Day traders' weekend lounge May 6 - 8, page-27

A little info on Biotron - BIT - as it has been reaching these day trading pages recently and not all of us will be up to speed on the potential here.

Biotron has been around since 2001, with its principle focus on small molecule drugs to treat diseases such as HIV and Hep B, although they've tried their hands at other's along the way, such as Ebola.

Many traders here will recall Sept/Oct 2018 when the price went from about a cent to 45 based on their initial phase II HIV results, which touted the prospect of leading towards a cure. HIV of course is still with us without a cure, and typically, a lot of traders would have regretted a late entry on that trade, as the price has steadily fallen since, although there have been several significant flutters in price since, but nothing near those lofty heights of '18.

When Biotron entered the Covid-19 space early in the pandemic, many skeptics dismissed the attempt as just another opportunity for Biotron to fleece the market, even if it did offer a worthwhile trade or two for the occasion. But Biotron's C19 efforts are no flutter.

Back in 2002 when SARS1 first appeared, a precursor to SARS-COV-2 that causes C19, Biotron made a unique discovery with the virus, in identifying that the E protein of it, one of the four essential proteins of all Corona viruses, is a viroporin, that is, a cell that acts as a gateway between host and virus cells enabling the virus to replicate. As viruses only replicate in host cells and not on their own, these viroporin cells are an essential part in the process, and a new technology/drugs, called viroporin inhibitors, have developed to treat associated diseases. But as SARS 2 was contained within 9 months due to it being symptomatic (unlike SARS2) and more fatal (about 10%), no further work in treating it occurred. Vaccine development for it by other companies also halted.

Naturally then, in March 2020, Biotron trialled numerous of its 300 compound library on SARS2 and the testing has been ongoing with quite remarkable results. The specially engineered mice containing high levels of ACE2 receptors, those (human) cells that bind onto the virus, all progressed very well after being exposed to SARS2 and treated with BIT225, as opposed to those mice untreated. Exceptionally well.

This has lead to their application to the FDA's CoronaVirus Treatment Accelerated Program (CTAP), of which we are waiting on acceptance (or not). Based on the excellent mice trials, as well as the nine previous HIV trials where BIT225 has demonstrated an excellent safety profile, it is very likely to lead to the acceptance into the program. If achieved, it is very much going to bring BIT into the limelight. Old price highs are likely to come fairly quickly.

If BIT225 comes through the trials successfully, then it will no doubt lead to its use for treating C19, and commercialization will occur. No need to say what will occur as far as us traders are concerned.

Regarding their ongoing HIV trials, three new trials commenced recently, two in Australia and one in Thailand. Since 2018, Biotron have finally learnt how BIT225 achieves what it does, 'exposing hidden reservoir cells.' Curing HIV may still be a realistic possibility.

The fact that BIT225 can treat both C19 (SARS2) and HIV is no coincidence, as both viruses contain viroporins, known as the E protein in SARS2, and Hpu in HIV.

The timeline to entry into CTAP is quite short, and I expect it within weeks, if not days.

Disclaimer: all in.