May 2021
- Exclusive
- Funding
Viralytics band back together for ImmVirX cancer start-up
ImmVirX has raised $22 million from Acorn Capital to fund its phase one human trials for a new cancer treatment using a virus to kill tumours.
- Yolanda Redrup
March 2021
Cancer biotech ImmVirX taps Bell Potter for $20m pre-IPO
The team behind ex-ASX listed biotech Viralytics – which was bought by global pharma giant Merck in 2018 for $502 million – are back with a new IPO.
- Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd
January 2021
Cancer biotech Chimeric soars 50pc on debut
Champagne corks popped for investors in emerging cancer therapy company Chimeric Therapeutics, whose shares soared more than 60 per cent in opening trade.
- Yolanda Redrup
May 2020
How a Lord Nelson superfan keeps his legacy alive – from Australia
Biotech entrepreneur Paul Hopper says there’s a lot to be learnt about leadership from British naval commander Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson.
- Philippa Coates
June 2018
Imugene to raise $20m, fund trials at Ohio State University, Mayo Clinic
Cancer vaccine hopeful Imugene is seeking funding clinical programs at Ohio State University and the prestigious Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
February 2018
Merck snaps up local biotech Viralytics for $500m
Global pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co has snapped up Australia's Viralytics in a $502 million deal to secure its immunotherapy cancer drug.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
November 2015
Viralytics sees 'significant validation'
Merck and Viralytics are to collaborate in a combination study of CAVATAK and Keytruda.
- Updated
- Elise Shaw
February 2014
Melanoma treatment obtains funding
Cancer drug developer Viralytics has secured $27 million from a dozen institutional investors. The funding will allow the Sydney-based company to complete phase two trials of its drug Cavatak, which targets late-stage melanoma.
- Updated
- Jared Lynch
June 2013
2013 a tough year for small caps
The past 12 months have been a miserable affair for many small caps, with the index now trading at its lowest point since April 2009.
- Updated
- Sally Rose
November 2012
- Opinion
- Opinion
Viralytics seeks to raise $4m via Patersons
Biotech Viralytics is seeking to raise $4 million through Patersons Securities.
- Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald
October 2012
Viralytics (VLA)
Viralytics has excited shareholders as it moves into phase two clinical trials for its cancer treatment. The results so far look promising as the biotech’s use of a common virus, coxsackievirus, to attack certain types of cancerous cells has a strong safety profile.
- Brendon Lau
February 2012
September 2011
Viralytics (VLA)
Shares in virotherapy biotechnology company Viraltytics have risen 85 per cent over the year to date, and 97 per cent in the past 12 months.
- Updated
- Claire Stewart
March 2010
Company briefs
Peter McGregor, the chief financial officer of logistics group Asciano, will step down from the end of next month “to pursue other opportunities”, the company said.
January 2010
April 2008
Biotech minnow's giant splash
Viralytics (VLA) In one of the most spectacular small-cap rallies on Wednesday, shares in the biotech minnow shot up as much as 42 per cent after it won a US patent for its lead cancer-fighting Cavatak product, currently at clinical testing stage. The patent's scope gives the group intellectual property rights for its family of four cancer-fighting viruses, which have been effective in treating a variety of cancers bearing the ICAM-1 molecule. The patent gives Viralytics rights over the viruses, known as the Coxsackie A-group viruses, until 2022, with the option of a five-year extension. Smaller biotech stocks typically have large price spikes around key regulatory milestones and the Viralytics share price began to run late last week. By the close of trade on Wednesday it had gained more than 60 per cent in 5 sessions. Shares were 1.4¢ higher at 8¢ at 4pm AEST on Wednesday. Cluff Resources Pacific NL (CFR) The generally illiquid shares in junior explorer Cluff sprang to life on Wednesday after it said it had uncovered healthy grades of silver and tin at its Buddigower mine in central NSW. Shares shot up 37.5 per cent to 1.1¢ on a massive spike in traded volume - the largest volume increase of any stock on the market on Wednesday - after the miner said drill holes had revealed an extensive resource of both silver and tin. Geologists will now rework original estimates of contained silver, gold and tin at the open-pit site. In addition to tin and silver, the explorer is searching for diamonds, rubies and sapphires at sites in northern NSW and Queensland. FlexiGroup (FXL) The nine-month-long collapse in FlexiGroup's share price got a day of reprieve on Wednesday as the stock rallied 5.9 per cent to 62.5¢ to end a four-session losing streak. Having scraped a fresh low of 47.5¢ just three weeks ago, FlexiGroup shares are now trading on a fiscal 2009 earnings multiple of 4 times and is "priced for disaster", according to UBS analysts. The share price rout seems to endorse the UBS view that macro-economic headwinds have only intensified for FlexiGroup's business since the start of the year. As a provider of lease and rental financing for a range of whitegoods, IT products and other electrical and audio-visual equipment, the company has been hit hard by fears about consumer spending and a tough competitive environment. Peers such as Grenkeleasing and ThinkSmart were trading on consensus 2009 earnings multiples of 9.6 times and 12.2 times respectively, UBS said. It maintained its "buy" rating on the stock, saying recent director buying also provided some confidence.
- Emily Parkinson