Daily Brief Health Care: BeiGene, Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals, Pegavision Corp, Immix Biopharma Inc and more

• The June 2023 index review results for the Hang Seng index can be expected after the close on 12th May 2023.
• In Quiddity Leaderboard for Hang Seng Index Mar 23: Healthcare Names Could Dominate, we expected some healthcare names to be added but there were no index changes in March 2023. 
• Although the index methodology is highly subjective and predicting index changes is extremely tricky, the HSI is an important index in the region and here are our thoughts for June. 

Paradigm has announced day 168 (six-month) data from the PARA_OA_008 trial, which is evaluating injectable pentosan polysulfate sodium (iPPS) as a potentially disease-modifying treatment for knee osteoarthritis (kOA). Highlights from the interim data include: structural changes in several disease features as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), potential support for disease-modifying OA drug (DMOAD) activity from trends in biomarker data, and persistent positive responses in WOMAC scores. During the second half of CY23, Paradigm intends to discuss with the FDA and EMA a potential regulatory pathway for DMOAD indication labelling; we believe that the outcome, along with clarification on the Phase III development pathway, could represent a significant catalyst for the company.

• Pegavision Corp (6491 TT) has started 2023 on a weak note. During 1Q23, the company recorded revenue of NT$1,460M, representing YoY decline of ~2% and QoQ decline of ~18%.
• During January and February 2023, Pegavision’s Chairman, Guo Ming-Dong has sold 53K and 66K shares, respectively, thereby reducing his shareholding to ~1.57M from initial ~1.9M.
• Disappointing monthly revenue, coupled with regular insider selling should limit the near-term upside potential of Pegavision. Since end of February, Pegavision shares have corrected 10%.

Immix Biopharma’s FY22 results reflected a busy period as management ramped up clinical activity across multiple programs. In a major development, Immix expanded its portfolio with the in-licensing of NXC-201, an autologous CAR-T therapy being investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and AL amyloidosis (ALA) currently in the ongoing Phase I/II NEXICART-1 study. With the increase in R&D activity primarily associated with in-licensing NXC-201, Immix reported an operating loss of $8.2m in FY22 (FY21: $1.4m) and we estimate that its net cash position of $13.4m at end-December 2022 provides a cash runway into Q423. Given the company’s increased disclosure of its arrangement with the licensors and of future NEXICART-I study costs, as well as its communicated strategy to expand clinical studies in the US, we now include NXC-201 in our valuation. We value Immix at $77.1m or $5.5 per share (previously $61.5m or $4.4 per share).