There’s been a breakthrough in acne treatment
Scientists have found a way to use skin bacteria to control sebum production
We look at the best and worst performing ASX health stocks in the past month
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in acne treatment by engineering skin bacteria to produce a therapeutic molecule – offering a promising alternative to traditional treatments with fewer side effects.
A recent experiment carried out at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, revealed that a particular skin bacterium can be successfully modified to generate a protein that controls sebum production.
This innovation is said to offer a potential solution for acne treatment while maintaining the balance of the skin microbiome.
Acne is a common skin condition that’s typically treated with antibiotics or isotretinoin, a drug that can cause side effects such as disrupting the skin microbiome.
However, this new engineered bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes (or C. acnes), has been modified to produce a protein that mimics the effects of isotretinoin, targeting sebum production.
Previously considered difficult to manipulate, C. acnes was successfully edited by researchers at the University to produce the therapeutic protein.
Experts now believe this breakthrough could pave the way for utilising living therapeutics in skin diseases beyond acne such as atopic dermatitis, leveraging the potential of engineered bacteria to revolutionise skincare.
While further validation is needed, the prospects of using these smart microbes in human treatments are promising, given the safety and effectiveness demonstrated in initial testing.
Acne-focused ASX stock
On the ASX, one company that focuses on acne treatment is Acrux (ASX:ACR).
The ACR stock price jumped by 3% on April 3 after launching its generic of Dapsone 5% Gel in the United States.
Dapsone 5% Gel is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat acne vulgaris. It helps decrease the number and severity of acne pimples, and helps pimples that do develop to heal more quickly.
Dapsone is an antibiotic and according to data from IQVIA, annual market sales for Dapsone 5% Gel products exceed US$15 million.
A generic of topical acne treatment, Aczone, Dapsone 5% Gel was already approved by the FDA in June 2023.
How ASX biotechs performed 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 OSX Osteopore Limited 0.400 33% 515% 187% 57% $4,079,832 MSB Mesoblast Limited 0.910 18% 172% 159% -3% $1,027,605,703 CMB Cambium Bio Limited 0.009 0% 80% 80% -40% $6,128,738 EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.905 6% 77% 35% 123% $39,527,748 RCE Recce Pharmaceutical 0.670 22% 46% 52% 6% $132,568,711 ATH Alterity Therap Ltd 0.006 10% 38% -21% -21% $31,428,107 TD1 Tali Digital Limited 0.002 0% 33% 100% 0% $6,590,311 FRE Firebrickpharma 0.065 25% 27% 71% -68% $11,631,538 IDT IDT Australia Ltd 0.100 0% 25% 79% 23% $35,147,947 ACR Acrux Limited 0.061 3% 24% 53% 13% $18,605,879 CTE Cryosite Limited 0.840 20% 24% 41% 25% $40,511,937 EYE Nova EYE Medical Ltd 0.270 6% 23% 39% 3% $60,631,278 IVX Invion Ltd 0.006 20% 20% 0% -14% $38,547,193 RHT Resonance Health 0.084 12% 20% 42% 75% $36,198,327 PGC Paragon Care Limited 0.340 5% 19% 89% 31% $227,075,181 MDR Medadvisor Limited 0.298 17% 19% 53% 24% $159,545,203 ANR Anatara Ls Ltd 0.046 12% 18% 48% 88% $7,219,430 OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.086 -18% 18% 15% -11% $68,497,946 TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 14.755 16% 17% 75% 48% $4,725,441,163 GLH Global Health Ltd 0.115 5% 15% -23% -43% $6,675,697 COV Cleo Diagnostics 0.195 -3% 15% 26% 0% $13,708,500 PTX Prescient Ltd 0.057 0% 14% -5% -38% $45,903,228 IDX Integral Diagnostics 2.510 4% 13% -7% -21% $598,942,712 PME Pro Medicus Limited 108.370 6% 13% 37% 73% $11,195,391,599 PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.094 3% 12% 70% 49% $420,365,802 AHX Apiam Animal Health 0.380 3% 12% 27% -24% $68,039,667 IMM Immutep Ltd 0.430 19% 12% 30% 71% $457,701,305 1AI Algorae Pharma 0.010 0% 11% -17% 25% $16,863,517 PCK Painchek Ltd 0.030 7% 11% -27% 15% $47,439,046 AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.031 3% 11% 35% -16% $19,815,272 CUV Clinuvel Pharmaceut. 15.260 1% 11% -3% -24% $746,395,050 M7T Mach7 Tech Limited 0.740 10% 9% 17% 23% $168,868,733 ANN Ansell Limited 25.470 2% 8% 17% -8% $3,672,030,932 EBR EBR Systems 0.910 7% 8% 34% 30% $272,659,878 SPL Starpharma Holdings 0.135 0% 8% 0% -73% $51,505,078 BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.095 -10% 8% -5% 27% $23,967,998 VBS Vectus Biosystems 0.275 10% 8% -24% -47% $14,632,574 BOT Botanix Pharma Ltd 0.215 5% 8% 72% 136% $338,654,518 1AD Adalta Limited 0.029 7% 7% 21% 7% $15,248,608 SIG Sigma Health Ltd 1.285 2% 7% 107% 86% $2,137,744,637 RSH Respiri Limited 0.032 -11% 7% -9% -38% $37,095,412 CSX Cleanspace Holdings 0.330 -6% 6% 10% 0% $25,521,359 IME Imexhs Limited 0.545 -1% 6% -11% -13% $24,299,562 MVF Monash IVF Group Ltd 1.510 6% 6% 19% 39% $590,296,783 CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.200 -5% 5% 67% 5% $35,926,357 IMC Immuron Limited 0.105 5% 5% 38% 33% $22,799,835 SDI SDI Limited 0.895 5% 5% 5% 8% $106,384,649 NAN Nanosonics Limited 2.790 -3% 4% -29% -46% $851,370,942 NSB Neuroscientific 0.051 -12% 4% -27% -32% $7,664,058 LGP Little Green Pharma 0.130 -4% 4% -19% -26% $40,737,682 GSS Genetic Signatures 0.675 -4% 4% 38% -10% $126,808,197 HIQ Hitiq Limited 0.027 0% 4% 50% -10% $9,499,814 AFP Aft Pharmaceuticals 2.850 1% 4% -9% -10% $298,868,841 CGS Cogstate Ltd 1.340 4% 3% -4% -7% $221,130,933 IPD Impedimed Limited 0.091 -3% 3% -27% -37% $182,078,453 AGH Althea Group 0.033 3% 3% -18% -40% $12,159,973 DXB Dimerix Ltd 0.330 14% 3% 128% 250% $167,628,730 FPH Fisher & Paykel H. 24.900 3% 3% 28% 0% $14,225,745,395 ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.710 -1% 3% -22% -22% $7,943,009 AHC Austco Healthcare 0.195 0% 3% 15% 50% $58,105,032 CBL Control Bionics 0.043 8% 2% -23% -68% $7,339,306 TRJ Trajan Group Holding 1.070 -9% 2% -18% -35% $171,243,096 PBP Probiotec Limited 2.830 -1% 2% 12% 18% $230,958,473 AYA Artryalimited 0.300 -14% 2% 43% 30% $24,004,718 SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 10.470 3% 1% 15% 43% $2,469,234,479 MYX Mayne Pharma Ltd 7.060 4% 1% 94% 77% $605,728,931 VHT Volpara Health Tech 1.145 0% 1% 64% 48% $289,986,711 HLS Healius 1.275 8% 1% -38% -55% $918,516,428 AVR Anteris Technologies 23.020 -1% 0% 11% 0% $443,758,300 AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd 0.040 0% 0% 0% 0% $17,621,884 AHI Advanced Health 0.092 0% 0% -26% 6% $22,600,111 AMT Allegra Medical 0.029 0% 0% -52% -59% $3,468,720 BP8 Bph Global Ltd 0.001 0% 0% 0% -80% $1,954,116 CAN Cann Group Ltd 0.062 0% 0% -48% -58% $27,123,891 EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.024 0% 0% -20% 26% $7,208,496 HGV Hygrovest Limited 0.046 -2% 0% -10% -8% $9,674,288 HXL Hexima 0.013 8% 0% -41% 0% $2,171,515 IBX Imagion Biosys Ltd 0.074 1% 0% -85% -88% $2,415,845 JTL Jayex Technology Ltd 0.005 0% 0% -29% -50% $1,406,393 MDC Medlab Clinical Ltd 6.600 0% 0% 0% 0% $15,071,113 ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.310 -6% 0% 32% 300% $211,723,099 PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 1.090 -2% 0% 20% 25% $142,018,488 PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 1.640 0% 0% 29% 32% $261,714,378 REG Regis Healthcare Ltd 4.010 5% 0% 66% 93% $1,213,170,724 CSL CSL Limited 278.810 1% -1% 18% -8% $134,813,013,809 CYC Cyclopharm Limited 1.780 0% -1% -15% -11% $167,657,789 IXC Invex Ther 0.082 -4% -1% 53% -34% $6,237,769 PNV Polynovo Limited 2.100 4% -1% 82% 30% $1,408,074,812 BIT Biotron Limited 0.069 -4% -1% -14% 146% $62,257,010 OPT Opthea Limited 0.675 2% -1% 111% 4% $447,395,828 EBO Ebos Group Ltd 32.260 1% -2% 2% -22% $6,115,795,205 COH Cochlear Limited 321.730 2% -3% 30% 29% $21,148,042,953 CAJ Capitol Health 0.233 3% -3% 21% -17% $255,851,400 RMD ResMed Inc. 28.675 0% -3% 22% -15% $17,581,791,187 IIQ Inoviq Ltd 0.550 -9% -4% -8% 12% $48,769,912 PEB Pacific Edge 0.079 1% -4% -14% -81% $63,279,165 4DX 4Dmedical Limited 0.605 6% -4% 25% -27% $238,744,646 RHC Ramsay Health Care 52.750 2% -4% 6% -20% $12,080,490,243 TRP Tissue Repair 0.230 2% -4% -16% 10% $12,835,843 NC6 Nanollose Limited 0.022 -4% -4% -53% -56% $3,956,146 RAC Race Oncology Ltd 1.300 -9% -5% 43% -33% $216,464,244 OCC Orthocell Limited 0.380 1% -5% 10% -7% $78,497,557 MVP Medical Developments 0.545 -1% -5% -34% -46% $47,467,870 AGN Argenica 0.540 -14% -5% 57% 24% $66,935,672 RHY Rhythm Biosciences 0.088 -4% -5% -49% -82% $22,384,367 EMD Emyria Limited 0.052 -12% -5% -16% -69% $19,797,987 SHL Sonic Healthcare 26.970 2% -6% -9% -26% $12,898,846,675 NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 19.050 -2% -6% 69% 34% $2,464,526,547 ALC Alcidion Group Ltd 0.048 9% -6% -52% -58% $61,753,768 ACL Au Clinical Labs 2.500 3% -6% -11% -33% $492,474,997 OCA Oceania Healthc Ltd 0.540 -4% -6% -16% -18% $400,025,634 CTQ Careteq Limited 0.014 8% -7% -39% -72% $3,297,662 NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.098 -7% -7% 367% -1% $17,582,053 RGT Argent Biopharma Ltd 0.405 -7% -7% -60% -95% $19,244,086 CMP Compumedics Limited 0.260 -2% -7% 68% 86% $46,062,366 ENL Enlitic Inc. 0.600 0% -8% 0% 0% $47,171,669 ACW Actinogen Medical 0.030 2% -8% 74% -53% $67,480,701 FCG Freedomcaregrouphold 0.175 -3% -8% 0% 0% $4,179,684 HMD Heramed Limited 0.018 0% -8% -66% -83% $6,181,872 VTI Vision Tech Inc 0.170 -3% -8% -35% -37% $9,582,280 ECS ECS Botanics Holding 0.022 2% -8% -4% 10% $27,059,541 DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.065 -6% -8% 14% 18% $23,098,461 CU6 Clarity Pharma 2.595 -4% -9% 160% 234% $772,524,892 UCM Uscom Limited 0.031 3% -9% -23% -31% $7,582,216 LDX Lumos Diagnostics 0.057 -2% -10% -30% 200% $27,915,800 AVE Avecho Biotech Ltd 0.005 13% -10% 13% -10% $15,846,485 PAB Patrys Limited 0.009 0% -10% 29% -40% $18,517,026 VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 2.200 -6% -11% 31% 50% $122,636,378 NTI Neurotech Intl 0.089 -15% -11% 65% 75% $84,399,750 ARX Aroa Biosurgery 0.505 -6% -11% -32% -52% $173,824,956 IMR Imricor Med Sys 0.505 -8% -11% 16% 60% $97,225,021 LTP Ltr Pharma Limited 0.270 -5% -11% 0% 0% $19,009,482 ALA Arovella Therapeutic 0.115 5% -12% 42% 74% $126,018,748 OSL Oncosil Medical 0.005 -29% -12% -41% -47% $9,022,165 CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.028 -15% -13% -24% -58% $24,701,945 ME1 Melodiol Glb Health 0.004 -13% -13% -97% -98% $2,693,949 VFX Visionflex Group Ltd 0.007 0% -13% -13% -22% $9,918,938 MAP Microbalifesciences 0.165 -3% -13% -23% -44% $76,134,836 CVB Curvebeam Ai Limited 0.175 -8% -14% -49% 0% $34,972,702 TRI Trivarx Ltd 0.025 9% -14% 25% -17% $8,461,967 RAD Radiopharm 0.049 9% -14% -45% -73% $20,782,599 NOX Noxopharm Limited 0.061 -4% -14% -42% -12% $17,826,515 UBI Universal Biosensors 0.170 -6% -14% -33% -39% $39,338,131 EMV Emvision Medical 2.200 1% -14% 50% 46% $193,060,238 GTG Genetic Technologies 0.115 -30% -15% -43% -62% $16,527,156 CDX Cardiex Limited 0.065 -11% -16% -46% -78% $20,886,394 ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.063 -7% -16% -21% -38% $11,640,384 NXS Next Science Limited 0.318 -16% -16% 9% -55% $122,511,943 SHG Singular Health 0.100 -9% -17% 113% 89% $19,535,306 PAR Paradigm Bio. 0.290 4% -18% -53% -71% $99,834,790 DVL Dorsavi Ltd 0.013 -7% -19% 8% 0% $7,756,601 BMT Beamtree Holdings 0.170 0% -19% -17% -42% $48,874,069 IMU Imugene Limited 0.084 1% -20% 105% -38% $622,183,919 MEM Memphasys Ltd 0.008 -11% -20% -40% -56% $10,941,938 TRU Truscreen 0.016 -20% -20% -22% -32% $8,841,458 PER Percheron 0.069 -10% -22% 19% -8% $66,714,328 SNT Syntara Limited 0.016 -6% -24% -52% -71% $20,297,039 LBT LBT Innovations 0.019 -5% -24% 280% -26% $26,794,328 ILA Island Pharma 0.053 -12% -24% -10% -24% $6,031,222 SOM SomnoMed Limited 0.205 -2% -24% -49% -71% $29,256,769 ICR Intelicare Holdings 0.011 -8% -27% -31% -42% $2,583,069 MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.091 -21% -27% -27% -4% $51,508,316 VIT Vitura Health Ltd 0.110 -33% -31% -71% -65% $63,346,117 EOF Ecofibre Limited 0.061 -13% -32% -59% -66% $23,111,308 ADR Adherium Ltd 0.029 -9% -33% -52% -36% $9,861,159 PAA Pharmaust Limited 0.240 -25% -33% 220% 140% $92,828,212 IRX Inhalerx Limited 0.028 -30% -38% -33% -36% $5,313,475 AVH Avita Medical 2.810 -6% -44% -15% -34% $161,923,797
Osteopore popped big after announcing the successful commencement of first-in-human clinical trials for knee preservation in Singapore.
On 22 April, the first patient was treated for knee preservation with Heparan Sulphate 3 (HS3) and aXOpore via a High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) at the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore.
The commencement of first-in-human clinical trials comes on the back of the signing of two non-binding term sheets on 14 April 2023 with Accelerate Technologies to commercialise groundbreaking technology that accelerates bone and tissue regeneration.
The study seeks to recruit ~12 patients to establish a safety profile for aXOpore, and to investigate the product’s efficacy to enhance osteosynthesis in HTO patients
Mesoblast jumped 50% after announcing that US FDA has informed the company that following additional consideration, the available clinical data from its Phase 3 study MSB-GVHD001 appears sufficient to support its submission.
Mesoblast has previously submitted to the FDA a proposed Biologics License Application (BLA) for remestemcel-L for treatment of pediatric patients with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD).
Mesoblast now intends to file the resubmission during the next quarter, seeking to address all remaining product characterisation issues.
The genomic life science company has reported receipts from customers of $23.6m for Q3 FY24, up 111% on the prior corresponding period, as it launches four new EZZ health and wellness products.
The company’s operating cash flows remained positive at $2.04m, representing a 372% increase from the last quarter.
The company also recorded a 15% increase in cash balance over the previous quarter to $14.5m at March 31, 2024, with no debt.
Recce announced the successful batch completion under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for RECCE 327 (R327) with the patented manufacturing process now producing 5,000 GMP doses of R327 per week.
The R327 manufactured under GMP standards will support its present Phase I, Phase II and anticipated Registrational Phase III clinical trials, demonstrating compliance with guidelines set by regulatory authorities, such as the US FDA.
Firebrick surged after announcing that its product, the Nasodine Nasal Spray, has been launched in the US.
Nasodine will be available to purchase from the company’s US website (nasodine.com), with online promotions commencing this week across the US.
The Nasodine spray claims to help maintain nasal hygiene by eliminating germs, allergens and other airborne threats that disrupt nasal hygiene.
It will be promoted in the US for ‘nasal hygiene’ without any therapeutic claims.
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