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Biotech

This Month

Tetratherix claims its biomaterial (pictured) can help tissue regeneration without major side effects.

Barrenjoey, Morgans test IPO appetite for $100m-plus Tetratherix

In the lead-up to the IPO, Tetratherix has tapped Emma Cleary – a former CFO of Navis Capital’s $1.5 billion Device Technologies – to chair its board.

Australian neurologist and Synchron co-founder Tom Oxley took his company to the US because there wasn’t access to enough funding in Australia.

The Aussie bringing Black Mirror-esque brain tech to reality

This neurologist has built technology allowing humans to control machines with just their thoughts. Now he’s racing Tesla’s founder to take it to the masses.

Former Fortescue Metals Group and WorleyParsons executive Peter Meurs is the biggest stakeholder in Dimerix.

Biotech Dimerix lands $940m licensing deal for kidney drug sales

The Melbourne-based company says it has landed one of the biggest licensing deals in Australian biotech history.

Labs need more specific infrastructure than commercial buildings can offer.

Wentworth buys $200m asset for $1.5b BlackRock life sciences JV

The North Ryde deal comes after Wentworth in 2023 struck a deal with Sydney University to develop a $500 million life sciences hub.

April

BlinkLab is developing a smartphone based diagnostic platform.

Diagnostics company BlinkLab seeks funds ahead of FDA submission

Street Talk understands the ASX-listed company’s stockbrokers Alpine Capital and Westar Capital will launch a $5 million single-tranche placement on Tuesday morning.

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Jon Pilcher runs Neuren Pharmaceuticals from his spare room in Melbourne.

This $1.3b biotech is still run out of a spare bedroom in Melbourne

It’s been a volatile few years for Neuren, the neurological disorder treatment group which has seen shares rocket, then slump. Now it has a promising new drug.

Epiminder intends to launch its flagship implantable sub-scalp device Minder in the US later this year.

Cochlear-backed Epiminder targets 2025 IPO as FDA authorisation lands

E&P Capital, which helped Epiminder raise funds this year, will lead the bookbuild alongside Morgans.

CSL boss Paul McKenzie’s long-term bet is paying off.

How this $115b ASX giant plans to win from both sides of the trade war

On the front line of the tit-for-tat tariff fight between the US and China, Australian companies are trying to find a way to play both sides.

Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to markets.

Pharmaceuticals to be hit by ‘major’ Trump tariff, CSL slumps 5pc

Investors are in panic as Australian drug companies could be the next victims in an expansion of the US trade war.

Liberal candidate for Kooyong Amelia Hamer hits back after Peter Jordan was filmed removing one of her campaign signs last week.

Teal corflute bandit could have been a medtech star

Peter Jordan’s timing at leaving dud businesses is better than his ability to get away from scenes of election poster shenanigans.

Regal co-founder Phil King says he got Opthea wrong.

Phil King’s Regal writes Opthea to zero and backs off risky bets

The veteran stockpicker told investors the firm would review how its $220 million wager on the biotech went so wrong “to ensure it does not occur again”.

March

Biotech investing is not for the unwary.

Opthea in active talks with funders after second trial fails

The little hope left for Opthea shareholders has been crushed after the biotech said a second late-stage trial of its eye disease treatment had failed.

TPG has held clinical trial research organisation Novotech since 2017.

TPG Capital seals $3b-plus Novotech sale with Singapore’s GIC, Temasek

The two sovereign wealth funds have taken a “significant stake” in the clinical research business owned by the private equity giant for eight years.

The clinical trial result from hell has biotech investors on edge

From Phil King’s Regal Partners to Russel Pillemer’s Pengana Capital, fund managers loved vision treatment hopeful Opthea. Now they risk being wiped out.

Russel Pillemer’s Pengana Capital has paused redemptions in one of its funds.

Pengana freezes fund redemptions as it braces for big Opthea loss

The firm’s unlisted high-conviction equities strategy is more than 44 per cent invested in healthcare stocks. The biotech has warned it could be insolvent.

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Phil King is the co-founder of Regal Partners, which has been a major investor in Opthea.

Regal’s listed funds slash value of biotech Opthea by two-thirds

The hedge fund run by veteran stockpicker Phil King has told investors that the eye treatment play is worth 20¢ per share. It is the company’s largest investor.

Shares in Phil King’s Regal Partners plunged on Monday with the future of one of its key investments under a cloud.

Investors fret over clinical trial failure’s hit on Regal funds

Phil King’s investment firm was the largest shareholder in Opthea, the eye treatment play that could become insolvent after a poor medical result.

Imricor was first out the gates with a capital raising on Monday.

Imricor Medical Systems passes can around for $80m, Morgans on ticket

The ASX-listed medtech began wall-crossing investors over the weekend, seeking support for an equity raising of as much as $80 million.

Daniel Timms, inventor of the BiVACOR total artificial heart, at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute last week.

OneVentures-backed artificial heart start-up rattles the tin for $100m

BiVACOR has made the world’s first titanium heart and is hoping to manufacture the device commercially in Australia and the US within three years.

PolyNovo chairman David Williams in Melbourne on Tuesday as he defended his conduct following the departure of chief executive Swami Raote.

David Williams says he makes no apologies for ‘aggressive’ style

The outspoken investment banker is the chairman of PolyNovo. The burns treatment company’s chief executive is leaving after a falling out with the board.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/biotechnology-5v0