Xi and Biden set to agree on restricting fentanyl\u00a0
\nFentanyl is a synthetic opioid responsible for the opioids epidemic in the US
\nWe look at the best performing health stocks over the past couple of weeks<\/p>\n
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China\u2019s President Xi is expected to land in San Francisco later today (US time) for his first visit to the US since 2017.<\/p>\n
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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In return, Biden would lift restrictions on China\u2019s forensic police institute, an entity the US alleges is responsible for human-rights abuses.<\/p>\n The rise of fentanyl, an anaesthetic turned street drug, has brought on an opioid crisis in the US, with the country \u00a0declaring it an epidemic in 2017.<\/p>\n Overdose deaths remain a leading cause of death in the US, and the majority of those involve opioids.<\/p>\n As per the stats, more than 150 people in the US die each day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fentanyl is up to 100 times as powerful as morphine in its prescription form, and 50 times as powerful as heroin.<\/p>\n Just 2 milligrams, equal to a few grains of salt, can cause a fatal overdose.<\/p>\n According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)<\/em>, Mexico and China are the primary sources for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the US.<\/p>\n Although Mexican cartels are largely responsible for the export of fentanyl, those cartels often use Chinese components to make the drug.<\/p>\n The DEA said China was the source of pretty much all inbound shipments of high-purity fentanyl into the US<\/a> over the last few years.<\/p>\n US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said: \u201cI won\u2019t get too far ahead of the meeting, and I\u2019ll let the President speak for himself after he has the chance to meet with President Xi.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we believe that there are areas where our interests overlap, like our efforts to combat the illicit\u00a0fentanyl\u00a0trade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.<\/em><\/p>\n WordPress Tables Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Imugene (ASX:IMU)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s been a bit of news flow coming out of Imugene in the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n First, the company reported that its Phase 1 MAST (Metastatic Advanced Solid Tumours)<\/strong> trial evaluating novel cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS (VAXINIA)<\/strong> showed that all treatments to date have been determined safe and tolerable.<\/p>\n As of 31 October, 34 patients have been dosed with VAXINIA during the continuing dose escalation phase.<\/p>\n Imugene also announced dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1b clinical trial using azer-ce<\/strong>l (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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Noxopharm (ASX:NOX)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n NOX just continues to surge after announcing in early October that the US FDA<\/strong> has has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD)<\/strong> status to Noxopharm\u2019s CRO-67<\/strong> preclinical drug candidate, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what\u2019s unique about our CRO-67 is that it has what we call dual cell activity,\u201d CEO of Noxopharm, Gisela Mautner, told Stockhead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt kills the cancer cells of course, that\u2019s number one, but it also breaks the barrier cells [around the tumour] by softening them up and depriving the tumour of its nurturing.\u201d<\/p>\n Separately, recent animal study has shown that Noxopharm\u2019s\u00a0SOF-VAC\u00a0mRNA vaccine enhancer<\/strong> significantly reduces mRNA-driven inflammation by as high as 50%.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 creating longer-lasting protection and a decrease in the frequency of booster shots require.<\/p>\n Worth reading: mRNA is the next big thing in medicine. Here\u2019s why Noxopharm could be the ASX front runner in this field.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 4D Medical (ASX:4DX)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 4DX has been one of the best performing biotechs this week after announcing that its\u00a0XV LVAS<\/strong> scanning device\u00a0has been included into the\u00a0US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Medicare<\/strong>\u00a0is 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n CMS has accepted the reimbursement request and finalised assignment of the\u00a0Category III CPT code\u00a0for XV LVAS to the rate of\u00a0US$299 per scan.<\/p>\n 4DX\u2019s XV LVAS\u00a0uses 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\u00a0fibrosis,\u00a0and even cancer.<\/p>\n Also read:\u00a04D Medical\u2019s technology disrupts century-old procedures AND makes over 90pc profit margin<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n IDT Australia (ASX:IDT)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n IDT has been rising after saying it is well placed to benefit from the rapid growth in the medicinal cannabis<\/strong> and psychedelic markets,<\/strong> given that IDT is one of the select few facilities that comply with the recently introduced GMP regulations.<\/p>\n During the last quarter, IDT\u2019s potential sales pipeline also continued to grow, with the company generating 75 potential sales leads and signing confidentiality agreements with 15 potential clients.<\/p>\n In the quarter, the company also submitted proposals worth an additional $11.3 million, and secured sales contracts worth $1.2 million.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Neuren Pharma (ASX:NEU)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The market darling has been surging after reporting that its \u00a0Rett Syndrome drug, DAYBUE<\/strong>, generated net sales in Q3 of US$66.9 million, up from US$23.2 million in Q2.<\/p>\n The company also guided the market for net sales of DAYBUE in Q4 of between US$80 million and US$87.5 million.<\/p>\n Neuren reported that 800 patients used DAYBUE as at 30 September, and this surge in initial demand has exceeded pre-launch expectations.<\/p>\n Around 81% of patients remain on DAYBUE treatment at four months, while 80% of lives are now covered by formal reimbursement plans.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n Top-line results from the trial are expected to be available in December.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Check Up: Biden-Xi meeting could finally end opioids crisis in the US; and recent ASX biotech winners<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"China and Mexico<\/h2>\n
Best performing ASX biotechs over the past couple of weeks<\/h2>\n