• Viking Therapeutics doubled after results of weight loss drug trial
  • Janux Therapeutics tripled on pancreatic cancer results
  • We look at the recent best performing ASX health stocks

 

There were a couple of big news from the world of biotech this week, both announced on Wednesday.

Nasdaq-listed Viking Therapeutics soared by 120% after trial results show that its obesity drug, VK2735, reduced body weight at the highest dose tested.

Vikings’ trial studied more than 170 patients with obesity or who are overweight. These patients received either different dose sizes of the injectable drug VK2735, or a placebo.

Those who received weekly doses of VK2735 lost up to 14.7% of their body weight from baseline, or 13.1% when adjusted for placebo, after 13 weeks.

Overall, Viking said 88% of patients who received VK2735 had lost weight, compared to only 4% that took the placebo.

Viking Therapeutics is one of several small obesity biotechs hoping to enter the huge $100 billion weigh-loss market that’s so far dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Some experts predict that the emergence of these drugs could kill the fast food industry, but others are more pessimistic.

“It’s not going to have an impact on the population unless the drugs get brought down in price,” said Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina.

“It really needs to be in the hundreds of millions of consumers to have a monster impact. Even if out of 300 million consumers, a million take those drugs, it’s a tiny drop in the bucket for the food industry.”

 

Janux shares triple in one day

Meanwhile, another Nasdaq-listed stock, Janux Therapeutics, also rocketed on Wednesday, up +230%  after the company released promising results for its prostate cancer drug.

In one dosing group, 83% of patients saw their PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels decline by 50% following treatment with Janux’s drug, JANX007.

Some analysts believe that JANX007 has the potential to be a blockbuster drug and capture the multi-billion-dollar prostate cancer market.

Janux now expects to provide an update on JANX007 doses for expansion in the second half of 2024.

 

Best performing ASX biotechs 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
NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.0830 361.11 260.87 232.00 -30.83 $2,964,165
PAA Pharmaust 0.3550 44.90 115.15 386.30 340.99 $147,142,287
BP8 Bph Global 0.0020 0.00 100.00 -20.00 -84.81 $3,908,232
IRX Inhalerx 0.0400 0.00 100.00 -11.11 -16.67 $7,590,678
AYA Artrya 0.3650 28.07 65.91 1.39 4.29 $28,706,882
HIQ Hitiq 0.0260 4.00 52.94 23.81 -13.33 $9,147,969
SHG Singular Health 0.1250 13.64 47.06 204.88 28.87 $25,395,897
CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.2100 16.67 44.83 55.56 -33.33 $37,722,675
ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.3400 -5.56 44.68 58.14 223.81 $217,557,108
OPT Opthea 0.7000 17.65 42.86 23.76 -11.60 $457,337,957
PER Percheron 0.0820 18.84 41.38 54.72 -17.17 $65,812,783
TRI Trivarx 0.0380 52.00 40.74 90.00 90.00 $12,854,590
NTI Neurotech Intl 0.1175 11.90 38.24 155.43 135.00 $98,437,745
DXB Dimerix 0.2300 -2.13 35.29 233.33 103.54 $91,841,711
SNT Syntara 0.0230 4.55 35.29 -42.50 -48.89 $27,448,707
IIQ Inoviq 0.6950 8.59 33.65 -1.42 17.80 $61,192,437
OSL Oncosil Medical 0.0080 -11.11 33.33 -20.00 -71.87 $15,796,329
ALA Arovella Therapeutic 0.1700 -5.56 30.77 269.57 466.67 $154,753,984
RNO Rhinomed 0.0400 0.00 25.00 -42.86 -55.56 $11,340,969
MYX Mayne Pharma 6.6400 26.00 24.11 44.03 110.79 $542,773,957
DVL Dorsavi 0.0160 -5.88 23.08 45.45 23.08 $9,546,586
PNV Polynovo 2.1700 8.77 20.56 45.15 -6.47 $1,370,112,011
GTG Genetic Technologies 0.1200 20.00 20.00 -40.00 -60.00 $11,426,307
CU6 Clarity Pharma 2.7500 4.96 19.57 150.00 225.44 $724,906,678
OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.0950 -4.04 18.75 31.94 -1.07 $79,357,376
MXC Mgc Pharmaceuticals 0.3950 -3.66 17.91 -80.25 -96.05 $16,444,362
VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 2.1600 11.05 17.07 50.52 46.44 $118,470,301
COV Cleo Diagnostics 0.1850 2.78 15.63 -9.76 $13,708,500
SIG Sigma Health 1.1150 2.29 15.54 49.10 83.69 $1,819,530,741
4DX 4Dmedical 0.6900 6.98 15.00 11.29 81.58 $254,074,470
COH Cochlear 343.9600 4.13 14.84 29.81 51.67 $22,436,311,782
AVH Avita Medical 5.4700 5.19 14.44 8.75 48.24 $331,902,743
NSB Neuroscientific 0.0400 11.11 14.29 -55.56 -56.04 $5,061,170
IDX Integral Diagnostics 2.3050 2.90 13.55 -26.12 -15.26 $553,323,827
MSB Mesoblast 0.3000 3.45 13.21 -34.76 -65.98 $299,525,960
RSH Respiri 0.0260 -10.34 13.04 -10.34 -45.83 $27,556,592
AHX Apiam Animal Health 0.3600 14.29 12.50 -12.20 -38.46 $63,901,933
VFX Visionflex Group 0.0090 12.50 12.50 -10.00 0.00 $11,335,930
IMU Imugene 0.1175 6.82 11.90 70.29 -9.62 $841,612,524
1AI Algorae Pharma 0.0100 -9.09 11.11 -28.57 6.57 $18,273,642
NOX Noxopharm 0.0720 5.88 10.77 89.47 -34.55 $17,534,277
CAJ Capitol Health 0.2700 3.85 10.20 17.39 1.89 $287,768,539
RHT Resonance Health 0.0550 0.00 10.00 -8.33 1.85 $23,685,325
MX1 Micro-X 0.1150 0.00 9.52 -4.17 -11.54 $59,664,343
SDI SDI 0.8200 7.19 9.33 -7.34 -13.68 $90,337,803
MAP Microbalifesciences 0.1850 2.78 8.82 -44.00 -51.00 $71,967,719
MDR Medadvisor 0.3150 1.61 8.62 36.96 26.00 $159,461,104
SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 10.4500 1.46 8.29 16.11 21.51 $2,401,384,166
REG Regis Healthcare 3.5900 5.28 8.13 49.58 135.41 $1,074,694,661
TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 12.1650 7.46 7.65 16.52 85.16 $3,790,592,582
RAC Race Oncology 0.8000 4.58 7.38 -8.57 -61.90 $127,199,477
FPH Fisher & Paykel H. 23.5200 6.23 7.25 14.68 -0.55 $13,623,872,701
AHI Advanced Health 0.0920 0.00 6.98 -56.19 -2.13 $22,303,384
ACW Actinogen Medical 0.0310 -16.22 6.90 14.81 -64.14 $74,597,510
PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 0.9800 -4.39 6.52 20.99 -0.51 $125,656,911
CSX Cleanspace Holdings 0.3450 -5.48 6.15 27.78 -24.18 $26,669,577
PAB Patrys 0.0090 0.00 5.88 0.00 -66.67 $18,517,026
AVR Anteris Technologies 17.1000 0.65 5.62 -16.59 -21.20 $306,733,035
IXC Invex Ther 0.0850 -15.00 4.94 85.33 -25.87 $6,763,846
ECS ECS Botanics Holding 0.0230 -8.00 4.55 0.00 -11.54 $24,348,075
EBR EBR Systems 0.7600 -3.80 4.11 -10.59 17.83 $230,265,569
AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.0260 -10.34 4.00 -13.33 -44.68 $16,619,260
OCC Orthocell 0.4200 10.53 3.70 13.51 9.09 $83,692,290
MVF Monash IVF Group 1.4400 -1.37 3.23 22.03 38.46 $566,918,692
IME Imexhs 0.6500 0.00 3.17 7.44 62.50 $27,772,200
PGC Paragon Care 0.2150 4.88 2.38 -2.27 -17.31 $140,252,318
IMM Immutep 0.3425 -3.52 2.24 24.55 44.96 $410,147,923
GSS Genetic Signatures 0.5100 0.00 2.00 13.50 -38.57 $95,106,147
BOT Botanix Pharma 0.1775 -6.58 1.43 -4.05 133.55 $281,418,727
EBO Ebos Group 34.3100 0.09 1.09 3.66 -16.34 $6,598,805,043
CGS Cogstate 1.2300 -4.65 0.41 -13.38 -12.77 $217,639,047
PME Pro Medicus 100.2300 5.69 0.16 38.21 66.63 $10,433,841,015
AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs 0.0400 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 $17,621,884
AHC Austco Healthcare 0.1900 -5.00 0.00 11.76 46.15 $58,105,032
ATH Alterity Therap 0.0050 25.00 0.00 -16.67 -37.50 $17,531,019
AVE Avecho Biotech 0.0030 -14.29 0.00 -66.67 -66.67 $9,507,891
EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.0240 0.00 0.00 -7.69 4.35 $7,208,496
IVX Invion 0.0050 11.11 0.00 0.00 -28.57 $38,547,193
LBT LBT Innovations 0.0150 15.38 0.00 5.01 -54.06 $20,173,058
MDC Medlab Clinical 6.6000 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 $15,071,113
NC6 Nanollose 0.0230 -11.54 0.00 -61.67 -61.67 $4,472,166
VHT Volpara Health Tech 1.1200 0.00 0.00 38.27 48.34 $284,899,225
RHC Ramsay Health Care 50.9300 0.28 -0.29 5.18 -24.68 $11,694,286,098
EMV Emvision Medical 2.0800 -1.89 -0.95 24.55 44.95 $166,828,220
M7T Mach7 Tech 0.6700 -1.47 -1.47 -11.84 1.52 $164,043,912
RMD ResMed Inc. 27.8700 1.60 -2.04 10.82 -11.58 $17,227,976,859
ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.8500 -3.41 -2.30 -26.72 -22.73 $9,645,082
PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 1.4000 0.72 -2.44 6.87 18.64 $222,616,804
CSL CSL 285.3350 1.08 -2.62 8.32 -4.18 $137,923,124,874
CYC Cyclopharm 1.8000 -2.70 -2.70 -21.74 20.00 $169,373,387
PBP Probiotec 2.7500 -4.18 -2.83 1.85 20.09 $227,705,537
PAR Paradigm Bio. 0.3350 -4.29 -2.90 -51.49 -74.49 $122,662,461
ANN Ansell 23.9900 1.52 -3.03 4.40 -10.75 $3,011,080,654
VBS Vectus Biosystems 0.2900 -9.38 -3.33 -27.50 -56.72 $15,164,668
LGP Little Green Pharma 0.1400 7.69 -3.45 -17.65 -17.65 $43,513,519
ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.0770 -2.53 -3.75 -3.75 -9.41 $15,520,512
1AD Adalta 0.0220 -4.35 -4.35 -4.35 -45.00 $9,990,277
GLH Global Health 0.1100 -4.35 -4.35 -26.67 -35.29 $6,385,449
ENL Enlitic Inc. 0.6800 -3.55 -5.56 $53,192,291
SOM SomnoMed 0.4250 1.19 -5.56 -47.72 -62.96 $38,006,989
FRE Firebrickpharma 0.0500 -1.96 -5.66 -82.46 -74.36 $8,947,337
PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.0790 -7.06 -5.95 21.54 0.00 $298,629,371
DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.0630 -3.08 -5.97 27.27 -3.08 $23,098,461
PCK Painchek 0.0300 0.00 -6.25 0.00 15.38 $43,075,482
AGN Argenica 0.5900 6.31 -6.35 47.50 37.21 $57,768,477
SHL Sonic Healthcare 29.3100 0.24 -7.13 -8.06 -10.72 $13,997,703,183
TRU Truscreen 0.0200 -20.00 -7.20 -11.06 -22.38 $8,400,507
NXS Next Science 0.3200 -9.86 -7.25 -47.97 -54.61 $100,634,811
CTQ Careteq 0.0240 -4.00 -7.69 -4.00 -57.71 $5,888,682
LDX Lumos Diagnostics 0.0710 -6.58 -7.79 -32.38 36.54 $36,578,803
AGH Althea Group 0.0350 -5.41 -7.89 -16.67 -30.00 $13,465,494
IMC Immuron 0.0700 -4.11 -7.89 -12.50 -2.78 $15,945,884
RHY Rhythm Biosciences 0.0980 -9.00 -9.00 -73.31 -89.35 $22,114,259
BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.0900 0.00 -9.09 -21.74 45.16 $22,647,524
NAN Nanosonics 2.7400 -8.67 -9.87 -34.76 -38.57 $829,752,466
CUV Clinuvel Pharmaceut. 14.0900 -13.72 -9.97 -33.85 -29.51 $672,707,963
MEM Memphasys 0.0090 0.00 -10.00 -40.67 -36.72 $12,309,680
ILA Island Pharma 0.0711 -3.61 -10.11 -5.88 -1.23 $5,779,163
MVP Medical Developments 0.8350 -15.23 -10.22 -23.04 -42.41 $75,085,541
CBL Control Bionics 0.0420 -2.33 -10.64 -39.52 -72.61 $7,168,624
CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.0250 0.00 -10.71 -32.43 -63.24 $21,033,416
BMT Beamtree Holdings 0.2050 -8.89 -10.87 -6.82 -35.94 $57,313,804
HGV Hygrovest 0.0400 -14.89 -11.11 -20.00 -42.86 $9,674,288
EMD Emyria 0.0460 -8.00 -11.54 -44.83 -77.93 $17,231,582
TRJ Trajan Group Holding 1.0150 -9.38 -11.74 -40.29 -46.30 $155,260,407
FCG Freedomcaregrouphold 0.1500 -3.23 -11.76 $3,582,586
ANR Anatara Ls 0.0220 0.00 -12.00 -31.08 -21.89 $3,693,662
SPL Starpharma Holdings 0.1275 -1.92 -12.07 -8.93 -77.43 $53,565,281
AFP Aft Pharmaceuticals 3.1000 -3.43 -12.18 -8.01 -4.62 $326,134,069
HMD Heramed 0.0210 10.53 -12.50 -71.79 -83.91 $6,104,020
RCE Recce Pharmaceutical 0.4600 -4.17 -13.21 -32.67 -18.49 $92,684,348
EOF Ecofibre 0.0950 10.47 -13.64 -47.22 -61.22 $32,962,029
IMR Imricor Med Sys 0.5000 13.64 -14.66 -19.95 69.28 $87,774,472
HLS Healius 1.1975 -14.46 -14.77 -50.43 -53.96 $918,474,809
IDT IDT Australia 0.0890 -9.18 -15.24 34.85 34.85 $33,742,029
TRP Tissue Repair 0.2200 -2.22 -15.38 -16.98 -6.38 $12,277,763
CTE Cryosite 0.5800 0.00 -15.44 -3.08 -19.23 $28,308,473
PEB Pacific Edge 0.0800 -1.23 -15.79 -15.79 -80.95 $71,391,878
ACR Acrux 0.0570 0.00 -16.18 29.55 -5.00 $16,531,839
OCA Oceania Healthc 0.5400 -12.90 -16.28 -23.94 -22.86 $392,752,441
VTI Vision Tech Inc 0.2150 -12.24 -17.31 2.11 -35.82 $11,943,675
PTX Prescient 0.0470 0.00 -17.54 -38.16 -47.78 $37,044,710
LTP Ltr Pharma 0.2700 -10.00 -18.18 $20,417,592
EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.5100 2.00 -18.40 -20.31 29.11 $21,993,075
CMP Compumedics 0.3250 1.56 -18.75 80.56 85.71 $57,577,958
NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 18.6000 -9.45 -20.72 48.80 156.20 $2,735,385,120
ICR Intelicare Holdings 0.0150 0.00 -21.05 0.00 -21.05 $3,522,367
CAN Cann Group 0.0630 -11.27 -21.25 -49.60 -63.71 $29,311,301
OSXDA Osteopore 0.4000 -19.19 -21.57 -61.90 -77.53 $4,131,164
EYE Nova EYE Medical 0.2100 2.44 -21.57 -10.14 -6.23 $44,711,630
ARX Aroa Biosurgery 0.5725 -2.97 -21.58 -34.20 -46.24 $196,696,464
ADR Adherium 0.0420 -2.33 -22.22 -30.00 -20.00 $14,004,479
HXL Hexima 0.0140 -6.67 -22.22 -39.13 -12.50 $2,338,555
ALC Alcidion Group 0.0430 -14.00 -23.21 -65.60 -69.29 $60,411,295
RAD Radiopharm 0.0560 -8.20 -23.29 -34.85 -56.08 $23,569,685
BIT Biotron 0.0720 -21.74 -25.00 132.26 176.92 $62,257,010
JTL Jayex Technology 0.0060 0.00 -25.00 -33.33 -40.00 $1,687,671
RGS Regeneus 0.0060 0.00 -25.00 -33.33 -50.00 $1,838,621
UCM Uscom 0.0300 -9.09 -26.83 -42.31 -30.23 $5,716,007
ACL Au Clinical Labs 2.2700 -20.35 -27.24 -20.63 -36.24 $526,786,779
UBI Universal Biosensors 0.1450 -9.38 -27.50 -42.00 -49.12 $30,793,568
CDX Cardiex 0.0830 -31.28 -31.28 -42.02 -63.62 $20,162,890
TD1 Tali Digital 0.0010 0.00 -33.33 0.00 -75.00 $3,295,156
AMT Allegra Medical 0.0290 0.00 -34.09 -51.67 -47.27 $3,468,720
VIT Vitura Health 0.1600 -36.00 -34.69 -59.49 -69.23 $89,260,437
IPD Impedimed 0.0840 1.20 -35.38 -53.33 40.00 $161,864,634
CVB Curvebeam Ai 0.2150 -2.27 -36.76 -48.19 $46,994,569
IBX Imagion Biosys 0.0820 -4.65 -54.44 -86.33 -91.46 $2,742,310
ME1 Melodiol Glb Health 0.0075 -46.43 -65.91 -94.64 -97.12 $1,973,088
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Nyrada (ASX:NYR)

NYR jumped by 400% on Wednesday after the company’s lead Brain Injury Program drug candidate, NYR-BI03, demonstrated strong efficacy in reducing injury in a preclinical animal study.

The study showed a significant neuroprotective signal, providing strong evidence of efficacy for the drug.

Conducted in collaboration with UNSW Sydney, the study involved 16 test animals, which were treated with either NYR-BI03 or vehicle, 30 minutes following induced brain injury, with treatment conducted for 72 hours via continuous intravenous infusion.

The MRI brain imaging results showed that a statistically significant neuroprotection was achieved when animals received NYR-BI03 treatment.

On average, NYR-BI03 therapy rescued 42% of the brain injury in the penumbra region seen in animals receiving vehicle.

Nyrada will now move on to Phase I clinical trial in humans, which is scheduled for the second half of the 2024 calendar year.

 

Pharmaust (ASX:PAA)

PharmAust has successfully completed a pre-IND meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A path has now been outlined to potentially receive an accelerated and full approval of its lead drug monepantel, for the treatment of motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS).

PharmAust will initiate requirements requested by FDA in preparation to open an IND application for its adaptive Phase 2/3 clinical study.

Separately, PharmAust has engaged globally renowned experts in MND/ALS and formed a scientific advisory board (SAB).

The SAB will provide expert advice for the development of monepantel to treat MND/ALS. The SAB will also support the planning stages for PharmAust’s adaptive Phase 2/3 clinical study.

 

BPH Global (ASX:BP8)

BPH has recently entered into two new agreements with the China Tobacco group, for the sale and distribution of bird’s nest products via China Tobacco’s outlets in the City of Guangzhou in China for calendar year 2024.

The principal terms of the agreements include: Commencement date 1 January 2024 with a term 12 months.

Products to be supplied include: pure bird’s nest 50g box, and bird’s nest drink.

Guangzhou is at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the most populous built-up metropolitan area in the world.

 

InhalerX (ASX:IRX)

InhalerX has been rising despite revenue falling by 95% for the full year. But investors have been happy after the company announced a new focus in its biotech program.

InhalerX said that following pre-IND meeting feedback from the US FDA in March last year, the company undertook a detailed and careful evaluation process, which has resulted in the decision to promote BTcP (Breakthrough Cancer Pain) as the primary indication of focus for the proposed Phase 2 trial of IRX211.

IRX explained that there are many aspects that make BTcP a more attractive acute pain candidate versus CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), its previous focus.

This includes BTcP’s well-established condition compared to the paroxysmal pain episodes in CRPS.

An Australian provisional patent application for the treatment of BTcP was filed at the Australian Patent Office on 21 December 2023.

 

HitIQ (ASX:HIQ)

HIQ announced it has executed an agreement with UK Sports Institute (UKSI), the United Kingdom’s high-performance sports institute, to supply its concussion management technology across the UK’s elite sports ecosystem, expanding the company’s global footprint.

Under the deal, the UKSI will implement HITIQ’s CSX concussion management platform across 25 National Governing Body Sports Programs, onboarding 1,050 athletes.

The current agreement is through to 31 March 2025, with UKSI holding an option to extend the agreement for a further year. The financial implication of the deal is not material, says HitIQ.