Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Watching CNBC a few minutes ago . The New York stock exchange floor is being opened up for traders from today ( although not all companies are allowing their staff to return yet) . The president of the New York stock exchange was interviewed by Jim Cramer and co . The President of the exchange stated they will vett all trading staff before they enter the door by temperature checks and if that shows a high reading that staff member will have to undergo a covid 19 test . Cramer made the point that the temperature check will not identify asymptomatic persons and implied the stock exchange should consider using an instant covid 19 test !
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8355617/Cell-receptors-increase-risk-coronavirus.html
Following on from Avacats's RNS dated 15th May (SARS-COVID-2-NEUTRALISING AFFIMERS) A topical article was published yesterday in the Daily Mail about the role of ACE2 cell receptors play in spreading COVID 19 . The virus attaches itself to the ACE2 receptors which then infect healthy cells. Article explains why certain groups of people e.g. obese are more at risk .
"The ACE2 receptor was found to be the main entry point for the potentially lethal severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) virus, of which this new coronavirus is the latest version. The receptors are found on cells in the nose lining, the lungs, pancreas, kidneys and gut, and in the lining of blood vessels, in the heart muscle and circulating on cells in the blood."
"The variety of locations could help explain why those people with Covid-19 have suffered such a wide range of different symptoms, from loss of a sense of taste and smell to stomach problems such as diarrhoea and post-infection heart problems.
No specific mention of Avacta in the article but the article is the same ballpark.........worth a read
https://masterinvestor.co.uk/evil-diaries/evil-knievil-autres-temps-autres-vies/
A interesting article published today . Simon Cawkwell AKA Evil Knievel is a well known commentator on financial markets and companies . Yes, he's prone to identify companies which he identifies as weak and will short the share price . However, if you read the article you will understand why he is a buyer of Avacta. A good read .
we are approaching 600 trades so far and we are only 20 minutes into the trading day. Huge investor interest in Avacta now.
https://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/article/the-small-cap-biotech-stocks-making-200-returns-this-year
Shares magazine (published today))maintaining the view that Avacta is very much a buy.
"One of our favourite shares in the testing space is UK biotherapeutics company Avacta (AVCT:AIM) because we believe its rapid testing strip might prove to be a game-changer."
Watching CNBC now . The Brown University head being interviewed talking about the need for testing before they can reopen the university . She stated she “ had heard reports this week about rapid saliva testing “ . It made my ears prick-up . Huge demand for this product if Cytiva/Actava can nail it . I think they will .
For clarity ,Winnifrith has made no criticism of how Avacta is run . His critical observation was based purely on what he perceives to be the current value.I disagree with him as do may thousands of investors many of whom contribute to this BB . My own view is that the planet is experiencing unique circumstances and demand for our products will be huge .
Apologies for typos ...on iPhone !
I’ve listened to Tom Winnifrith’s bearcast this afternoon . He is obviously a marmite type character ie. people either like him or hate him . Personally , I find his opinion interesting . I also found that his views today on Avacta support my own view that Avacta’s share price has a long way further to go in an upward direction . He was basically putting forward the A contrarian view that on fundamentals , as a currently loss making company , Avacta is overvalued . It’s his modus operandi to take a critical look at companies . He actually stated that Avacta is a well run company but that it’s valuation of just under £200 million is inflated because it’s loss making . He didn’t go into the science and potential of the company which is why we shareholders believe it has a great future . TW also stated he would not be surprised to see Avavta’s share price go up in the present climate .
I caught the backend of that cnbc interview just now with an executive from a USA biotech company ( didn’t see the name of the company ). There’s no way their testing kit will compete with avacta . That company stated the test could only be analysed (spit sample) in a healthcare environment and costs $65 a piece !
Just tuned into BBC 1 news
. In the subject of testing one expert (I don’t know who she was because I only caught the backend of the report) stated that a rapid nasal or saliva test for covid-19 would be a “game changer” . If only a company could develop such a test ! Lol
Open Orphan merged with hvivo plc in January 2020 . Hvivo has a 49% joint venture interest in a private company (Imutex) . Imutex has developed a universal flu vaccine named Flu-v which is now phase 3 trial enabled . So , Open Orphan has a significant involvement / interest in a universal flu vaccine .
https://www.openorphan.com/sites/openorphan/files/2020-04/Open_Orphan_Investor_Presentation-April_2020.pdf
A new investor presentation dated 9th April 2020 has appeared on the Open Orphan website. I believe CEO Cathal is due to make an appearance on Proactive investors next week so no doubt he will be waxing lyrical in more detail soon. Worth a read during lockdown !
PAGE 11
"New model should enable customer relationships to last 3-8 years, generating extra revenues over the entire duration and at significantly higher levels, up to £20m per customer if phase II trial work is gained"
Forgot to post the link...https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2020/04/06/could-apple-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic-become-the-catalysts-that-ignite-the-virtual-reality-revolution/#4076974f40bc
An interesting article published on Forbes website today which supports the view that Apple's interest in VR/AR (including the proposed buy-out of NEXTVR) coupled with the pandemic will be beneficial for the whole Virtual Reality sector in a big way. Worth a read .....
"In other words, as on so many previous occasions, we would see Apple arrive late to market, but then take it over, in this case, helped by a market that, after a pandemic and a long confinement, is probably craving for more interactive interfaces. And as on previous occasions, success for Apple in the field of virtual reality would be a huge boost for the whole category, with all that this entails for the future of interaction."
....."It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that the pandemic will be the catalyst for the mass adoption of a technology whose time has clearly come."
Valuation of Flu-V ? Potentially hundreds of millions upwards ....During the interview Cathal again referred to hVIVO's Flu-V vaccine as a lottery ticket but cautioned potential investors in Open Orphan not to invest in the company purely on the basis of that vaccine . This is a sensible approach to downplay the vaccine's potential in case it doesn't come off . As Cathal keeps saying, "right place , right time". Cathal concluded the interview stating that Flu-V could be life changing for investors .(It has passed stage 2 trials already). Cathal also stated a much higher level of interest in the vaccine now from outside bodies( "right place, right time, the harder you work , the luckier you get, read between the lines")
A recent article published in the Irish Independent several months ago outlines the financial rewards that FLu-V could bring to the company. I've copied the significant points from the article below.
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/open-orphan-in-line-to-take-stake-in-1bn-flu-drug-38808471.html
Results from mid-stage trials of the Imutex vaccine released earlier this year showed that it could significantly impact mild to moderate flu. It was the first time that a universal flu vaccine has been shown to reduce symptoms and to stimulate an immunological response.
It is hoped that the drug could also protect against unexpected flu strains.
Imutex is 49pc-owned by Hvivo, with the remainder owned by UK firm Seek.
However, Hvivo considers Imutex to be non-core, and has continued to explore options for its stake in the firm. Last year, Seek and Hvivo engaged Goldman Sachs to aid with a possible sale of Imutex.
Documents show that the investment bank was basing its likely fee for its services on two scenarios: Imutex having an enterprise value of up to $1bn (€902m), or more than $1bn.
Earlier this year, Hvivo said progress regarding strategic discussions related to its flu vaccine assets in Imutex have been "slower than we would have liked".
The coronavirus outbreak is "likely to become an annual virus", the Government's chief scientific officer has conceded.
The above headline today in the Telegraph is just the kind of concerning news which gives great value to the business model of Open Orphan .
Following on from the rns released yesterday , a google search reveals a number of recent articles which show the huge potential of Flu-V (hVIVO'S 49% joint venture with SEEK group in developing two novel vaccine candidates). I don't believe the wider investment community has quite yet fathomed out the potential on offer here . An article published today about Flu-V explains further,
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-potential-universal-flu-vaccine-just-passed-its-fourth-clinical-trial
"A discovery like that would be a holy grail for public health, and after more than a decade of careful research, a specific version called FLU-v is now moving into the last rounds of clinical testing."
"So far, researchers say the results have been "very encouraging", and the vaccine has successfully passed phase I and phase II clinical trials. Although trials in these phases are limited to assessing the safety of the vaccine, there's also evidence it might be effective."
"If FLU-v is found effective against the flu in humans, Amesh Adalja, an infectious-diseases specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said it could change the dynamics between humans and the influenza virus in a "very positive way."
"The authors say the vaccine is ready to enter phase III clinical development to test safety and efficacy against the actual influenza virus and a much larger sample size. They're just waiting on funding."
The article in the Sunday Times about Hvivo clinic being the location for Coronavirus trials links in nicely with the podcast published last month on brrmedia. (Link attached). In that podcast Open Orphan CEO Cathal Friel introduces Professor John Oxford who was the original founder of Hvivo back in 1989. Professor Oxford is also quoted at length in the Sunday Times article today .Professor Oxford subsequently joined Open Orphan as chair of its advisory board ( RNS 20/02/20)
Key points from the podcast ,
-Professor Oxford is a world leading virology expert including the "family" of Coronavirus .He jointly authored a book "Human Virology" which Cathal shows in the podcast and that book features the Wuhan Coronavirus on the front cover!
-Professor Oxford (from approximately 4 minutes into the video ) talks enthusiastically about how the experienced team at Open Orphan/Hvivo with 20 years virology is ideally placed to "discover something". He also states exactly what is written in the Sunday Times article ie. the medics and scientists at Hvivo could use a "Weakened Wuhan like coronavirus" to give to volunteers in their quarantine clinic and use that as the "model infection " to test new drugs to combat coronavirus.
https://www.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcasts/5e397956397af40afa52b0fb/open-orphan-plc-introduction-of-professor-john-oxford
Overall , really interesting developments for investors in Open Orphan !
Jamesjohn,
Having read and pasted the article on this site earlier today I concur with your viewpoint. At least it’s generated a healthy discussion !