• The TGA has made a landmark approval on faecal transplant therapy
  • South Australian BiomeBank has managed to cultivate a ‘faecal bank’ donated from healthy people
  • We take a look at the performance of ASX biotechs over the past month

Here’s some exciting news.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has just approved a faecal transplant therapy designed to target a serious bacterial infection.

This approval marks the first time ever any regulatory body in the world has formally authorised this kind of microbiome therapy.

A faecal transplant (also called faecal microbiota transplantation or FMT) is a procedure to collect faeces, also called stools, excrement, poopy doo-doos or naughty fudge, from a healthy donor and introduce them into a patient’s gastrointestinal tract.

The procedure is supposed to control an infection called Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, by adding healthy bacteria into the recipient’s intestines.

Previous research has shown that faecal transplant can restore healthy bacteria in the lower intestine, which can help control C. diff and keep it from coming back.

In some cases, FMT can be more effective than antibiotics for keeping C. diff in check, but the problem has always been that no one consistent source of poo can be generated from hundreds of donors.
 

Enter Aussie biotech, BiomeBank

So how do we standardise faecal transplants and dish out large volumes to patients like we do with conventional medicine?

Even the US FDA has stayed away from giving a formal regulatory approval, preferring instead to allow patients to supply their own source of faecal matter.

Well.. enter BiomeBank, an unlisted South Australian biotech with a mission to treat and prevent disease by restoring gut microbial ecology.

Founded in 2018, BiomeBank has managed to cultivate a ‘faecal bank’ donated from healthy people who attend the company’s facility to donate their faecal samples in custom-designed toilets.

BiomeBank collects these samples and processes them into syringes, then freezes and delivers them to clinical facilities for administration into patients via either colonoscopy or enema.

The company says oral delivery capsules will be made available in the near future.

Currently, the TGA approval given to BiomeBank is only for the treatment of recurrent C diff, but BiomeBank believes that microbiome-based therapies are set to transform the treatment of many diseases.

“This approval is a landmark for BiomeBank and an important advance for microbiome therapeutics globally,” says BiomeBank co-founder and CEO, Dr Sam Costello.

“It’s an exciting time for the microbiome field and we are pleased to be pioneering new solutions to treat these diseases.”

And now, not before time, to the ASX…

Best and worst performing ASX biotechs over the past month

CODE COMPANY PRICE 1 WEEK RETURN % 1 MONTH RETURN % 1 YEAR RETURN % MARKET CAP
CU6 Clarity Pharma 0.945 -2% 58% -7% $171,227,030
SHG Singular Health 0.155 41% 57% -45% $10,119,806
LCT Living Cell Tech. 0.018 20% 38% 109% $21,851,183
IPD Impedimed Limited 0.094 2% 38% -46% $167,619,781
VTI Vision Tech Inc 0.295 16% 37% -71% $7,257,441
MDR Medadvisor Limited 0.19 -7% 36% -51% $103,329,571
TD1 Tali Digital Limited 0.004 60% 33% -84% $4,930,522
RHT Resonance Health 0.07 3% 32% -30% $32,259,639
AMT Allegra Orthopaedics 0.12 20% 30% -41% $12,535,104
TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 6.94 0% 28% 4% $2,183,681,840
ARX Aroa Biosurgery 0.98 15% 26% -16% $325,587,998
VBS Vectus Biosystems 0.96 2% 24% -31% $45,361,255
PNV Polynovo Limited 2.12 5% 23% 40% $1,409,395,534
ALC Alcidion Group Ltd 0.165 14% 22% -55% $202,891,048
ANP Antisense Therapeut. 0.11 5% 22% -51% $76,911,307
NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 8.14 7% 22% 371% $1,032,918,543
OCC Orthocell Limited 0.48 12% 22% -9% $92,685,443
IMU Imugene Limited 0.205 8% 21% -64% $1,333,700,860
PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.077 10% 18% -49% $241,750,384
NC6 Nanollose Limited 0.071 -16% 16% -35% $10,570,932
PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 1.635 3% 16% -45% $256,926,920
ACW Actinogen Medical 0.12 -4% 14% -29% $215,687,258
VHT Volpara Health Tech 0.65 0% 13% -39% $163,836,991
EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.026 -16% 13% -77% $7,809,204
PAR Paradigm Bio. 1.63 -1% 13% -28% $455,768,018
RSH Respiri Limited 0.039 -11% 11% -34% $30,446,981
CAJ Capitol Health 0.33 3% 10% -4% $350,761,034
CDX Cardiex Limited 0.33 3% 10% -45% $41,755,499
IMM Immutep Ltd 0.31 -3% 9% -48% $272,517,730
BXN Bioxyne Ltd 0.025 0% 9% 14% $16,628,635
ILA Island Pharma 0.19 19% 9% -36% $8,216,802
NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.14 4% 8% -42% $21,841,218
PGC Paragon Care Limited 0.36 4% 7% 26% $236,284,534
RCE Recce Pharmaceutical 0.705 9% 7% -21% $125,545,914
SDI SDI Limited 0.84 2% 6% -18% $99,847,045
BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.07 0% 6% -52% $9,526,630
ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.105 6% 5% -43% $20,370,581
EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.315 3% 5% -36% $4,019,400
AHK Ark Mines Limited 0.2625 3% 5% 672% $9,058,902
CMP Compumedics Limited 0.225 0% 5% -36% $39,861,663
OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.115 0% 5% -44% $71,254,644
MVF Monash IVF Group Ltd 0.96 6% 4% 3% $374,049,446
ACR Acrux Limited 0.068 5% 3% -46% $19,461,021
BNO Bionomics Limited 0.068 5% 3% -41% $92,027,851
RGS Regeneus Ltd 0.041 3% 3% -41% $12,563,913
MVP Medical Developments 1.75 10% 1% -63% $150,171,005
PBP Probiotec Limited 2.16 0% 0% 3% $175,658,557
GTG Genetic Technologies 0.0035 17% 0% -50% $32,318,878
CTE Cryosite Limited 0.69 11% 0% 92% $32,702,407
EYE Nova EYE Medical Ltd 0.285 6% 0% -30% $41,571,368
RHY Rhythm Biosciences 1.145 3% 0% -42% $247,566,180
1ST 1St Group Ltd 0.009 0% 0% -38% $11,593,564
AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd 0.04 0% 0% -62% $17,621,884
ALT Analytica Limited 0.001 0% 0% -50% $4,613,801
BWX BWX Limited 0.63 0% 0% -86% $125,992,126
ICS ICSGlobal Limited 0.575313 0% 0% 0% $6,054,605
IVX Invion Ltd 0.011 0% 0% -59% $70,621,013
OVN Oventus Medical Ltd 0.02 0% 0% -80% $4,834,531
SCU Stemcell United Ltd 0.013167 0% 0% 0% $14,995,837
TSN The Sust Nutri Grp 0.14 0% 0% -33% $16,884,894
OSL Oncosil Medical 0.05 -2% 0% 3% $49,562,113
HGV Hygrovest Limited 0.07 -3% 0% 4% $16,096,779
PAB Patrys Limited 0.019 -5% 0% -53% $39,082,995
JTL Jayex Technology Ltd 0.006 -14% 0% -74% $1,495,371
M7T Mach7 Tech Limited 0.55 4% -1% -41% $132,722,356
NXS Next Science Limited 0.765 2% -1% -39% $158,944,699
ADO Anteotech Ltd 0.049 2% -2% -78% $95,421,419
CBL Control Bionics 0.18 -5% -3% -60% $9,059,563
PCK Painchek Ltd 0.029 0% -3% -38% $37,595,756
DXB Dimerix Ltd 0.145 -3% -3% -42% $46,526,682
ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.14 0% -3% -56% $74,608,059
MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.13 4% -4% -58% $63,131,967
1AD Adalta Limited 0.047 0% -4% -44% $14,766,683
OPT Opthea Limited 0.97 2% -4% -22% $450,938,070
BOT Botanix Pharma Ltd 0.062 0% -5% -2% $71,672,712
RAC Race Oncology Ltd 2.24 -6% -5% -33% $356,236,145
GLH Global Health Ltd 0.285 6% -5% -29% $16,235,966
PAA Pharmaust Limited 0.074 -8% -5% -33% $23,451,516
PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 0.915 2% -6% -1% $105,494,554
CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.32 7% -6% -41% $46,564,893
UBI Universal Biosensors 0.24 -8% -6% -74% $50,842,664
VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 1.55 2% -6% -18% $82,161,799
IMC Immuron Limited 0.077 0% -6% -41% $17,540,473
EXL Elixinol Wellness 0.03 11% -6% -70% $9,487,967
MXC Mgc Pharmaceuticals 0.014 0% -7% -71% $40,121,862
CGS Cogstate Ltd 1.9 4% -7% -17% $329,526,496
CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.081 0% -7% -74% $24,804,152
TRU Truscreen 0.04 0% -7% -47% $14,514,650
IHL Incannex Healthcare 0.26 6% -7% -54% $380,898,931
DVL Dorsavi Ltd 0.013 -7% -7% -43% $5,655,081
ZNO Zoono Group Ltd 0.12 14% -8% -71% $20,031,027
LDX Lumos Diagnostics 0.048 4% -8% -93% $10,075,509
ATH Alterity Therap Ltd 0.012 0% -8% -56% $28,997,021
BPH BPH Energy Ltd 0.023 35% -8% -51% $19,850,488
AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.057 -5% -8% -73% $32,540,786
IIQ Inoviq Ltd 0.56 0% -8% -55% $51,990,567
AHC Austco Healthcare 0.105 -9% -9% -22% $30,430,821
HCT Holista CollTech Ltd 0.03 -3% -9% -43% $8,364,002
PTX Prescient Ltd 0.15 -3% -9% -42% $107,938,732
DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.065 -3% -11% -89% $14,769,307
S66 Star Combo 0.15 -14% -12% -46% $20,262,447
CYC Cyclopharm Limited 1.3 3% -12% -31% $120,969,974
CAN Cann Group Ltd 0.235 -2% -13% -24% $80,390,796
GSS Genetic Signatures 0.7 -3% -14% -48% $100,384,197
ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 1.01 -13% -14% -86% $9,672,887
LBT LBT Innovations 0.068 11% -15% -31% $21,938,673
IDT IDT Australia Ltd 0.093 -7% -15% -81% $22,415,027
TRP Tissue Repair 0.26 -10% -16% 0% $12,162,892
IRX Inhalerx Limited 0.054 -10% -17% -42% $10,299,683
4DX 4Dmedical Limited 0.51 -9% -17% -62% $157,553,133
NTI Neurotech Intl 0.082 -5% -18% 15% $64,026,330
AVE Avecho Biotech Ltd 0.009 13% -18% -44% $16,540,824
RNO Rhinomed Ltd 0.11 0% -19% -54% $31,429,166
NOX Noxopharm Limited 0.15 3% -19% -69% $42,374,503
MEM Memphasys Ltd 0.015 -17% -19% -78% $14,402,988
ICR Intelicare Holdings 0.028 8% -20% -71% $3,373,057
ADR Adherium Ltd 0.004 0% -20% -69% $19,100,782
PXS Pharmaxis Ltd 0.064 -3% -20% -44% $40,607,872
SOM SomnoMed Limited 1.305 -1% -21% -44% $108,000,906
ALA Arovella Therapeutic 0.025 0% -22% -40% $16,100,419
CPH Creso Pharma Ltd 0.025 -7% -22% -81% $45,898,929
IBX Imagion Biosys Ltd 0.027 0% -23% -72% $30,275,600
AGH Althea Group 0.066 -3% -23% -78% $22,990,901
NSB Neuroscientific 0.074 -8% -24% -80% $10,616,902
MDC Medlab Clinical Ltd 8.2 -14% -26% -69% $18,724,716
HXL Hexima 0.017 -11% -26% -96% $2,715,559
BIT Biotron Limited 0.034 0% -27% -28% $23,865,712
AN1 Anagenics Limited 0.027 -16% -29% -56% $5,967,575
RAD Radiopharm 0.11 -6% -31% 0% $18,799,651
OSX Osteopore Limited 0.17 -17% -33% -28% $19,935,600
MEB Medibio Limited 0.001 -33% -33% -86% $3,320,594
KZA Kazia Therapeutics 0.099 -21% -43% -94% $16,177,489
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Clarity Pharma (ASX:CU6)

Clarity jumped over 50% in the past month after reporting that patient recruitment into its Phase II diagnostic 64Cu SAR-Bombesin trial (BOP) for patients with prostate cancer has reached the 50% recruitment milestone.

BOP is a Phase II investigator-initiated trial (IIT) in up to 30 patients led by Prof Louise Emmett at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.

The BOP trial is assessing the safety of 64Cu-SAR-Bombesin as well as looking at the diagnostic potential across two different groups of men with prostate cancer.

“We believe SAR-Bombesin will play a role in the identification of disease that is not observed with conventional imaging or PSMA-PET,” said Prof Emmett.

“This could ultimately lead to more effective treatments for this large patient population where unfortunately, very few treatment options are available at present.”
 

Singular Health (ASX:SHG)

Medtech company Singular Health also rose 50% in the month after announcing its preparations to enter the US market.

The company announced the appointment of Kelyniam Global, a US-based patient-specific medical device manufacturer, as its US-based agent.

This is a key appointment and an important pre-requisite to satisfy the final regulatory requirement, prior to Singular Health making sales in the US.

Singular believes that Kelyniam is very well positioned to both provide continual feedback on the 3Dicom Surgical software and AI cranial implant tool

The 3Dicom Viewer was developed as a cross-platform application which allows end-users to interact with standard 2D medical images such as MRI and CT scans in 3D.
 

Impedimed (ASX:IPD)

Impedimed rose on the back of its contract extension with global biotech AstraZeneca.

Impedimed will continue to play a part in AstraZeneca’s Phase IIb trial, which utilises the 210 SOZO devices to measure fluid volume in patients with chronic kidney disease, for an additional eight months.

The extension of the trial will generate over $1 million of additional revenue, which will be recognised over the remainder of the 2023 financial year.

In total, over $6.7 million in contract value has been signed under the various AstraZeneca trial agreements.

Separately, Impedimed also said that it has reached a milestone of 500,000 patient tests performed with the SOZO Digital Health Platform.
 

Resonance Health (ASX:RHT)

Resonance rose over 30% in the month after revealing that it has been contracted to provide services for two new pharma customers in their clinical trials.

Value of the new contracts is up to $1.5m (€1m), payable over the 28-month duration of each trial.

Under the deals, Resonance Health will provide its FerriScan and Cardiac-T2 iron-overload analysis and related services.

The agreements increased the total clinical trials currently under contract and being serviced by Resonance Health to 12.
 

Telix Pharma (ASX:TLX)

Telix also raced ahead in the last 30 days after reporting positive top line results from its ZIRCON Phase III study of imaging agent TLX250-CDx in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Telix reported that all of its primary and secondary endpoints have been met.

The company says these “ground-breaking results” indicate that TLX250-CDx has the potential to become a new clinical standard in the diagnosis of ccRCC and deliver an unmet medical need for a non-invasive diagnostic tool in this disease setting.

“TLX250-CDx could optimise surgical intervention – particularly in the incidence of very small renal masses,” Telix chief medical officer Dr Colin Hayward said.

Earlier this week, Telix also announced that it will acquire Optimal Tracers, a US-based radiochemistry development business providing radiochemistry process development services and research tracers for use in clinical trials.

This acquisition is expected to bolster Telix’s in-house radiochemistry development capability, by adding a highly skilled team to Telix and establishing a US-based laboratory and production footprint for clinical trial doses.