Check Up: Moderna trials mRNA-based HIV vaccine, while these ASX biotechs get patents
Pic: Getty
In a world first, Cambridge-based Moderna has begun a clinical trial of an experimental vaccine for HIV using its mRNA technology.
Best known for its COVID-19 vaccines, Moderna pioneered the use of messenger RNA (or mRNA), a molecule and key ingredient of its Covid jabs.
mRNA itself wasn’t developed in the lab, it evolved billions of years ago and is a naturally found molecule in our bodies that transport DNA cells around the body.
It’s an important safety mechanism as it prevents invaders from hijacking the cellular machinery to produce foreign protein, hence its effective use as an ingredient in vaccines.
The Moderna HIV trial has now commenced, administering first doses to participants at the George Washington University.
The company says the goal is to draw out an immune response from the body when presented with HIV-specific antigens delivered through the vaccine.
ANNOUNCEMENT 📢: We are proud to announce that the first participant has been dosed in the Phase 1 study of mRNA-1644, our experimental #HIV #mRNA #vaccine candidate. Learn more about this exciting venture with @IAVI: https://t.co/apeIJpPbxz pic.twitter.com/1fON4j9hP7
— Moderna (@moderna_tx) January 27, 2022
Meanwhile, biotech stocks in the US have had a bleak start to the year, with SPDR S&P Biotech ETF, a key benchmark for the sector, down by 18% so far in 2022.
The ETF is one of the funds targeted heavily by short sellers as a Fed rate hike looms around the corner.
Down Under, investor mood is similar with ASX 200 Health Index (XHJ) already down by 12% in the first month of trading this year.
As elsewhere globally, risk-off sentiment has weighed on local stocks after a shock 3.5% inflation print last week.
However, some good quality healthcare names have caught a bid over the last few days.
| CODE | COMPANY | PRICE | 1 WEEK RETURN % | 6 MONTH RETURN % | 1 YEAR RETURN % | MARKET CAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | Resapp Health Ltd | 0.08 | 37.9% | 23.1% | 21.2% | $63,580,584 |
| IDT | IDT Australia Ltd | 0.255 | 30.8% | 0.0% | 27.5% | $67,160,848 |
| NOX | Noxopharm Limited | 0.445 | 27.1% | 14.1% | -39.0% | $131,507,078 |
| NEU | Neuren Pharmaceut. | 3.91 | 23.7% | 3.7% | 185.4% | $496,304,763 |
| NXS | Next Science Limited | 1.245 | 23.3% | 0.0% | 3.8% | $253,406,604 |
| NC6 | Nanollose Limited | 0.11 | 22.2% | 10.0% | -15.4% | $17,121,932 |
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.017 | 21.4% | 13.3% | -15.0% | $23,891,563 |
| AMT | Allegra Orthopaedics | 0.15 | 20.0% | 0.0% | -50.8% | $15,668,880 |
| IPD | Impedimed Limited | 0.19 | 18.8% | 8.6% | 65.2% | $337,610,167 |
| VHT | Volpara Health Tech | 0.95 | 17.3% | -8.7% | -36.0% | $241,402,638 |
| PAB | Patrys Limited | 0.028 | 16.7% | -24.3% | 4.1% | $59,644,953 |
| IMC | Immuron Limited | 0.14 | 16.7% | 40.0% | -34.9% | $30,752,777 |
| M7T | Mach7 Tech Limited | 0.7925 | 16.5% | -3.4% | -46.8% | $183,534,157 |
| CBL | Control Bionics | 0.44 | 15.8% | 3.5% | -45.7% | $21,642,290 |
| SHG | Singular Health | 0.265 | 15.2% | -5.4% | 0.0% | $17,301,603 |
| IMU | Imugene Limited | 0.3275 | 14.9% | -18.1% | 227.5% | $1,915,882,925 |
| VBS | Vectus Biosystems | 1.395 | 14.3% | -1.1% | 4.9% | $45,403,691 |
| MEM | Memphasys Ltd | 0.074 | 13.8% | -20.4% | -23.7% | $57,829,019 |
| ALC | Alcidion Group Ltd | 0.255 | 13.3% | -7.3% | 23.8% | $323,357,609 |
| ATH | Alterity Therap Ltd | 0.0215 | 13.2% | 2.4% | -38.6% | $50,544,366 |
| MEB | Medibio Limited | 0.0045 | 12.5% | -10.0% | -43.8% | $8,244,204 |
| GTG | Genetic Technologies | 0.0045 | 12.5% | -10.0% | -55.0% | $41,552,843 |
| AT1 | Atomo Diagnostics | 0.225 | 12.5% | -25.0% | -21.1% | $91,955,326 |
| KZA | Kazia Therapeutics | 1.01 | 12.2% | -19.5% | -17.6% | $126,755,721 |
| TRP | Tissue Repair | 0.46 | 12.2% | -15.6% | 0.0% | $19,784,561 |
| IMM | Immutep Ltd | 0.425 | 11.8% | -13.3% | 7.6% | $345,919,734 |
| MVP | Medical Developments | 4.62 | 11.3% | -7.6% | -30.3% | $329,313,863 |
| PNV | Polynovo Limited | 1.4 | 11.1% | -8.2% | -47.6% | $893,278,859 |
| TLX | Telix Pharmaceutical | 7.34 | 10.9% | -5.3% | 89.2% | $2,178,088,807 |
| LDX | Lumos Diagnostics | 1.05 | 10.5% | 5.5% | 0.0% | $140,762,626 |
| PGC | Paragon Care Limited | 0.37 | 10.4% | 2.8% | 57.4% | $126,504,252 |
| RHY | Rhythm Biosciences | 1.375 | 10.4% | -11.3% | 14.9% | $300,176,771 |
| NSB | Neuroscientific | 0.32 | 10.3% | -4.5% | 48.8% | $43,041,493 |
| PIQ | Proteomics Int Lab | 1.05 | 9.9% | -13.6% | 54.4% | $114,108,345 |
| AGH | Althea Group | 0.225 | 9.8% | 0.0% | -50.0% | $69,248,863 |
| ATX | Amplia Therapeutics | 0.17 | 9.7% | 3.0% | -33.9% | $32,955,180 |
| TD1 | Tali Digital Limited | 0.0175 | 9.4% | -20.5% | -55.1% | $15,842,398 |
| 1AD | Adalta Limited | 0.082 | 9.3% | 2.5% | -31.0% | $24,652,229 |
| OCC | Orthocell Limited | 0.435 | 8.8% | -14.7% | -10.3% | $87,721,921 |
| PYC | PYC Therapeutics | 0.125 | 8.7% | -7.4% | -7.4% | $413,520,393 |
| ACW | Actinogen Medical | 0.125 | 8.7% | -21.9% | 525.0% | $231,250,057 |
| OSX | Osteopore Limited | 0.25 | 8.7% | 11.1% | -50.0% | $27,558,036 |
| DXB | Dimerix Ltd | 0.255 | 8.5% | 4.1% | -15.0% | $83,427,153 |
| PTX | Prescient Ltd | 0.205 | 7.9% | -10.9% | 95.2% | $136,519,573 |
| IBX | Imagion Biosys Ltd | 0.07 | 7.7% | -7.9% | -57.6% | $76,242,860 |
| ALA | Arovella Therapeutic | 0.043 | 7.5% | 10.3% | -4.4% | $25,248,346 |
| RAC | Race Oncology Ltd | 3.07 | 7.3% | -14.7% | 78.5% | $486,306,585 |
| BDX | Bcaldiagnostics | 0.105 | 7.1% | -16.0% | 0.0% | $15,130,787 |
| HCT | Holista CollTech Ltd | 0.045 | 7.1% | -4.3% | -30.8% | $12,941,407 |
| PAA | Pharmaust Limited | 0.105 | 7.1% | 5.0% | 7.1% | $31,374,326 |
| IIQ | Inoviq Ltd | 1.095 | 6.8% | -8.4% | 88.8% | $97,539,824 |
| MX1 | Micro-X Limited | 0.235 | 6.8% | -7.8% | -32.9% | $108,133,124 |
| GLH | Global Health Ltd | 0.395 | 6.8% | 12.9% | -12.2% | $22,360,710 |
| TSN | The Sust Nutri Grp | 0.16 | 6.7% | -20.0% | -62.8% | $19,297,022 |
| RAD | Radiopharm | 0.325 | 6.6% | -17.7% | 0.0% | $41,507,606 |
| RAD | Radiopharm | 0.325 | 6.6% | -17.7% | 0.0% | $41,507,606 |
| CGS | Cogstate Ltd | 1.825 | 6.4% | -24.6% | 58.0% | $312,002,996 |
| PAR | Paradigm Bio. | 1.47 | 5.8% | -22.0% | -37.4% | $341,393,693 |
| IHL | Incannex Healthcare | 0.465 | 5.7% | -25.6% | 200.0% | $549,880,241 |
| IVX | Invion Ltd | 0.019 | 5.6% | -9.5% | 90.0% | $121,913,759 |
| MDR | Medadvisor Limited | 0.38 | 5.6% | -3.8% | 4.1% | $141,703,448 |
| MVF | Monash IVF Group Ltd | 1.035 | 5.1% | -1.9% | 38.0% | $393,531,188 |
| SOM | SomnoMed Limited | 2.11 | 5.0% | -10.2% | 9.9% | $174,622,155 |
| PXS | Pharmaxis Ltd | 0.1 | 4.2% | -16.7% | 9.9% | $54,892,316 |
| ONE | Oneview Healthcare | 0.25 | 4.2% | -5.7% | 168.8% | $126,627,210 |
| ILA | Island Pharma | 0.25 | 4.2% | -2.0% | 0.0% | $10,810,792 |
| OVN | Oventus Medical Ltd | 0.075 | 4.2% | -13.8% | -63.4% | $18,129,490 |
| AHC | Austco Healthcare | 0.13 | 4.0% | -10.3% | 18.2% | $36,944,564 |
| CPH | Creso Pharma Ltd | 0.085 | 3.7% | 3.7% | -60.5% | $103,172,247 |
| CU6 | Clarity Pharma | 0.72 | 3.6% | -2.7% | 0.0% | $130,348,264 |
| CAN | Cann Group Ltd | 0.29 | 3.6% | -1.7% | -52.5% | $97,754,587 |
| ZLD | Zelira Therapeutics | 0.029 | 3.6% | -12.1% | -63.3% | $37,155,718 |
| BOT | Botanix Pharma Ltd | 0.062 | 3.3% | 10.7% | -57.2% | $56,442,240 |
| PSQ | Pacific Smiles Grp | 2.69 | 3.1% | -8.2% | 3.5% | $416,508,858 |
| EPN | Epsilon Healthcare | 0.069 | 3.0% | -2.8% | -70.6% | $14,698,659 |
| ARX | Aroa Biosurgery | 0.865 | 3.0% | -15.2% | -19.9% | $287,528,752 |
| CYC | Cyclopharm Limited | 1.79 | 2.9% | 9.1% | -34.9% | $164,806,563 |
| CAJ | Capitol Health | 0.37 | 2.8% | -5.1% | 37.0% | $390,831,567 |
| EXL | Elixinol Wellness | 0.074 | 2.8% | 2.8% | -58.9% | $22,113,782 |
| GSS | Genetic Signatures | 1.325 | 2.7% | -26.0% | -29.5% | $197,493,519 |
| RCE | Recce Pharmaceutical | 1.2 | 2.6% | 16.5% | 18.8% | $213,759,052 |
| NYR | Nyrada Inc. | 0.205 | 2.5% | -14.6% | -48.8% | $33,541,871 |
| OSL | Oncosil Medical | 0.041 | 2.5% | -8.9% | -67.2% | $30,109,045 |
| DOC | Doctor Care Anywhere | 0.49 | 2.1% | -22.8% | -61.6% | $96,054,251 |
| RSH | Respiri Limited | 0.051 | 2.0% | -20.3% | -57.5% | $36,864,880 |
| EYE | Nova EYE Medical Ltd | 0.295 | 1.7% | -9.2% | -10.6% | $42,938,368 |
| HXL | Hexima | 0.38 | 1.3% | -8.4% | 130.3% | $60,156,722 |
| TRU | Truscreen | 0.076 | 1.3% | 1.3% | -41.5% | $25,400,638 |
| CYP | Cynata Therapeutics | 0.48 | 1.1% | -11.9% | -26.7% | $66,623,616 |
| VLS | Vita Life Sciences.. | 1.955 | 0.8% | 2.9% | 99.5% | $99,513,437 |
| PBP | Probiotec Limited | 2.28 | 0.4% | 3.6% | 0.4% | $186,230,600 |
| UBI | Universal Biosensors | 0.8575 | 0.3% | -13.4% | 86.4% | $152,932,513 |
| ALT | Analytica Limited | 0.002 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -42.9% | $9,227,602 |
| ADR | Adherium Ltd | 0.013 | 0.0% | 18.2% | -43.5% | $28,610,351 |
| ACR | Acrux Limited | 0.096 | 0.0% | -4.0% | -48.1% | $27,233,312 |
| SCU | Stemcell United Ltd | 0.014 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -12.5% | $14,606,489 |
| ICS | ICSGlobal Limited | 0.575313 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11.7% | $6,054,605 |
| FFC | Farmaforce Ltd | 0.054 | 0.0% | 17.4% | -40.0% | $7,056,773 |
| CHM | Chimeric Therapeutic | 0.22 | 0.0% | -15.4% | -31.3% | $50,686,782 |
| MDC | Medlab Clinical Ltd | 0.125 | 0.0% | -16.7% | -59.7% | $46,193,716 |
| BPH | BPH Energy Ltd | 0.037 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -78.2% | $24,602,017 |
| PAL | Palla Pharma Ltd | 0.295 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -52.3% | $47,764,383 |
| LCT | Living Cell Tech. | 0.005 | 0.0% | -16.7% | -65.1% | $5,141,819 |
| BNO | Bionomics Limited | 0.095 | -1.0% | -13.6% | -31.5% | $124,508,268 |
| NTI | Neurotech Intl | 0.05 | -2.0% | -16.7% | 8.7% | $33,489,558 |
| EZZ | EZZ Life Science | 0.45 | -2.2% | -11.8% | 0.0% | $5,742,000 |
| CMP | Compumedics Limited | 0.38 | -2.6% | 2.7% | -17.4% | $65,550,291 |
| BIT | Biotron Limited | 0.071 | -2.7% | -26.8% | -1.4% | $48,433,357 |
| ANP | Antisense Therapeut. | 0.17 | -2.9% | -12.8% | -2.9% | $117,038,946 |
| SDI | SDI Limited | 0.925 | -3.1% | -8.9% | 20.1% | $109,950,615 |
| RGS | Regeneus Ltd | 0.083 | -3.5% | 3.8% | -27.8% | $24,821,390 |
| BWX | BWX Limited | 3.41 | -3.7% | -21.6% | -15.2% | $547,118,548 |
| CTE | Cryosite Limited | 0.43 | -4.4% | -7.5% | -3.4% | $20,988,112 |
| IRX | Inhalerx Limited | 0.084 | -4.5% | -6.7% | -30.0% | $14,151,224 |
| AHK | Ark Mines Limited | 0.2 | -4.8% | -14.9% | 488.2% | $6,212,021 |
| DVL | Dorsavi Ltd | 0.019 | -5.0% | -5.0% | -47.2% | $6,723,744 |
| OPT | Opthea Limited | 1.15 | -5.3% | -11.2% | -40.1% | $404,730,172 |
| AN1 | Anagenics Limited | 0.05 | -5.7% | -16.7% | -46.3% | $11,272,086 |
| LBT | LBT Innovations | 0.094 | -6.0% | -18.3% | -6.0% | $29,750,844 |
| RHT | Resonance Health | 0.15 | -6.3% | 7.1% | -18.9% | $71,432,057 |
| OSP | Osprey Med Inc | 0.4575 | -6.6% | -26.2% | -77.1% | $11,674,637 |
| RNO | Rhinomed Ltd | 0.2725 | -6.8% | -12.1% | 137.0% | $71,447,511 |
| PCK | Painchek Ltd | 0.0475 | -6.9% | -10.4% | -30.1% | $54,326,630 |
| OIL | Optiscan Imaging | 0.135 | -6.9% | -25.0% | 22.7% | $92,877,840 |
| 1ST | 1St Group Ltd | 0.013 | -7.1% | -7.1% | -56.9% | $7,052,863 |
| ICR | Intelicare Holdings | 0.083 | -7.8% | -8.8% | -63.7% | $7,515,083 |
| S66 | Star Combo | 0.295 | -7.8% | 15.7% | -1.7% | $39,678,379 |
| HGV | Hygrovest Limited | 0.046 | -8.0% | -22.0% | -60.0% | $10,577,883 |
| 4DX | 4Dmedical Limited | 1.02 | -8.9% | -24.4% | -53.6% | $214,179,657 |
| JTL | Jayex Technology Ltd | 0.019 | -9.5% | 0.0% | -52.5% | $4,984,571 |
| AC8 | Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd | 0.072 | -10.0% | -11.1% | -60.0% | $31,278,845 |
| MXC | Mgc Pharmaceuticals | 0.033 | -10.8% | -10.8% | 26.9% | $83,655,639 |
| CDX | Cardiex Limited | 0.046 | -11.5% | -33.3% | -45.2% | $50,578,505 |
| VTI | Vision Tech Inc | 0.805 | -14.8% | -8.0% | -55.3% | $20,090,175 |
| BXN | Bioxyne Ltd | 0.02 | -20.0% | -31.0% | 81.8% | $12,802,908 |
| ZNO | Zoono Group Ltd | 0.29 | -20.5% | -22.7% | -72.1% | $47,427,336 |
| ADO | Anteotech Ltd | 0.215 | -34.8% | -29.5% | 115.0% | $444,224,756 |
| ONT | 1300 Smiles Limited | 0 | -100.0% | -100.0% | -100.0% | $168,827,115 |
Avecho enters the US recreational cannabis market
After securing a deal in December with Medterra Pharma for its arthritis CBD soft-gel capsule, Avecho Biotech (ASX:AVE)Â surged by 23% on Wednesday following another deal in the US.
Avecho announced a licensing agreement with Team SAAS on the use of TPM (tocopheryl phosphate mixture) for the US recreational cannabis market.
Under the terms, Avecho grants SAAS exclusive rights to commercialise a recreational cannabis distillate containing TPM for use in the manufacture of edible cannabis products in the US.Â
This deal signals a strategic step forward in Avecho’s ambitions to increase the breadth of cannabis products that leverages its TPM formulations.
The company said the deal occured in parallel to its existing work to register its CBD soft-gel product for sleep indications with the TGA in Australia.
Avecho share price today:
International patent grants for two ASX biotechs
The company confirmed another key milestone this week with news that the Danish Medicines Agency has issued regulatory approval for the ACTION3 Phase 3 study in Denmark.
Dimerix’s pivotal Phase III clinical trial, ACTION3, will evaluate the efficacy and safety of DMX-200 against a placebo in patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) kidney disease.
This year is shaping up as a busy year for Dimerix as it executes on a multi-channel development approach for its proprietary DMX-200 drug treatment.
Brisbane-based ResApp has announced that the China National Intellectual Property Administration has accepted for grant its patent application titled “A method and apparatus for processing patient sounds”.
The patent is owned by the University of Queensland, and is licensed to ResApp for the lifetime of the patent.
The patent family has also been granted in Australia, Japan, Korea, the US and is pending in Australia.
ResApp develops smartphone applications for diagnosis and management of respiratory disease.
Two biotechs notching gains after announcements
IDT rose strongly in the past week despite the expiry of the Sterile Readiness Agreement signed with Australian Government Department of Health.
In August, IDT agreed to ensure the production capacity of its sterile facility would be retained exclusively for the Health department.
The company said that after the lapse of the contract, it remains in active discussions with the government on several fronts regarding mRNA product translation/manufacturing.
Next Science and Zimmer Inc have executed a distribution agreement for Zimmer to sell a white labelled version of XPERIENCE into the US market under Zimmer’s own labelling.
The agreement is effective immediately and has a five-year term plus a five-year renewal option
Next Science says its revenues received from sales of the Zimmer white label XPERIENCE product to become material.
XPERIENCE is a no-rinse solution that’s designed to help prevent surgical site and post-operative infections by rinsing away debris and microorganisms.
At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Dimerix is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.
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