Over the last seven years, Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (CUV: $14.95) has generated around $330 million in sales from its pharmaceutical product Scenesse for the treatment of EPP. The compound annual growth rate in sales over the last six years has been 42% and the company has been profitable for the last seven years.

Island Pharmaceuticals' (ILA: $0.066) lead drug candidate, ISLA-101, was first investigated as an oncology drug by Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Executive Chairman of Island, Paul MacLeman, said that whilst its ability to kill cancer cells was poor, its safety profile was good and well established. ISLA-101 has been assessed in 45 clinical studies to date.

Opening the first session of the 18th Bioshares Biotech Summit, Neuren Pharmaceuticals' CEO Jon Pilcher spoke of Neuren's success with trofinetide and NNZ-2591, and the commercial options on the table.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals (NEU: $15.57) announced last week top-line Phase II results for NNZ-2591 in Angelman syndrome (AS). NNZ-2591 is a synthetic peptide that maintains the bioavailability of IGF-1 which promotes synaptic connections in the brain. It is the follow-on compound from trofinetide (DAYBUE) which has been approved and is being sold by Acadia Pharmaceuticals.

Aroa Biosurgery (ARX: $0.52) expects to become cashflow positive in the second half of its financial year, which ends 31 March. In the June quarter the company increased receipts by 17.7% to NZ$17.8 million.

Botanix Pharmaceuticals (BOT: $0.32) has received FDA approval for Sofdra, a prescription medicine for primary axillary hyperhidrosis (PAH), or excessive underarm sweating. It is the first novel chemical entity approved for this indication.

Island pharmaceuticals (ILA: $0.066) has signed a non-binding term sheet with antiviral drug developer BioCryst to acquire rights to the compound galidesivir for the treatment of a number of dangerous viruses, including Ebola, Zika and Marburg viruses.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (CUV: $15.51) is continuing to expand the applications for its core therapeutic, afamelanotide (Scenesse for the treatment of EPP). In preclinical models it has been shown that afamelanotide can have a positive impact on neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease.

Eli Lilly has received FDA approval for donanemab (Kisunla) for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease. It joins Leqembi from Eisai/Biogen as the first effective, disease modifying treatments for the disease.

Radiopharm Theranostics (RAD: $0.043), a radiopharmaceutical therapeutic-diagnostic company focusing on a range of cancers, has announced an institutional placement of $70 million.