Redeye endorses today’s news that Cephagenix has secured funding of up to EUR9m and gives an initial comment.

Egetis Therapeutics

Mendus

Medivir

Genovis

Bioinvent International

Karolinska Development

Nanologica

Saniona

* Currently pre-revenue with no significant recurring income, relying on research-related compensation and potential future drug approvals.
* Operating in an industry (biotech) with historically lower returns on invested capital compared to the 15% benchmark.
* Highly dependent on regulatory approvals, with constant risk of delays or rejections impacting business success.
* May face future capital market dependencies for funding, subject to cyclical fluctuations in investor sentiment towards biotech.
* Limited geographic diversification of potential revenue base, with likely high dependence on the U.S. market and national reimbursement agencies.

* Strong potential for significant revenue growth if drug candidates reach the market, with meaningful reinvestment opportunities in drug development pipeline.
* Asset-light business model typical of biotech companies, allowing for efficient scaling without heavy capital expenditures.
* Benefits from secular trends such as aging populations and increasing prevalence of targeted diseases.
* Possesses a good patent portfolio and unique ion channel platform, providing a competitive advantage in drug development.
* Focused on indications with few approved treatments, potentially capturing significant market share in targeted areas.

* Lack of profitability across various metrics (Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, ROE, ROA), suggesting challenges in generating sustainable earnings.
* Absence of consistent revenue and earnings growth, potentially indicating difficulties in scaling the business or capturing market share.
* Poor cash flow conversion rates, both for Operating Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow, raising concerns about the company's ability to generate real cash profits.
* No dividend payments or history of dividend growth, limiting appeal for income-focused investors.

* Strong short-term liquidity with current assets 1.5 times greater than current liabilities, indicating good working capital management.
* Cash and short-term investments cover expected cash burn for more than two years, demonstrating financial stability and reducing immediate fundraising needs.

* Lack of profitability and consistent returns on capital, making it difficult to assess long-term financial sustainability.
* Absence of a controlling owner with a long-term commitment, potentially impacting strategic stability.
* Insufficient female representation in the board, potentially limiting diverse perspectives in decision-making.
* Weak commitment to sustainability reporting, which may become increasingly important for stakeholders and investors.

* Strong visionary leadership from CEO Thomas Feldthus, with clear long-term goals and adaptable strategies for drug development and partnerships.
* Lean, decentralized organization promoting accountability, with a research-driven culture and long-tenured management team.
* Consistent delivery on promises, including significant licensing agreements and a clear focus on capital allocation for long-term value creation.
* Transparent and candid investor communication, with a focus on long-term business value and consistent storytelling over time.
* Reasonable executive compensation structure aligned with shareholder interests, including CEO stock options tied to company performance.