys Ltd | 0.074 | 1% | 0% | -85% | -88% | $2,415,845 |
| JTL | Jayex Technology Ltd | 0.005 | 0% | 0% | -29% | -50% | $1,406,393 |
| MDC | Medlab Clinical Ltd | 6.600 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | $15,071,113 |
| ONE | Oneview Healthcare | 0.310 | -6% | 0% | 32% | 300% | $211,723,099 |
| PIQ | Proteomics Int Lab | 1.090 | -2% | 0% | 20% | 25% | $142,018,488 |
| PSQ | Pacific Smiles Grp | 1.640 | 0% | 0% | 29% | 32% | $261,714,378 |
| REG | Regis Healthcare Ltd | 4.010 | 5% | 0% | 66% | 93% | $1,213,170,724 |
| CSL | CSL Limited | 278.810 | 1% | -1% | 18% | -8% | $134,813,013,809 |
| CYC | Cyclopharm Limited | 1.780 | 0% | -1% | -15% | -11% | $167,657,789 |
| IXC | Invex Ther | 0.082 | -4% | -1% | 53% | -34% | $6,237,769 |
| PNV | Polynovo Limited | 2.100 | 4% | -1% | 82% | 30% | $1,408,074,812 |
| BIT | Biotron Limited | 0.069 | -4% | -1% | -14% | 146% | $62,257,010 |
| OPT | Opthea Limited | 0.675 | 2% | -1% | 111% | 4% | $447,395,828 |
| EBO | Ebos Group Ltd | 32.260 | 1% | -2% | 2% | -22% | $6,115,795,205 |
| COH | Cochlear Limited | 321.730 | 2% | -3% | 30% | 29% | $21,148,042,953 |
| CAJ | Capitol Health | 0.233 | 3% | -3% | 21% | -17% | $255,851,400 |
| RMD | ResMed Inc. | 28.675 | 0% | -3% | 22% | -15% | $17,581,791,187 |
| IIQ | Inoviq Ltd | 0.550 | -9% | -4% | -8% | 12% | $48,769,912 |
| PEB | Pacific Edge | 0.079 | 1% | -4% | -14% | -81% | $63,279,165 |
| 4DX | 4Dmedical Limited | 0.605 | 6% | -4% | 25% | -27% | $238,744,646 |
| RHC | Ramsay Health Care | 52.750 | 2% | -4% | 6% | -20% | $12,080,490,243 |
| TRP | Tissue Repair | 0.230 | 2% | -4% | -16% | 10% | $12,835,843 |
| NC6 | Nanollose Limited | 0.022 | -4% | -4% | -53% | -56% | $3,956,146 |
| RAC | Race Oncology Ltd | 1.300 | -9% | -5% | 43% | -33% | $216,464,244 |
| OCC | Orthocell Limited | 0.380 | 1% | -5% | 10% | -7% | $78,497,557 |
| MVP | Medical Developments | 0.545 | -1% | -5% | -34% | -46% | $47,467,870 |
| AGN | Argenica | 0.540 | -14% | -5% | 57% | 24% | $66,935,672 |
| RHY | Rhythm Biosciences | 0.088 | -4% | -5% | -49% | -82% | $22,384,367 |
| EMD | Emyria Limited | 0.052 | -12% | -5% | -16% | -69% | $19,797,987 |
| SHL | Sonic Healthcare | 26.970 | 2% | -6% | -9% | -26% | $12,898,846,675 |
| NEU | Neuren Pharmaceut. | 19.050 | -2% | -6% | 69% | 34% | $2,464,526,547 |
| ALC | Alcidion Group Ltd | 0.048 | 9% | -6% | -52% | -58% | $61,753,768 |
| ACL | Au Clinical Labs | 2.500 | 3% | -6% | -11% | -33% | $492,474,997 |
| OCA | Oceania Healthc Ltd | 0.540 | -4% | -6% | -16% | -18% | $400,025,634 |
| CTQ | Careteq Limited | 0.014 | 8% | -7% | -39% | -72% | $3,297,662 |
| NYR | Nyrada Inc. | 0.098 | -7% | -7% | 367% | -1% | $17,582,053 |
| RGT | Argent Biopharma Ltd | 0.405 | -7% | -7% | -60% | -95% | $19,244,086 |
| CMP | Compumedics Limited | 0.260 | -2% | -7% | 68% | 86% | $46,062,366 |
| ENL | Enlitic Inc. | 0.600 | 0% | -8% | 0% | 0% | $47,171,669 |
| ACW | Actinogen Medical | 0.030 | 2% | -8% | 74% | -53% | $67,480,701 |
| FCG | Freedomcaregrouphold | 0.175 | -3% | -8% | 0% | 0% | $4,179,684 |
| HMD | Heramed Limited | 0.018 | 0% | -8% | -66% | -83% | $6,181,872 |
| VTI | Vision Tech Inc | 0.170 | -3% | -8% | -35% | -37% | $9,582,280 |
| ECS | ECS Botanics Holding | 0.022 | 2% | -8% | -4% | 10% | $27,059,541 |
| DOC | Doctor Care Anywhere | 0.065 | -6% | -8% | 14% | 18% | $23,098,461 |
| CU6 | Clarity Pharma | 2.595 | -4% | -9% | 160% | 234% | $772,524,892 |
| UCM | Uscom Limited | 0.031 | 3% | -9% | -23% | -31% | $7,582,216 |
| LDX | Lumos Diagnostics | 0.057 | -2% | -10% | -30% | 200% | $27,915,800 |
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.005 | 13% | -10% | 13% | -10% | $15,846,485 |
| PAB | Patrys Limited | 0.009 | 0% | -10% | 29% | -40% | $18,517,026 |
| VLS | Vita Life Sciences.. | 2.200 | -6% | -11% | 31% | 50% | $122,636,378 |
| NTI | Neurotech Intl | 0.089 | -15% | -11% | 65% | 75% | $84,399,750 |
| ARX | Aroa Biosurgery | 0.505 | -6% | -11% | -32% | -52% | $173,824,956 |
| IMR | Imricor Med Sys | 0.505 | -8% | -11% | 16% | 60% | $97,225,021 |
| LTP | Ltr Pharma Limited | 0.270 | -5% | -11% | 0% | 0% | $19,009,482 |
| ALA | Arovella Therapeutic | 0.115 | 5% | -12% | 42% | 74% | $126,018,748 |
| OSL | Oncosil Medical | 0.005 | -29% | -12% | -41% | -47% | $9,022,165 |
| CHM | Chimeric Therapeutic | 0.028 | -15% | -13% | -24% | -58% | $24,701,945 |
| ME1 | Melodiol Glb Health | 0.004 | -13% | -13% | -97% | -98% | $2,693,949 |
| VFX | Visionflex Group Ltd | 0.007 | 0% | -13% | -13% | -22% | $9,918,938 |
| MAP | Microbalifesciences | 0.165 | -3% | -13% | -23% | -44% | $76,134,836 |
| CVB | Curvebeam Ai Limited | 0.175 | -8% | -14% | -49% | 0% | $34,972,702 |
| TRI | Trivarx Ltd | 0.025 | 9% | -14% | 25% | -17% | $8,461,967 |
| RAD | Radiopharm | 0.049 | 9% | -14% | -45% | -73% | $20,782,599 |
| NOX | Noxopharm Limited | 0.061 | -4% | -14% | -42% | -12% | $17,826,515 |
| UBI | Universal Biosensors | 0.170 | -6% | -14% | -33% | -39% | $39,338,131 |
| EMV | Emvision Medical | 2.200 | 1% | -14% | 50% | 46% | $193,060,238 |
| GTG | Genetic Technologies | 0.115 | -30% | -15% | -43% | -62% | $16,527,156 |
| CDX | Cardiex Limited | 0.065 | -11% | -16% | -46% | -78% | $20,886,394 |
| ATX | Amplia Therapeutics | 0.063 | -7% | -16% | -21% | -38% | $11,640,384 |
| NXS | Next Science Limited | 0.318 | -16% | -16% | 9% | -55% | $122,511,943 |
| SHG | Singular Health | 0.100 | -9% | -17% | 113% | 89% | $19,535,306 |
| PAR | Paradigm Bio. | 0.290 | 4% | -18% | -53% | -71% | $99,834,790 |
| DVL | Dorsavi Ltd | 0.013 | -7% | -19% | 8% | 0% | $7,756,601 |
| BMT | Beamtree Holdings | 0.170 | 0% | -19% | -17% | -42% | $48,874,069 |
| IMU | Imugene Limited | 0.084 | 1% | -20% | 105% | -38% | $622,183,919 |
| MEM | Memphasys Ltd | 0.008 | -11% | -20% | -40% | -56% | $10,941,938 |
| TRU | Truscreen | 0.016 | -20% | -20% | -22% | -32% | $8,841,458 |
| PER | Percheron | 0.069 | -10% | -22% | 19% | -8% | $66,714,328 |
| SNT | Syntara Limited | 0.016 | -6% | -24% | -52% | -71% | $20,297,039 |
| LBT | LBT Innovations | 0.019 | -5% | -24% | 280% | -26% | $26,794,328 |
| ILA | Island Pharma | 0.053 | -12% | -24% | -10% | -24% | $6,031,222 |
| SOM | SomnoMed Limited | 0.205 | -2% | -24% | -49% | -71% | $29,256,769 |
| ICR | Intelicare Holdings | 0.011 | -8% | -27% | -31% | -42% | $2,583,069 |
| MX1 | Micro-X Limited | 0.091 | -21% | -27% | -27% | -4% | $51,508,316 |
| VIT | Vitura Health Ltd | 0.110 | -33% | -31% | -71% | -65% | $63,346,117 |
| EOF | Ecofibre Limited | 0.061 | -13% | -32% | -59% | -66% | $23,111,308 |
| ADR | Adherium Ltd | 0.029 | -9% | -33% | -52% | -36% | $9,861,159 |
| PAA | Pharmaust Limited | 0.240 | -25% | -33% | 220% | 140% | $92,828,212 |
| IRX | Inhalerx Limited | 0.028 | -30% | -38% | -33% | -36% | $5,313,475 |
| AVH | Avita Medical | 2.810 | -6% | -44% | -15% | -34% | $161,923,797 |
Osteopore popped big after announcing the successful commencement of first-in-human clinical trials for knee preservation in Singapore.
On 22 April, the first patient was treated for knee preservation with Heparan Sulphate 3 (HS3) and aXOpore via a High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) at the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore.
The commencement of first-in-human clinical trials comes on the back of the signing of two non-binding term sheets on 14 April 2023 with Accelerate Technologies to commercialise groundbreaking technology that accelerates bone and tissue regeneration.
The study seeks to recruit ~12 patients to establish a safety profile for aXOpore, and to investigate the product’s efficacy to enhance osteosynthesis in HTO patients
Mesoblast jumped 50% after announcing that US FDA has informed the company that following additional consideration, the available clinical data from its Phase 3 study MSB-GVHD001 appears sufficient to support its submission.
Mesoblast has previously submitted to the FDA a proposed Biologics License Application (BLA) for remestemcel-L for treatment of pediatric patients with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD).
Mesoblast now intends to file the resubmission during the next quarter, seeking to address all remaining product characterisation issues.
The genomic life science company has reported receipts from customers of $23.6m for Q3 FY24, up 111% on the prior corresponding period, as it launches four new EZZ health and wellness products.
The company’s operating cash flows remained positive at $2.04m, representing a 372% increase from the last quarter.
The company also recorded a 15% increase in cash balance over the previous quarter to $14.5m at March 31, 2024, with no debt.
Recce announced the successful batch completion under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for RECCE 327 (R327) with the patented manufacturing process now producing 5,000 GMP doses of R327 per week.
The R327 manufactured under GMP standards will support its present Phase I, Phase II and anticipated Registrational Phase III clinical trials, demonstrating compliance with guidelines set by regulatory authorities, such as the US FDA.
Firebrick surged after announcing that its product, the Nasodine Nasal Spray, has been launched in the US.
Nasodine will be available to purchase from the company’s US website (nasodine.com), with online promotions commencing this week across the US.
The Nasodine spray claims to help maintain nasal hygiene by eliminating germs, allergens and other airborne threats that disrupt nasal hygiene.
It will be promoted in the US for ‘nasal hygiene’ without any therapeutic claims.
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