Check Up: Immuron wins big in US and Europe on travellers’ diarrhoea drug

With “the virus” spreading around the world, one could be forgiven for thinking the biotech sector made a killing in 2021.

In reality, the US S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index was down around 18% last year, versus a 28% gain in the benchmark S&P 500 index.

In Australia, the Healthcare (XHJ) index did much better but still underperformed, with a +8% return vs +13% for the ASX 200 index.

So what’s gone wrong?

Well, many experts believe the biotech sector started 2021 already in bubble territory.

To give an example, the Genomics ETF (NASDAQ:GNOM) grew from $2.5 billion in assets to $12.5 billion over a three-month period from mid-Nov 2020 to the mid-Feb 2021 biotech peak.

Another explanation for the lacklustre performance is that the sector has been swamped by the number of new IPO listings that have come to the market, making it hard for investors to digest each stock.

In 2022, the XHJ index has already started the year on the wrong foot, and is currently down by around 10% in the first three weeks of trading.

Here’s a table showing how ASX-listed healthcare stocks have been performing.

CODE	COMPANY	PRICE	1 WEEK RETURN %	6 MONTH RETURN %	1 YEAR RETURN %	MARKET CAP
IMC	Immuron Limited	0.135	45%	-16%	-43%	$27,335,801.52
TSN	The Sust Nutri Grp	0.195	26%	-51%	-49%	$23,518,245.08
ADO	Anteotech Ltd	0.32	25%	33%	178%	$611,959,961.52
S66	Star Combo	0.32	25%	10%	-2%	$43,040,953.92
BNO	Bionomics Limited	0.12	25%	-37%	-10%	$148,868,581.84
BOT	Botanix Pharma Ltd	0.07	21%	-10%	-48%	$71,039,371.40
LCT	Living Cell Tech.	0.006	20%	-55%	-61%	$6,170,182.34
ONE	Oneview Healthcare	0.285	14%	-23%	506%	$144,716,811.96
EPN	Epsilon Healthcare	0.07	13%	-55%	-70%	$15,144,072.53
EZZ	EZZ Life Science	0.53	13%	22%	0%	$6,380,000.00
RCE	Recce Pharmaceutical	1.34	13%	47%	28%	$232,875,714.98
RHT	Resonance Health	0.185	12%	9%	-5%	$87,561,876.39
DVL	Dorsavi Ltd	0.021	11%	-25%	-49%	$7,077,625.70
PXS	Pharmaxis Ltd	0.11	10%	31%	18%	$57,636,932.12
GTG	Genetic Technologies	0.0055	10%	-31%	-35%	$36,935,860.57
NTI	Neurotech Intl	0.059	9%	0%	16%	$40,438,477.31
IRX	Inhalerx Limited	0.09	8%	-5%	-14%	$15,162,026.13
CPH	Creso Pharma Ltd	0.09	8%	-36%	-59%	$111,599,710.68
VLS	Vita Life Sciences..	2.07	8%	86%	107%	$109,517,432.96
SOM	SomnoMed Limited	2.25	8%	-5%	12%	$172,139,375.20
EXL	Elixinol Wellness	0.077	7%	-38%	-58%	$24,641,071.73
PGC	Paragon Care Limited	0.39	7%	32%	70%	$138,803,276.11
NEU	Neuren Pharmaceut.	3.8	6%	133%	159%	$471,111,628.24
ALA	Arovella Therapeutic	0.039	5%	-33%	-3%	$17,313,151.68
JTL	Jayex Technology Ltd	0.021	5%	-28%	-49%	$5,233,799.32
IMU	Imugene Limited	0.3675	5%	10%	234%	$2,205,510,822.62
CYC	Cyclopharm Limited	1.845	5%	14%	-40%	$178,812,786.05
LDX	Lumos Diagnostics	1.04	5%	-18%	0%	$161,839,382.73
BIT	Biotron Limited	0.0905	4%	51%	16%	$65,279,742.31
ADR	Adherium Ltd	0.0135	4%	-25%	-44%	$28,647,704.03
MDC	Medlab Clinical Ltd	0.145	4%	-9%	-45%	$49,615,472.30
PCK	Painchek Ltd	0.059	4%	-2%	-20%	$67,908,287.94
SDI	SDI Limited	0.985	3%	11%	31%	$114,705,236.45
AT1	Atomo Diagnostics	0.2475	3%	30%	-16%	$104,216,035.94
RAD	Radiopharm	0.375	3%	0%	0%	$44,333,453.92
RAD	Radiopharm	0.375	3%	0%	0%	$44,333,453.92
CMP	Compumedics Limited	0.4	3%	5%	-5%	$70,865,179.20
NC6	Nanollose Limited	0.095	2%	6%	-34%	$14,144,204.96
MX1	Micro-X Limited	0.26	2%	-22%	-32%	$117,335,943.53
KZA	Kazia Therapeutics	1.12	2%	-14%	-15%	$153,823,348.49
CU6	Clarity Pharma	0.85	2%	0%	0%	$151,775,376.10
RAP	Resapp Health Ltd	0.059	2%	40%	-26%	$52,411,021.70
GLH	Global Health Ltd	0.375	1%	-26%	-18%	$21,794,615.92
CAJ	Capitol Health	0.38	1%	1%	36%	$401,253,742.12
OVN	Oventus Medical Ltd	0.084	1%	-20%	-67%	$20,546,755.48
RGS	Regeneus Ltd	0.086	1%	10%	-28%	$26,353,574.60
ALT	Analytica Limited	0.002	0%	0%	-33%	$9,227,602.26
ACR	Acrux Limited	0.1	0%	-26%	-51%	$28,368,033.80
ATX	Amplia Therapeutics	0.165	0%	-21%	-44%	$32,955,180.17
SCU	Stemcell United Ltd	0.014	0%	-22%	-18%	$14,606,489.21
MEB	Medibio Limited	0.005	0%	-44%	-44%	$10,305,255.62
ICS	ICSGlobal Limited	0.575313	0%	0%	15%	$6,054,604.94
FFC	Farmaforce Ltd	0.054	0%	-19%	-40%	$7,056,772.92
MVF	Monash IVF Group Ltd	1	0%	19%	39%	$387,686,665.80
HCT	Holista CollTech Ltd	0.043	0%	-22%	-38%	$11,840,010.74
CTE	Cryosite Limited	0.46	0%	15%	10%	$22,452,398.98
PYC	PYC Therapeutics	0.13	0%	-10%	-16%	$397,615,762.88
MDR	Medadvisor Limited	0.38	0%	27%	12%	$139,814,068.94
OIL	Optiscan Imaging	0.17	0%	-26%	31%	$102,165,624.33
PTX	Prescient Ltd	0.235	0%	12%	197%	$156,022,369.20
BPH	BPH Energy Ltd	0.037	0%	-50%	-26%	$24,602,017.39
PAL	Palla Pharma Ltd	0.295	0%	-24%	-58%	$47,764,383.09
ICR	Intelicare Holdings	0.085	0%	-51%	-63%	$7,342,322.44
IIQ	Inoviq Ltd	1.185	0%	-36%	99%	$109,962,348.89
PBP	Probiotec Limited	2.36	0%	13%	-3%	$191,923,238.16
AC8	Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd	0.0825	-1%	-21%	-55%	$36,565,410.13
HXL	Hexima	0.3875	-1%	109%	135%	$61,344,025.66
IBX	Imagion Biosys Ltd	0.0725	-1%	-18%	-60%	$82,970,171.52
ALC	Alcidion Group Ltd	0.2675	-1%	-27%	51%	$342,378,644.31
OPT	Opthea Limited	1.2675	-1%	0%	-37%	$446,962,885.60
UBI	Universal Biosensors	0.97	-1%	24%	90%	$173,382,791.40
AGH	Althea Group	0.2125	-1%	-38%	-53%	$67,172,669.95
CHM	Chimeric Therapeutic	0.25	-2%	-19%	-15%	$55,094,328.50
IMM	Immutep Ltd	0.45	-2%	-11%	0%	$388,625,874.46
LBT	LBT Innovations	0.1125	-2%	2%	2%	$35,988,923.70
IVX	Invion Ltd	0.0215	-2%	54%	115%	$134,746,786.52
TLX	Telix Pharmaceutical	8.15	-2%	57%	84%	$2,451,627,008.80
CAN	Cann Group Ltd	0.2825	-3%	-28%	-58%	$99,500,204.63
ANP	Antisense Therapeut.	0.185	-3%	-10%	-16%	$120,367,215.54
IPD	Impedimed Limited	0.175	-3%	67%	46%	$319,841,210.52
NSB	Neuroscientific	0.35	-3%	8%	46%	$50,215,075.05
ZLD	Zelira Therapeutics	0.031	-3%	-35%	-69%	$39,563,180.90
VTI	Vision Tech Inc	0.925	-3%	-17%	-58%	$21,390,127.50
4DX	4Dmedical Limited	1.18	-3%	-22%	-46%	$252,836,473.23
OSP	Osprey Med Inc	0.575	-3%	-62%	-76%	$14,881,954.36
OSL	Oncosil Medical	0.0425	-3%	-33%	-67%	$33,278,418.35
AHC	Austco Healthcare	0.14	-3%	-3%	43%	$41,207,397.90
RHY	Rhythm Biosciences	1.515	-4%	61%	14%	$324,746,399.44
HGV	Hygrovest Limited	0.055	-4%	-37%	-59%	$12,877,423.16
PIQ	Proteomics Int Lab	1.095	-4%	1%	47%	$116,221,462.50
1AD	Adalta Limited	0.08	-4%	-40%	-40%	$23,761,184.48
NXS	Next Science Limited	1.19	-4%	-25%	0%	$235,588,951.71
M7T	Mach7 Tech Limited	0.77	-4%	-21%	-36%	$185,917,717.44
TRU	Truscreen	0.075	-4%	17%	-46%	$28,303,567.73
PAB	Patrys Limited	0.0375	-4%	-26%	30%	$78,155,455.34
RAC	Race Oncology Ltd	3.19	-4%	-10%	92%	$513,412,198.04
BXN	Bioxyne Ltd	0.024	-4%	-20%	118%	$16,003,634.95
NYR	Nyrada Inc.	0.24	-4%	-24%	-40%	$39,002,175.00
EYE	Nova EYE Medical Ltd	0.315	-5%	5%	-7%	$48,032,751.03
PAA	Pharmaust Limited	0.105	-5%	12%	7%	$35,652,643.09
CDX	Cardiex Limited	0.058	-5%	-18%	-40%	$57,175,701.49
ARX	Aroa Biosurgery	0.96	-5%	-23%	-14%	$333,738,729.68
RNO	Rhinomed Ltd	0.285	-5%	39%	111%	$76,643,693.94
TD1	Tali Digital Limited	0.019	-5%	-47%	-59%	$17,706,209.99
VBS	Vectus Biosystems	1.31	-5%	-3%	-3%	$42,637,158.19
AN1	Anagenics Limited	0.056	-5%	-3%	-43%	$12,156,171.67
CYP	Cynata Therapeutics	0.55	-5%	8%	-21%	$78,802,126.70
PSQ	Pacific Smiles Grp	2.73	-5%	8%	3%	$435,658,690.74
MVP	Medical Developments	4.44	-5%	8%	-33%	$329,313,863.34
DXB	Dimerix Ltd	0.265	-5%	10%	-4%	$86,635,889.82
ILA	Island Pharma	0.25	-6%	-26%	0%	$11,243,223.16
CBL	Control Bionics	0.405	-6%	-37%	-49%	$21,138,980.52
SHG	Singular Health	0.31	-6%	-6%	0%	$21,025,381.65
DOC	Doctor Care Anywhere	0.54	-6%	-36%	-61%	$102,711,475.98
CGS	Cogstate Ltd	2.31	-6%	62%	120%	$414,270,645.22
AVE	Avecho Biotech Ltd	0.015	-6%	-25%	-38%	$27,567,187.89
ZNO	Zoono Group Ltd	0.43	-7%	-39%	-66%	$71,084,464.01
RSH	Respiri Limited	0.056	-7%	-13%	-60%	$40,479,084.24
TRP	Tissue Repair	0.475	-7%	0%	0%	$20,859,808.78
OCC	Orthocell Limited	0.465	-7%	-14%	-13%	$92,650,119.11
PAR	Paradigm Bio.	1.63	-7%	-17%	-33%	$391,464,767.40
1ST	1St Group Ltd	0.013	-7%	-39%	-59%	$6,549,087.05
VHT	Volpara Health Tech	0.92	-8%	-19%	-38%	$237,630,721.55
GSS	Genetic Signatures	1.595	-8%	18%	-17%	$236,108,805.90
MEM	Memphasys Ltd	0.078	-8%	8%	-26%	$65,750,801.97
OSX	Osteopore Limited	0.275	-8%	-38%	-44%	$32,835,106.64
IDT	IDT Australia Ltd	0.22	-8%	-29%	13%	$55,167,839.10
ATH	Alterity Therap Ltd	0.021	-9%	-40%	-38%	$50,544,366.14
MXC	Mgc Pharmaceuticals	0.041	-9%	3%	58%	$110,641,329.33
NOX	Noxopharm Limited	0.4	-9%	-36%	-28%	$127,123,508.25
AHK	Ark Mines Limited	0.21	-11%	518%	518%	$6,833,222.66
IHL	Incannex Healthcare	0.58	-11%	107%	241%	$743,244,721.85
ACW	Actinogen Medical	0.1375	-14%	20%	555%	$249,038,523.30
BWX	BWX Limited	3.66	-17%	-28%	-8%	$589,080,442.30
AMT	Allegra Orthopaedics	0.14	-18%	-26%	-59%	$16,713,472.48
PNV	Polynovo Limited	1.4625	-18%	-29%	-41%	$1,015,230,647.54
BDX	Bcaldiagnostics	0.1	-20%	0%	0%	$15,459,717.29
ONT	1300 Smiles Limited	0	-100%	-100%	-100%	$168,827,114.70

BIGGEST WINNERS

Immuron (ASX:IMC)

It’s been a week full of positive news flow for Immuron.

The biotech jumped 30% on January 12 after being awarded $6.2 million to clinically evaluate a military strength dosing regimen for Travelan – its drug for travellers’ diarrhoea.

The US Department of Defence agreed to contribute $4.8 million to fund the research, with the US Naval Medical Research Centre (NMRC) also receiving $1.4 million to support the study.

The idea is that the dosing regime could be more amenable for use in military populations – with infectious diarrhoea the most common illness reported in US troops deployed overseas.

The next day following that release, Immuron announced that it has received a European patent for Travelan’s drug composition.

The European registration adds to the company’s patent position in respect of compositions and methods for treating travelers’ diarrhoea in Australia, India, Canada and the Unites States.

Immuron share price today:

Recce Pharma (ASX:RCE)

The company reported further positive data from its Phase I clinical trial of RECCE 327, a new class of antibiotic being developed by Recce for sepsis.

Based upon the clinical data readouts, an independent safety committee has now approved a tenfold increase on the initial dosing of Cohort One (50mg), or a threefold increase (from 150mg to 500mg) for the 7-10 healthy patients undergoing this trial.

According to a report from the PEW Charitable Trusts, sepsis is the largest unmet medical need in human health. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues.

Universal Biosensors (ASX:UBI)

The company has announced the launch of the Sentia Malic Acid Test into the global wine market, with first delivery scheduled for late January 2022.

Malic acid is one of the most important, time consuming and difficult tests performed by winemakers and typically takes winemakers 30 minutes to several hours to complete.

In many instances wine is sent to third party laboratories for testing. Results are expensive and can take several days to be delivered.

The Sentia Malic Acid Test will provide winemakers with accurate and timely measurement of the malic acid in their wine within 60 seconds of sample application, and at a low cost by using Sentia’s portable handheld device.

BOD Australia (ASX:BOD)

Medicinal cannabis company BOD Australia has received a nod from the UK regulator to start an open label clinical trial for MediCabilis – a drug that treats symptoms associated with the long term impact of SARS-CoV-2, or commonly referred to as long COVID.

BOD says success in the clinic could unlock a large market opportunity for Bod to capitalise on, as more people suffer from the long lasting effects of contracting the COVID-19 disease.

Studies have shown that many of these symptoms could be treated with cannabis-based medicinal products, highlighting a significant opportunity for BOD.

OneView Healthcare (ASX:ONE)

The OneView shareprice has rallied since announcing the appointment of a new full time CFO, Helena D’Arcy, earlier this week.

D’Arcy as been acting CFO since March 2020 when John Kelly had to take extended medical leave.