Good morning, Armchair Army,
Welcome to today's edition of The Armchair Analyst, a 5-minute daily update on the ASX life-sciences sector.
We often say that money makes the world go round.
In healthcare, that’s true…
Just like in every industry.
But one corner of the healthcare system is built on something purely selfless.
No money exchanged. No financial incentive.
Just helping people.
I’m talking about blood donation.
My dad was a big blood donor, with around 230 lifetime donations.
Every couple of weeks, he’d go down to the blood bank and give a bag of blood or plasma that would go to a complete stranger and potentially save their life.
I’m reflecting on this today because my wife is pregnant, and our first kid is on the way.
We have relied on someone just like Dad for a vaccine called Anti-D.
This vaccine can only be made from the plasma of a donor with a very specific antibody.
It’s rare, and only ~115 people in Australia who donate it regularly.
Anti-D is an injection given during pregnancy to RhD-negative mothers to stop the mother’s immune system from developing antibodies that can attack an RhD-positive baby’s red blood cells.
This matters less in the first pregnancy.
But if you haven’t had the Anti-D injection and you need it, the second pregnancy could have devastating complications for the baby.
Around 17% of Australian women who become pregnant need Anti-D.
We were one of them.
Right now I’m writing this poolside in Noosa.
… on our Babymoon.
My wife is 30 weeks pregnant, and our first kid is on the way.
We’ve had a bit of a funny trip here, actually…
Yesterday, we were at the local markets, and there were a number of ‘natural medicine’ booths.
Sprays for back pain. Crystals for healing. Exotic creams for youthfulness.
But the strangest encounter was with our Uber driver on the way back from the market, telling us all about this stem-cell medication…
…made from algae.
It took about three-quarters of the drive before I realised it was one of those Herbalife-style multi-level marketing things…
The giveaway was when he told me he made more money selling the “affiliate program” than the treatment itself.
Red flags everywhere.
Alright… I’ve gone a bit off tangent there.
Back to Anti-D.
When I first heard the story of the Anti-D donors, it was a heartwarming reminder of the amazing things people do for complete strangers.
I couldn’t believe such a small number of people could have such a large impact on so many.
But I could understand it because Dad was a big blood donor.
He racked up around 230 donations before the doctors told him he couldn’t donate anymore because of a tick bite he got in Scotland.
… he was pretty miffed.
The first-ever donor of Anti-D in Australia was James Harrison, in 1967.
Harrison donated plasma more than 1,170 times over 60 years.
The blood service estimated that his donations helped save around 2.4 million babies.
Last year, he reached the donor age limit.
On the way out, he said… “I'd keep on going if they'd let me."
(Source: ABC News)
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to blood donors in Australia.
It is a genuinely selfless act that directly saves people’s lives.
If you want to donate blood, you can book a time with Lifeblood here.
Let’s dive in…
PS. I’ll be taking tomorrow off, so I’ll see you all next week.
The Pulse Check
BCAL Diagnostics (ASX: BDX) has served a section 249D notice to the board of Genetic Signatures (ASX: GSS). (GSS)
🪑 Get your popcorn out; this could get interesting 🍿🍿
Genetic Signatures shareholders, over to you to decide the fate of the company.
Cleo Diagnostics (ASX: COV) begins Analytical Validation of ovarian cancer test kits, a key step toward FDA 510(k) submission planned for H1 CY2027. (COV)
🪑 New timelines set. 510(k) approval submission planned for the first half of next year.
OncoSil Medical (ASX: OSL) submits a CMS application for its OncoSil™ device at US$55,000 per dose. (OSL)
🪑 Milestone ticked.
Prescient Therapeutics (ASX: PTX) has enrolled 20 evaluable patients in a Phase 2a study of PTX-100 for CTCL, enough patients for the first safety review scheduled in December 2026. (PTX)
🪑 Milestone ticked.
Imricor Medical Systems (ASX: IMR) announces FDA acceptance of its PMA manufacturing module, moving towards final FDA approval. (IMR)
🪑IMR has had to go through and get FDA approval piece by piece.
… so close now.
EMVision Medical Devices (ASX: EMV) secures first payment of $337,000 for the Regional Benefits Study for its emu bedside scanner for stroke diagnosis in remote hospitals. (EMV)
🪑Over half the money that EMV has raised in its lifetime has come through government grants and non-dilutive funding.
This trend continues.
Novartis licenses Alteogen ALT-B4 technology to convert its intravenous biologics into subcutaneous drug formulations, up to US$3.2B in milestone payments. (PharmaTech)
🪑This shows the value of a new delivery paradigm.
My thoughts immediately turn to my first Armchair Analyst Pick, Tetratherix (ASX: TTX, held), which has just launched its nasal spray product to deliver GLP-1s, peptides, and hormones.
Freedom Care Group Holdings (ASX: FCG) did not carry its remuneration report at its AGM. (FCG)
🪑Not good.
Memphasys (ASX: MEM) obtains Turkey registration for the Felix™ sperm separation system. (MEM)
Recce Pharmaceuticals (ASX: RCE) failed to obtain shareholder approval for six resolutions in relation to issuing options and piggyback options at its recent general meeting. (RCE)
🪑Looks like one or a handful of disgruntled shareholders over the options package attached to the last raise.
Yesterday, the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing announced a very small price increase to the AN-ACC and no changes to the care minutes requirements. (Health.Gov)
🪑 If you want a good snapshot of what the industry thought of this change, have a read of Regis Healthcare’s announcement this morning. With a general tone of disappointment, they point out:
Headline wage increase of 2.55% well below inflation (4.75%)
No changes to care minute requirements
No changes to the hoteling supplement
My take is that this will lead to more consolidation in the industry, as small aged care facilities get squeezed on margins.
Also, Regis Healthcare smashed today. Down 33% on open.
See you all next week,
The Armchair Analyst
