AusBiotech Pitch
Take a glimpse into Australia's innovative biotech industry
Australia is home to a mature and thriving ecosystem of innovative biotech companies, and AusBiotech is proud to profile these 15 home-grown companies which span early- to late-stage and are actively seeking investors or partners to support their funding and co-development.
Collectively, they demonstrate the breadth of investment and partnering opportunities available across Australia.
First presented at Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering 2021, Australia’s premier life sciences investment conference is an interactive digital showcase; the event is designed to foster growth and drive business-to-business investment and collaboration, in what continues to be a significant time for life sciences and medical research.
These life science companies presented their pipeline and investment cases in late October to an audience of investors, including those in venture capital, private equity, HNW individuals, research analysts and brokers, as well as industry executives from major global pharmaceutical companies.
Click on the logos below to hear from CEOs, Managing Directors and Founders, as the private and public companies pitch their innovative and leading technology in eight minutes.
AusBiotech would be delighted to facilitate an introduction with a company - contact us here.
“SAVE THE DATE: Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering 2022 is expanding to become the next ‘JP Morgan’, down under. This flagship investment conference is the biggest in Australia, and offers a programme of keynote industry speakers, market updates, and remains the preeminent opportunity for companies to present their technology and story to a network of potential international partners and investors.
AusBiotech’s investment programme helps to increase investor awareness and understanding of our unique sector, and supports Australian life science companies to connect with international capital markets and empower them to be competitive on a global scale.”
Argenica (ASX: AGN) is developing novel therapeutics to reduce brain tissue death after stroke and improve patient outcomes. Their lead neuroprotective peptide candidate, ARG-007 has been successfully demonstrated to improve outcomes in pre-clinical stroke models and is in the process of being verified for its safety and toxicity before commencing Phase 1 clinical trials in humans. Argenica’s aim is for ARG-007 to be administered by first responders in the field to provide neuroprotective treatment prior to a patient’s arrival at the hospital which will result in improved patient outcomes.
BiomeBank is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing microbial therapies to treat unmet medical need globally, with an immediate focus on the APAC region. BiomeBank currently manufacture a microbial therapy to treat Clostridoides difficile, a potentially life threatening infection, and have submitted for market authorisation in multiple indications. They are also are actively developing second generation therapies in multiple diseases, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease.
Carina Biotech is developing CAR-T and other adoptive cell therapies that can be used to treat solid cancers, are patient-specific and result in little, if any, off-cancer damage. Using its proprietary platforms, Carina has also developed technologies to improve access to, and infiltration of, solid cancers, and to enhance CAR-T cell manufacturing.
Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX:CHM) is a clinical stage cell therapy company focused on bringing the promise of cell therapy to life for more patients with cancer.
Chimeric believe that cellular therapies have the promise to cure cancer not just delay disease progression. To bring that promise to life for more patients, Chimeric’s world class team of cell therapy pioneers and experts is focused on discovery, development and commercialization of the most innovative and promising cell therapies.
EpiAxis Therapeutics is a privately-funded, epigenetically-focused translational drug discovery company developing novel cancer therapeutics. EpiAxis’ key point of differentiation is the way that it targets dormant cancer cells and epigenetically re-programs them back to a normal cell phenotype, decreasing their resistance to therapies, and reinvigorating the immune system. Their expertise is the development and commercialisation of therapies directed to LSD1 and other epigenetic targets, advancing first-in-class peptides and small molecule inhibitors, with novel non-catalytic modes of action.
Hexima (ASX:HXL) is a clinical stage, anti-infectives focused biotechnology company engaged in the research and development of defensin peptides for applications as human therapeutics. Their lead product candidate, pezadeftide (HXP124) applied in a topical formulation, is a potential new prescription treatment for toenail fungal infections (or onychomycosis). Hexima is currently conducting an Australian phase IIb clinical trial testing pezadeftide for the treatment of onychomycosis. Hexima holds granted, long-life patents protecting pezadeftide in major markets globally.
LBT Innovations Limited (ASX: LBT) is a ground-breaking designer of advanced technology solutions for the medical industry. LBT innovations have built advanced technology capability in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), image analysis and software engineering to develop solutions that improve medical diagnostic workflows. The company has developed a patent-protected machine learning and intelligent imaging platform technology to deliver the only FDA cleared instrument utilising AI technology in clinical microbiology – the APAS® Independence.
Noxopharm Limited (ASX:NOX) is an Australian clinical-stage publicly-listed drug development company, currently focused on cancer and sepsis with its lead candidate, Veyonda®. Veyonda® is a dual-acting oncotoxic and immuno-oncology drug designed to enhance the effectiveness and safety of standard oncology treatments and acts by harnessing the body’s immune system to inflict damage on cancer cells in the body and has shown promise in treating a broad spectrum of cancers.
Oncology One is a small molecule oncology drug development company; its strategy centers on building a diversified pipeline and aims to help translate more of Australia’s world-class cancer research into treatments. Oncology One has a purpose-built business model to deliver targeted investment to research teams and works with them to progress important research towards the clinic. They are working with research partners to identify projects that are highly differentiated and address as-yet unmet clinical needs in oncology, inclusive of underserved areas such as paediatric and rare cancers. Oncology One currently has one programme that is out-licensed to Pfizer Inc. and is in the process of onboarding four early-stage projects from Australian medical research institutes and universities.
Patrys (ASX:PAB) is a listed Australian biotechnology company developing new treatments for cancer using its revolutionary deoxymab antibody platform. Patrys’ deoxymab platform is based on an antibody called 3E10 that was originally isolated from a mouse model of a human autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 3E10 has a number of biological properties that are not usually found in antibodies. These unusual properties have opened up a range of therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer that are not possible using existing, small molecule or antibody therapeutics. Patrys has developed humanised versions of its deoxymabs including both an antibody fragment (PAT-DX1) and a full-sized IgG (PAT-DX3) which it is developing for human therapeutic applications.
Prescient Therapeutics (ASX:PTX) are focused on developing novel, personalised therapies for a range of cancers. Prescient’s universal CAR-T and targeted therapies are both personalised medicine approaches which seek to improve patient outcomes, whilst also new tools for clinicians in combating cancer. Prescient has a broad pipeline of personalised cancer treatments, comprising CAR-T and targeted therapies, for a range of different cancers. They have licensed technologies from and in collaboration with world-leading cancer centers in the US and Australia, and are working to rapidly expand the application of universal CAR-T therapies, capable of addressing all cancers, including solid tumours. OmniCAR, a universal CAR-T platform employing technology licensed from UPenn, the pioneer and world leader in CAR-T, as well as Oxford University, will allow unprecedented control and flexibility over current generation CAR-T approaches. It combines the cancer-killing capabilities of a T-cell with the control and pharmacology of a drug. Prescient is also working with leading CAR-T innovators to develop other improved CAR-T approaches.
Regeneus Ltd (ASX:RGS) is a Sydney-based clinical-stage regenerative medicine company using stem cell technologies to develop a portfolio of novel, next generation cell-based therapies to manage pain and inflammation. The company is focussed on the development of its regenerative stem cell technology platform Progenza™ for treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Japan through its partnership with Kyocera Corporation and is developing Sygenus for pain management and dermatological (skin) conditions.
ResApp Health Limited (ASX: RAP) is a leading digital health company developing smartphone applications for the diagnosis and management of the respiratory disease. ResApp’s machine learning algorithms use sound to diagnose and measure the severity of respiratory conditions without the need for additional accessories or hardware. ResApp’s regulatory-approved and clinically validated products include ResAppDx, a smartphone-based acute respiratory disease diagnostic test for use in telehealth, emergency department and primary care settings; ResAppCC for counting coughs in clinical research and patient monitoring; and SleepCheck, a smartphone application which allows consumers to self-assess their risk of sleep apnoea.
Tessara Therapeutics is converging innovation – in neuroscience, biomaterials, data analytics, artificial intelligence and industrial automation – to break therapeutic barriers in neurology, and realise a world in which we can protect, restore and rebuild the brain. Tessara aims to achieve this vision through two commercial applications of their technology, RealBrain® 3-dimensional (3D) human mimetic neural micro-tissues, as drug screening and neuro-regenerative medicine platforms. Tessara is currently raising AU$12.5m in Series B capital to achieve major milestones of market entry of their drug screening models and development of their first regenerative medicine candidate to completion of IND-enabling studies.
TruScreen (ASX:TRU) offers the latest technology in cervical screening, providing real-time, accurate detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical cells to help improve the health and wellbeing of women around the world. TruScreen manufactures and owns all rights to the TruScreen Cervical Cancer Screening Device. The TruScreen Device utilises opto-electrical technology, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled algorithm, and processes designed to detect the presence of pre-cancerous and cancerous tissues of the cervix in real time.
Volpara Health Technologies (ASX:VHT) is a global health technology company whose integrated software platform enables imaging centres to deliver personalised breast care. Partnering artificial intelligence with rigorous science, Volpara Health Technologies develops products that empower women and optimise screening Their technology and services are used in 39 countries and supported by numerous patents, trademarks, and regulatory registrations, including FDA clearance and CE marking. Since listing on the ASX in 2016, the company has raised A$132 million, including A$37 million in April/May 2020, and has made two significant acquisitions in MRS Systems, Inc. (patient tracking software), and CRA Health, LLC (risk and genetics software).