A Glimpse at Five Health Care Stocks – AVH, PAR, MYX, REG, PNV

In the initial days of 2020, the Australian stock market went through various ups and downs, majorly owing to US-Iran tensions. It all started with US killing a top Iranian commander in a military strike in Iraq, followed by Iranian missile strikes on US forces in Iraq.

Additionally, Iran admitted unintentionally shooting down a Ukrainian airliner, killing all the 176 people on board while targeting US forces in Iraq. This led to criticism and anger domestically and globally.

Meanwhile, on 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:41 PM), the benchmark index S&P/ASX 200 was trading downward by 32.7 points or 0.47% to 6,896.3 points, while S&P/ASX 200 Health Care (Sector) index was trading at 42,945.9, down 557.4 points or 1.3% from the previous close.

In this article, we are discussing five health care sector stocks, of which three were trading in red zone, while the other two were trading in green on 13 January 2020. Let us have a look at their recent updates and stock performance on ASX.

AVITA Medical Limited (ASX:AVH)

A regenerative medicine company, AVITA Medical Limited has a technology platform capable of addressing various medical problems.

AVITA Medical Receives FDA Approval for Feasibility Study into RECELL® System

Late-December 2019, the company announced to have secured the US FDA approval for its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application to conduct a feasibility study, designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the RECELL® system or the Autologous Cell Harvesting Device, which is being designed as a treatment for repigmentation of cases of stable vitiligo.

The approval enables the company to begin its vitiligo study in 1H20. Based on the feasibility study results, AVITA Medical would proceed with a pivotal clinical study to pursue the FDA approval.

To know more about the company’s Skin Regeneration Platform, click here.

Over 56% Return in 6-Month Period

On 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:41 PM), the stock of AVH was inching upward by 0.294% to $ 0.682 from its previous closing price. The company has a market cap of $ 1.44 billion and approx. 2.12 billion outstanding shares. The 52-week high and low value of the stock was noted at $ 0.740 and $ 0.081, respectively. The stock has generated a positive return of more than 56 per cent in the last six months and a positive return of 18.26 per cent in the last three months.

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: PAR)

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Limited is an Australian Stock Exchange listed company, which focuses on repurposing the drug - pentosan polysulphate sodium (PPS) - for the lead clinical indication of bone marrow edema.

Paradigm Releases End of CY Update on Business and Clinical Development Programs

On 12 December 2019, the company announced an update on its business and clinical development programs.

• In November 2019, PAR met with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to present its case for provisional approval of Zilosul, for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) with subchondral Bone Marrow Lesions (BMLs);
• The company is set to meet the US FDA in Feb 2020 for a pre-IND meeting for its osteoarthritis program in OA knee pain with subchondral BMLs;
• PAR expects to report on an updated dataset for the SAS program on nearly 400 knee OA patients in the second quarter of 2020;
• Paradigm would start the treatment program of 10 knee OA with BML patients in January 2020;
• The company is also preparing for a combined US FDA and EMA (Europe) joint parallel advice application for submission to discuss the MPS Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial in the first quarter of 2020;
• Paradigm also appointed Chief Medical Officer.

6-Month Return of 100 Per Cent

The stock of PAR was trading in the red at $ 3.220 on 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:41 PM), down by 1.227 per cent from its previous closing price. The company has a market cap of $ 641.89 million and approx. 196.9 million outstanding shares. The 52-week high and low value of the stock was noted at $ 4.120 and $ 0.903, respectively. The stock has generated a positive return of 100 per cent in the last six months and a positive return of 9.40 per cent in the last three months.

Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX:MYX)

Mayne Pharma Group Limited is an ASX-listed company, focused on commercialising branded and generic pharmaceuticals with the application of its drug delivery expertise while catering to more than hundreds of clients with manufacturing and contract services.

MYX Announces Change in Director’s Interest/Employee Long Term Incentive Plans

On 9 January 2020, the company announced change in one of its director’s interest (Scott Anthony Richards) with effect from 4 January 2020. Mr Richards disposed 3,823,529 ordinary shares from 26,602,940 ordinary shares that he held indirectly in the company.

On the same day, Mayne Pharma Group also updated the market with Employee long term incentive plans, including issue of 5,145,686 loan shares and 2,555,805 performance rights to the CEO, lapse of employee share options, and issue of performance rights to US and Australian Management.

Stock Down Over 1 Per Cent

The stock of MYX was trading lower at $ 0.457 on ASX on 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:41 PM) by 1.72 per cent from its previous closing price. The company has a market cap of $ 780.77 million and approx. 1.68 billion outstanding shares. The 52-week high and low value of the stock was noted at $ 0.880 and $ 0.425, respectively. The stock has generated a negative return of 15.45 per cent in the last six months and a negative return of 21.19 per cent in the last three months.

Regis Healthcare Limited (ASX:REG)

Regis Healthcare Limited is an ASX listed provider of aged care services. The aged care facilities of the company cater to various care needs such as dementia care and palliative care.

Regis Healthcare Announces Trading Update and Downgraded FY20 Guidance

On 20 December 2019, the company announced to have downgraded the FY20 guidance, based on continued industry pressure on occupancy. The occupancy rate of Regis Healthcare continued to fall. The occupancy rate as of December 2019 was 92 per cent and spot occupancy rate was noted at 91.5 per cent (as of 17 December 2019) when compared with 92.4 per cent as at 30 June 2019.

The company revised its normalised EBITDA guidance for FY20, expecting to register circa $92 million (previously circa $105 million). Meanwhile, normalised NPAT guidance was downgraded from circa $38 million to circa $28 million. The revised guidance assumes no further significant drop in occupancy during the financial year 2020.

Stock Trading Close to Lower 52-Week Band

The stock of REG was trading lower at $ 2.535 on ASX on 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:41 PM) by 0.197 per cent from its previous closing price. The company has a market cap of $ 763.9 million and approx. 300.75 million outstanding shares. The 52-week high and low value of the stock was noted at $ 3.515 and $ 2.410, respectively. The stock has generated a negative return of 1.55 per cent in the last six months and a negative return of 21.85 per cent in the last three months.

PolyNovo Limited (ASX:PNV)

PolyNovo Limited is a medical device company, which focuses on the development and commercialisation of innovative medical devices using its NovoSorb® technology.

Two Million Dollar Month for PolyNovo Limited

On 7 January 2020, the company informed that December 2019 was the first two-million-dollar month for PolyNovo. The company reported more than $2 million (unaudited) in revenue from NovoSorb BTM sales in the last month of 2019 as compared to $890k in December 2018.

PolyNovo previously announced its first one-million-dollar month on 2 May 2019.

To know about the financial performance of the company during FY19, click here

Stock Up Around 2%

The stock of PNV was trading at $ 2.050 on ASX on 13 January 2020 (AEDT 03:42 PM), up 1.99 per cent from its previous closing price. The company has a market cap of $ 1.33 billion and approx. 661.09 million outstanding shares. The 52-week high and low value of the stock was noted at $ 2.660 and $ 0.580, respectively. The stock has generated a positive return of 17.54 per cent in the last six months and a negative return of 20.87 per cent in the last three months.