Axim Biotech debuts rapid COVID-19 antibody blood test

AXIM Biotechnologies (OTCQB:AXIM) announces that it has developed a rapid 10-minute point-of-care blood test for COVID-19 antibodies, branded as NeuCovix, that, it says, measures a specific subpopulation of antibodies that block the binding of the coronavirus to host cell receptors. In other words, the test identifies people who have neutralizing antibodies (the kind that conveys immunity) from those who don’t (they may be at risk for reinfection).

The company has initiated the filing of its application seeking the FDA nod on emergency use during the pandemic.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591398-axim-biotech-debuts-rapid-covidminus-19-antibody-blood-test

GoHealth prices upsized IPO above range at $21

GoHealth (GOCO) has priced its IPO of 43.5M (from 39.5M) shares of its Class A common stock at $21.00/share (above the expected range of $18-20).

Underwriters’ over-allotment is an additional 6.525M shares.

Trading kicks off today.

Closing date is July 17.

Previously: GoHealth sets IPO terms (July 8)

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591275-gohealth-prices-upsized-ipo-above-range-21

Medtronic to acquire Medicrea

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of spinal surgery device maker Medicrea (OTCQX:MRNTF) at €7.00/share, representing a 22% premium over yesterday’s closing price.

The tender offer is expected to be filed with the French Markets Authority in September.

The deal should close by year-end.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591285-medtronic-to-acquire-medicrea

UnitedHealth beats EPS consensus, reiterates guidance

UnitedHealth (UNH) Q2 results:

Revenues: $62,138M (+2.5%); Premiums: $49,394M (+4.7%); Products: $8,247M (-1.3%); Services: $4,156M (-7.6%); Investment and other income: $341M (-41.4%).

UnitedHealthcare: $49,107M (+1.1%); Optum: $32,695M (+16.6%).

Net Income: $6,637M (+101.5%); EPS: $6.91 (+102.0%); non-GAAP Net Income: $6,839M (+96.9%); non-GAAP EPS: $7.12 (+97.8%).

CF Ops: $12,946M (+42.1%).

Q2 medical care ratio declined to 70.2% from 83.1% last year, due to temporary deferral of care due to the pandemic.

Q2 operating cost ratio increased to 16.1% from 13.9% in Q2 2019, due to the health insurance tax, COVID-19 response efforts and business mix.

2020 guidance: GAAP EPS: $15.45 – 15.75 (unch); Non-GAAP EPS: $16.25 – 16.55 (unch); GAAP net income: $14,750M – 15,050M (unch); Non-GAAP net income: $15,525M – 15,825M (unch).

Previously: UnitedHealth EPS beats by $1.88, misses on revenue (July 15)

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591292-unitedhealth-beats-eps-consensus-reiterates-guidance

Orchard Therapeutics inks license deal with GSK for stable cell line tech

Orchard Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ORTX) jumps 9% premarket after entering into two worldwide royalty-bearing license agreements with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) for use of its lentiviral stable cell line technology (LV-SCLT) for Orchard’s investigational hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies for Wiskott Aldrich syndrome (OTL-103 for WAS) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (OTL-300 for TDT).

Under the licenses, GSK has granted patents and pending patent applications related to its LV-SCLT. Financial terms are not disclosed.

Orchard plans to submit a BLA and marketing authorization application for OTL-103 for WAS in the U.S. and EU, respectively, in 2021.

WAS is an inherited immune disorder that primarily affects males and is characterized by recurrent infections, autoimmunity, eczema and severe bleeding episodes.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591319-orchard-therapeutics-inks-license-deal-gsk-for-stable-cell-line-technology

Can-Fite advancing piclidenoson in COVID-19

Nano cap Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSEMKT:CANF) is up 27% premarket on increased volume in reaction to its announcement that, based on FDA feedback, it has amended the protocol for its planned Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Piclidenoson on top of standard-of-care treatment in hospitalized “moderately ill” COVID-19 patients.

Efficacy measures include clinical and respiratory status at day 29, including the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure and the proportion of patients discharged without the need for supplemental oxygen.

It expects to file its IND by month-end.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591315-can-fite-advancing-piclidenoson-in-covidminus-19

Relay Therapeutics upsizes IPO again

Relay Therapeutics (RLAY) has filed another preliminary prospectus, this time for an IPO of 20M common shares at $18 – 19. Gross proceeds should be ~$370M at the midpoint.

It first filed for a $200M debut on June 25 then followed with another filing on July 9 for an offering of 14.7M shares at $16 – 18 (~$250M at midpoint).

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3591328-relay-therapeutics-upsizes-ipo-again