Which are 5 NZX pharma stocks to explore in 2022?

Highlights

• NZ was successful in navigating through its roughest months with the best health results worldwide.
• AFT Pharmaceuticals praised the decision of Australian Federal Court last month to accept its request for a comparative advertising verdict brought by Reckitt Benckiser.
• Rua has got approval to distribute its first medicine in NZ.

The pharma industry in any country is involved in the discovery, development and manufacturing of drugs and medications by both public and private organisations.

New Zealand witnessed its longest lockdown in 2021 after being affected by the Delta variant of COVID-19. However, the country was successful in navigating through its roughest months with the best health results worldwide.

While other countries are struggling with the Omicron variant, Kiwiland does not have any case of the new strain yet. However, NZ’s vaccine rollout process was slow and unequal.

Let’s glance through the performance of 5 NZX pharma stocks.

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AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX:AFT)

Pharma products developer and distributor, AFT Pharmaceuticals, applauded the Australian Federal Court’s decision last month to accept its request of a comparative advertising verdict brought by Reckitt Benckiser.

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The Court reportedly made a rational decision in making a string of allegations related to the effectiveness of its Maxigesic pain relief tablets compared to sole Ibuprofen or sole paracetamol. Reckitt has until 4 January 2022 to file a request for special leave to appeal to the Court.

On 7 January, at the time of writing, AFT was trading at $4.6, up 3.14%.

Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA)

Medicinal cannabis company Rua got verification that its first medicinal cannabis product satisfies quality specifications of Medsafe.

This warranted the Company to distribute its first medicine in NZ. The Company plans to distribute the product by the end of Q1 and early Q2 of this year.

On 7 January, at the time of writing, RUA was trading flat at $0.47.

Bliss Technologies Limited (NZX:BLT)

Probiotics strains provider Blis Technologies announced that Laura Grant would be stepping down from her role and going back home to Europe by the end of FY22. Laura has made substantial contributions to e-commerce and marketing efforts and will be staying in her position till 31 March 2022.

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On 7 January, at the time of writing, BLT was trading at $0.046, up 2.22%.

Cannasouth Limited (NZX:CBD)

Cannasouth has begun many significant research proposals with financial support from Callaghan Innovation. It recently published a research report on the New Zealand cannabis market as well as Cannasouth's product plan.

RELATED READ: 5 fastest-growing NZX stocks to look at this year

The study outlined many initiatives that the R&D team is working on, as well as types of demand that they are seeing throughout the world.

On 7 January, at the time of writing, CBD was trading at $0.375, down 1.32%.

Pacific Edge Limited (NZX:PEB)

On 9 December, Pacific Edge signed a partnership with Northern Health based in Australia. Cxbladder Monitor will be used by Northern Health's urologists to manage patients who are under surveillance following bladder cancer therapy.

DO READ: Are there any high yielding dividend stocks on NZX?

On 7 January, at the time of writing, PEB was trading at $1.31, up 1.55%.

Bottom Line

The NZ government must remain vigilant about its border reopening plans with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant across the world.

(NOTE: Currency is reported in NZ Dollar unless stated otherwise)