Xi and Biden set to agree on restricting fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid responsible for the opioids epidemic in the US
We look at the best performing health stocks over the past couple of weeks
China’s President Xi is expected to land in San Francisco later today (US time) for his first visit to the US since 2017.
Of the many pressing issues to be discussed, Biden and Xi are expected to announce an agreement that would see Beijing crack down on fentanyl.
According to a report from Bloomberg, China would go after chemical companies to stem the flow of both fentanyl and the source material used to make the deadly synthetic opioid.
In return, Biden would lift restrictions on China’s forensic police institute, an entity the US alleges is responsible for human-rights abuses.
The rise of fentanyl, an anaesthetic turned street drug, has brought on an opioid crisis in the US, with the country declaring it an epidemic in 2017.
Overdose deaths remain a leading cause of death in the US, and the majority of those involve opioids.
As per the stats, more than 150 people in the US die each day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
China and Mexico
Fentanyl is up to 100 times as powerful as morphine in its prescription form, and 50 times as powerful as heroin.
Just 2 milligrams, equal to a few grains of salt, can cause a fatal overdose.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Mexico and China are the primary sources for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the US.
Although Mexican cartels are largely responsible for the export of fentanyl, those cartels often use Chinese components to make the drug.
The DEA said China was the source of pretty much all inbound shipments of high-purity fentanyl into the US over the last few years.
US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said: “I won’t get too far ahead of the meeting, and I’ll let the President speak for himself after he has the chance to meet with President Xi.
“But we believe that there are areas where our interests overlap, like our efforts to combat the illicit fentanyl trade.”
Best performing ASX biotechs over the past couple of weeks
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CODE COMPANY PRICE 1 WEEK RETURN % 1 MONTH RETURN % 6 MONTH RETURN % 1 YEAR RETURN % MARKET CAP IMU Imugene Limited 0.1050 59.09 128.26 -16.00 -46.15 $788,147,234 EXL Elixinol Wellness 0.0130 18.18 85.71 -27.78 -56.67 $7,576,126 TRI Trivarx Ltd 0.0300 0.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 $10,407,306 NOX Noxopharm Limited 0.1300 13.04 49.43 176.60 -7.14 $39,452,123 OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.1100 42.86 48.65 29.03 -2.39 $91,865,488 VFX Visionflex Group Ltd 0.0110 10.00 37.50 120.00 22.22 $15,586,903 4DX 4Dmedical Limited 0.6800 46.24 37.37 -25.27 33.33 $251,188,350 IDT IDT Australia Ltd 0.0820 2.50 36.67 -3.53 -16.33 $28,821,316 AHK Ark Mines Limited 0.2400 0.00 33.33 -15.79 -5.88 $10,609,018 NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 14.7000 15.29 33.27 4.63 75.63 $1,794,701,286 ALA Arovella Therapeutic 0.1000 9.89 31.58 38.89 300.00 $95,288,928 GTG Genetic Technologies 0.0025 25.00 25.00 -16.67 -16.67 $28,854,145 PAB Patrys Limited 0.0100 25.00 25.00 -23.08 -47.37 $20,574,473 PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.0700 18.64 25.00 6.06 -10.26 $261,300,699 PTX Prescient Ltd 0.0730 30.36 21.67 -17.98 -51.33 $59,593,665 ICR Intelicare Holdings 0.0180 12.50 20.00 5.88 -28.40 $3,342,647 IVX Invion Ltd 0.0060 0.00 20.00 -25.00 -40.00 $38,529,793 AGH Althea Group 0.0430 0.00 19.44 -12.24 -35.82 $17,425,934 RAC Race Oncology Ltd 0.9700 -4.43 19.02 -46.11 -56.31 $154,915,341 OCC Orthocell Limited 0.4200 9.09 18.31 13.51 -11.58 $83,587,290 ACW Actinogen Medical 0.0230 27.78 15.00 -58.71 -80.05 $49,589,322 CU6 Clarity Pharma 1.2000 7.14 12.15 69.01 25.65 $306,375,303 CMP Compumedics Limited 0.1900 5.56 11.76 22.58 -15.56 $33,660,960 PAA Pharmaust Limited 0.0860 -2.27 11.69 8.18 13.16 $31,041,301 PNV Polynovo Limited 1.4125 6.60 11.66 0.89 -33.37 $983,581,670 CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.0290 7.41 11.54 -36.96 -63.75 $16,547,828 BIT Biotron Limited 0.1100 11.11 10.00 292.86 205.56 $103,760,964 ZNO Zoono Group Ltd 0.0460 -8.00 9.52 -11.54 -59.54 $8,736,673 IMM Immutep Ltd 0.2900 -4.92 9.43 28.07 -6.49 $338,817,849 BOT Botanix Pharma Ltd 0.1500 7.14 7.14 68.54 141.94 $215,594,773 M7T Mach7 Tech Limited 0.7200 2.86 5.88 17.07 28.57 $168,606,233 BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.1050 7.14 5.00 16.67 50.00 $25,545,208 RHY Rhythm Biosciences 0.2100 13.51 5.00 -41.67 -81.90 $46,439,944 VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 1.7450 -0.29 4.80 15.56 16.33 $94,090,639 HXL Hexima 0.0230 0.00 4.55 91.67 35.29 $3,841,911 ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.9500 -3.55 4.40 4.40 -12.84 $10,893,269 GSS Genetic Signatures 0.5100 13.33 4.08 -25.00 -27.14 $73,137,058 CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.1300 0.00 4.00 -16.13 -61.19 $23,352,132 HGV Hygrovest Limited 0.0520 1.96 4.00 -13.33 -25.71 $10,936,151 MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.1300 0.00 4.00 38.30 0.00 $67,348,335 CGS Cogstate Ltd 1.4800 -2.63 3.86 -12.43 -21.07 $260,125,798 ARX Aroa Biosurgery 0.7450 -8.59 3.47 -21.58 -19.89 $257,581,052 EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.6450 4.88 2.38 25.24 95.45 $27,544,725 MVF Monash IVF Group Ltd 1.2900 -0.39 1.57 10.73 37.97 $496,784,421 VHT Volpara Health Tech 0.6750 -6.90 0.75 -11.18 2.27 $171,702,658 AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd 0.0400 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 $17,621,884 AN1 Anagenics Limited 0.0230 0.00 0.00 4.55 -14.01 $8,711,891 ATH Alterity Therap Ltd 0.0070 0.00 0.00 0.00 -36.36 $17,079,283 BP8 Bph Global Ltd 0.0010 0.00 0.00 -75.00 -92.41 $1,615,563 BWX BWX Limited 0.2000 0.00 0.00 0.00 -68.25 $39,997,500 BXN Bioxyne Ltd 0.0120 9.09 0.00 -52.00 -42.86 $21,868,922 CDX Cardiex Limited 0.1350 0.00 0.00 -46.00 -58.46 $19,397,276 CTE Cryosite Limited 0.6450 -0.77 0.00 -12.84 -3.01 $31,482,168 DVL Dorsavi Ltd 0.0110 0.00 0.00 -8.33 -8.33 $6,563,278 HCT Holista CollTech Ltd 0.0100 0.00 0.00 -41.18 -62.96 $2,788,001 ILA Island Pharma 0.0800 0.00 0.00 -20.00 -57.89 $6,501,477 IPD Impedimed Limited 0.1400 7.69 0.00 -20.00 48.94 $273,061,688 JTL Jayex Technology Ltd 0.0090 12.50 0.00 -18.18 50.00 $2,531,507 MDC Medlab Clinical Ltd 6.6000 0.00 0.00 0.00 -19.41 $15,071,113 NSB Neuroscientific 0.0600 0.00 0.00 -25.00 -18.92 $8,676,292 NTI Neurotech Intl 0.0550 -5.17 0.00 10.00 -32.93 $48,527,022 OPT Opthea Limited 0.3400 3.03 0.00 -47.35 -62.43 $215,412,806 PGC Paragon Care Limited 0.1800 1.41 0.00 -32.08 -49.30 $120,216,272 TD1 Tali Digital Limited 0.0010 0.00 0.00 -50.00 -60.00 $3,295,156 IIQ Inoviq Ltd 0.6300 5.00 -0.79 22.33 10.53 $55,211,221 SDI SDI Limited 0.8300 0.00 -1.19 6.41 -1.19 $98,658,390 RCE Recce Pharmaceutical 0.4500 2.27 -2.17 -24.88 -33.65 $89,518,819 AHC Austco Healthcare 0.1850 2.78 -2.63 42.31 76.19 $53,796,181 DXB Dimerix Ltd 0.1650 6.45 -2.94 117.11 15.81 $66,039,961 CAJ Capitol Health 0.2000 8.11 -4.76 -28.57 -39.39 $202,503,787 NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.0200 -4.76 -4.76 -75.00 -85.71 $3,276,183 TRP Tissue Repair 0.2500 2.04 -5.66 0.00 -10.71 $11,695,089 ANP Antisense Therapeut. 0.0620 5.08 -6.06 -10.14 -40.95 $55,895,788 EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.0280 7.69 -6.67 55.56 12.00 $8,409,912 SHG Singular Health 0.0410 0.00 -6.82 -26.79 -68.46 $5,793,721 1AI Algorae Pharma 0.0130 0.00 -7.14 18.18 -22.58 $19,934,882 PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 0.8550 -1.16 -7.57 -11.40 -5.00 $104,596,186 BPH BPH Energy Ltd 0.0240 -11.11 -7.69 14.29 4.35 $23,586,787 PBP Probiotec Limited 2.4600 -1.60 -8.21 -5.75 10.81 $203,308,515 CYC Cyclopharm Limited 2.2000 7.32 -8.33 10.00 69.23 $195,304,358 IHL Incannex Healthcare 0.0540 -20.59 -8.47 -48.57 -77.50 $85,698,638 IMC Immuron Limited 0.0740 -1.33 -8.64 -22.92 -3.90 $17,084,876 DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.0500 -3.85 -9.09 -1.96 -27.54 $18,332,112 MEM Memphasys Ltd 0.0100 -9.09 -9.09 -37.50 -37.50 $9,595,204 S66 Star Combo 0.1000 -9.09 -9.09 -16.67 -33.33 $17,560,788 IRX Inhalerx Limited 0.0390 0.00 -9.30 -13.33 -29.09 $7,780,445 ADO Anteotech Ltd 0.0270 3.85 -10.00 -22.86 -43.75 $59,303,946 MDR Medadvisor Limited 0.1800 2.86 -10.00 -18.18 -5.26 $95,712,719 AVE Avecho Biotech Ltd 0.0040 0.00 -11.11 0.00 -60.00 $13,491,460 VBS Vectus Biosystems 0.3200 6.67 -11.11 -36.00 -66.67 $15,956,856 PXS Pharmaxis Ltd 0.0310 3.33 -11.43 -40.38 -53.03 $22,401,041 ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.2300 -6.12 -11.54 43.75 70.37 $153,001,972 ACR Acrux Limited 0.0380 -5.00 -11.63 -24.00 -44.12 $10,970,693 CAN Cann Group Ltd 0.1100 -8.33 -12.00 -28.46 -52.81 $46,860,449 IBX Imagion Biosys Ltd 0.0105 -8.70 -12.50 -30.00 -58.00 $13,057,666 OSX Osteopore Limited 0.0480 -4.00 -12.73 -38.46 -73.03 $7,436,094 MVP Medical Developments 0.7700 -3.75 -13.48 -3.75 -54.71 $67,749,597 ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.0720 -8.86 -14.29 -24.21 -31.43 $14,744,440 RNO Rhinomed Ltd 0.0300 3.45 -14.29 -62.50 -72.73 $8,571,591 TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 9.3350 -0.59 -14.44 -17.54 38.09 $3,001,127,352 CBL Control Bionics 0.0500 4.60 -14.71 -47.20 -69.20 $5,530,082 VTI Vision Tech Inc 0.2250 2.27 -15.09 11.95 -9.58 $11,541,134 AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.0220 0.00 -15.38 -35.29 -61.40 $14,062,451 LBT LBT Innovations 0.0040 -20.00 -15.99 -85.30 -90.67 $1,423,601 TRU Truscreen 0.0210 0.00 -16.00 -25.00 -47.50 $8,820,532 1AD Adalta Limited 0.0200 -4.76 -16.67 -16.67 -58.33 $10,056,082 PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 1.0500 -4.55 -16.67 -23.36 -36.17 $163,571,486 RSH Respiri Limited 0.0300 15.38 -16.67 -21.05 -25.00 $29,346,055 GLH Global Health Ltd 0.1300 0.00 -18.75 -33.33 -54.39 $7,546,440 KZA Kazia Therapeutics 0.0800 0.00 -20.00 -58.97 -20.00 $18,907,950 OSL Oncosil Medical 0.0080 -11.11 -20.00 -20.00 -80.31 $19,758,411 SOM SomnoMed Limited 0.4400 -10.20 -20.00 -48.88 -65.14 $49,409,085 UBI Universal Biosensors 0.1950 -22.00 -22.00 -15.22 -20.41 $41,412,040 ADR Adherium Ltd 0.0030 -14.29 -25.00 0.00 -25.00 $14,998,225 LDX Lumos Diagnostics 0.0740 -2.63 -26.00 311.11 48.00 $33,691,003 PCK Painchek Ltd 0.0370 -9.76 -26.00 42.31 27.59 $50,735,617 RHT Resonance Health 0.0510 -5.56 -27.14 21.43 -27.14 $23,811,539 AMT Allegra Medical 0.0410 2.50 -31.67 -42.25 -65.83 $4,904,052 NXS Next Science Limited 0.2900 -3.33 -31.76 -48.21 -60.27 $86,050,055 ALC Alcidion Group Ltd 0.0740 2.78 -32.73 -25.25 -55.15 $97,632,629 RGS Regeneus Ltd 0.0040 0.00 -33.33 -66.67 -90.00 $1,225,748 PAR Paradigm Bio. 0.4000 1.27 -34.73 -60.08 -74.22 $130,084,256 NC6 Nanollose Limited 0.0280 -15.15 -39.13 -40.43 -63.16 $4,317,705 RAD Radiopharm 0.0760 2.70 -40.40 -49.71 -30.03 $18,187,791 EYE Nova EYE Medical Ltd 0.1250 -26.47 -42.53 -47.92 -52.83 $25,734,901 ME1 Melodiol Glb Health 0.0025 -16.67 -54.55 -87.50 -90.38 $9,622,759 MXC Mgc Pharmaceuticals 0.8800 85.26 -56.00 -89.00 -93.23 $31,178,832
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Imugene (ASX:IMU)
There’s been a bit of news flow coming out of Imugene in the last couple of weeks.
First, the company reported that its Phase 1 MAST (Metastatic Advanced Solid Tumours) trial evaluating novel cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS (VAXINIA) showed that all treatments to date have been determined safe and tolerable.
As of 31 October, 34 patients have been dosed with VAXINIA during the continuing dose escalation phase.
Imugene also announced dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1b clinical trial using azer-cel (allogeneic off-the-shelf CD19 CAR T, a type of cell therapy), manufactured and supplied from its state-of-the-art facility in North Carolina.
Following completion of the Phase 1b study, Imugene says there is potential to start this therapy as a registrational study in 2024. and become the first approved allogeneic CAR T cell therapy for cancer.
Noxopharm (ASX:NOX)
NOX just continues to surge after announcing in early October that the US FDA has has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) status to Noxopharm’s CRO-67 preclinical drug candidate, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
“So what’s unique about our CRO-67 is that it has what we call dual cell activity,” CEO of Noxopharm, Gisela Mautner, told Stockhead.
“It kills the cancer cells of course, that’s number one, but it also breaks the barrier cells [around the tumour] by softening them up and depriving the tumour of its nurturing.”
Separately, recent animal study has shown that Noxopharm’s SOF-VAC mRNA vaccine enhancer significantly reduces mRNA-driven inflammation by as high as 50%.
The ability of SOF-VAC to reduce these inflammatory side effects has several potential benefits, such as enabling mRNA vaccines to be given with higher doses – creating longer-lasting protection and a decrease in the frequency of booster shots require.
Worth reading: mRNA is the next big thing in medicine. Here’s why Noxopharm could be the ASX front runner in this field.
4D Medical (ASX:4DX)
4DX has been one of the best performing biotechs this week after announcing that its XV LVAS scanning device has been included into the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Medicare is an important public health insurance scheme for US adults aged 65 years and over; and as of 1 March, there were 65.7 million people enrolled in the program.
The inclusion today means that from 1 January 2024, XV LVAS scans conducted in a US hospital outpatient facility for Medicare patients can be billed to CMS.
CMS has accepted the reimbursement request and finalised assignment of the Category III CPT code for XV LVAS to the rate of US$299 per scan.
4DX’s XV LVAS uses X-rays to create detailed images of lung movement and function during breathing. It gives clinicians a clearer picture of lung health for pulmonary disorders including asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and even cancer.
Also read: 4D Medical’s technology disrupts century-old procedures AND makes over 90pc profit margin
IDT Australia (ASX:IDT)
IDT has been rising after saying it is well placed to benefit from the rapid growth in the medicinal cannabis and psychedelic markets, given that IDT is one of the select few facilities that comply with the recently introduced GMP regulations.
During the last quarter, IDT’s potential sales pipeline also continued to grow, with the company generating 75 potential sales leads and signing confidentiality agreements with 15 potential clients.
In the quarter, the company also submitted proposals worth an additional $11.3 million, and secured sales contracts worth $1.2 million.
Neuren Pharma (ASX:NEU)
The market darling has been surging after reporting that its Rett Syndrome drug, DAYBUE, generated net sales in Q3 of US$66.9 million, up from US$23.2 million in Q2.
The company also guided the market for net sales of DAYBUE in Q4 of between US$80 million and US$87.5 million.
Neuren reported that 800 patients used DAYBUE as at 30 September, and this surge in initial demand has exceeded pre-launch expectations.
Around 81% of patients remain on DAYBUE treatment at four months, while 80% of lives are now covered by formal reimbursement plans.
The company also reported separately that all study visits are complete in its Phase 2 clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS).
Top-line results from the trial are expected to be available in December.
The post Check Up: Biden-Xi meeting could finally end opioids crisis in the US; and recent ASX biotech winners appeared first on Stockhead.
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