Top performing ASX life science companies

ASX-listed life science companies report a new market capitalisation of $255 billion, with Arovella Therapeutic (ASX: ALA) and Avita Medical (ASX: AVH) topping return rankings for Q1 while Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU) leads in earnings for 2023.

AusBiostock data (April 2023) reveals the 178 ASX-listed life science companies have grown the market capitalisation by $7 billion over the past year, from $248 billion to $255 billion, highlighting the life science sector’s growing economic contribution to the Australian economy.

The data also shows eight percent of listed companies have a market cap of more than $1 billion, while 33 percent of companies are worth more than $100 million. Identified as a key metric in AusBiotech’s Biotechnology Blueprint decadal strategy, the proportion of biotech companies achieving market valuations greater than $100 million measures the industry’s ability to create companies of significant future value.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals is reported as the top earner for the year, with a reported share price of $14.20 (as at 18 April 2023) and a market return of 258.59 percent (see full data below).

This follows a strong 2022, where Neuren Pharmaceuticals was listed as the second top returner in the AusBioStock’s April 2022 data (see below), after Incannex Healthcare (ASX:IHL) reported a 233.33 percent return over the past year. At the end of Q1 2022, Neuren Pharmaceutical reported a share price of $4.18 (as at 8 March 2022) and annual return of 213.11 percent, revealing Neuren Pharmaceutical’s stock price jumped from $4.18 to $14.20 between April 2022 and April 2023.

Discover ‘The secret sauce to biotech investor relations’ directly from Neuren Pharmaceuticals CEO Jon Pilcher, who shares his tips in tricks in the September 2022 Australasian Biotechnology Journal (page 39).

Q1 2023 has revealed WA-based Arovella Therapeutics topped the rankings with a quarterly return of 237.50 percent, followed by Avita Medical at 85.95 percent, 4Dmedical Limited (ASX:4DX) at 78.72 percent, Kazia Therapeutics (ASX:KZA) at 62.50 percent, and Botanix Pharma Limited (ASX:BOT) at 61.40 percent.

The variability in the returns listings between Q1 2022 versus 2023 demonstrates the unique nature of biotech investment, and reflects the make-up of the sector, with the vast majority of companies being small, early-stage, pre-revenue and pre-clinical.

Notably, there has been no new biotech company listings on the ASX since April 2022. This is in contrast to a busy 2020-2021 listing period where 26 new biotech and medical technology companies listed on the ASX, which was an unusual period but in line with global trends.

AusBiotech invites qualified investors, including venture capital firms, private equity investors, high-net-worth individuals, research analysts, brokers, family offices, to access their complimentary tickets to attend AusBioInvest 2023, providing them with a valuable opportunity to make meaningful connections with companies, hear the latest market updates, and explore potential investment prospects. Register your interest here.

Biotech companies are also being invited to register their interest to pitch at AusBioInvest to a global audience of investors, industry executives, and key stakeholders.