MedicalGold's Canadian Top 5 Insider Buy List: Q1 2023
Insider buying/selling activity is something that we believe can offer a significant amount of 'signal' in the Canadian small/micro cap markets. Insiders are always long on their company's shares one way or another, so when they choose to trade their cash for more of their company's paper it is worth making note of. Every two to three weeks MedicalGold.ca will publish a Top 5 Insider Buy List highlighting the Canadian biotech/pharma stocks that experienced the largest insider buying in the previous period.
We will also be keeping tabs on the performance of the companies highlighted in these bi-weekly posts to see how they perform over longer time periods, and perhaps more importantly if a trend of insider activity begins to develop. Occasionally, we will also highlight unusually aggressive insider selling activity as heavy insider selling has a history of preceding large share price declines in micro-cap stocks.
As always, our aim will be to provide valuable signals and we will also overlay a fundamental context in addition to technical analysis of company charts.
BetterLife Pharma Inc.
BetterLife Pharma Inc. (CSE: BETR / OTCQB : BETRF / FRA: NPAU) is an emerging biotechnology company primarily focused on developing and commercializing two compounds, BETR-001 and BETR-002, to treat neuro-psychiatric and neurological disorders.
BETR-001, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, is a non-hallucinogenic and non-controlled LSD derivative in development and it is unique in that it is unregulated and therefore can be self-administered. BetterLife’s synthesis patent for BETR-001 eliminates regulatory hurdles and its pending patent for composition and method of use covers treatment of depression, cluster headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder and other neuro-psychiatric and neurological disorders.
BETR-002, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, is based on honokiol, the active anxiolytic ingredient of magnolia bark. BetterLife’s pending method of use and formulations patent covers treatment of anxiety related disorders including benzodiazepine dependency.
BetterLife also owns a drug candidate for the treatment of viral infections such as COVID-19 and is in the process of seeking strategic alternatives for further development.
Recent insider purchases
Microbix Biosystems Inc.
Microbix (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix®) creates proprietary biological products for human health, with over 100 skilled employees and annualized sales targeting C$ 2.0 million per month. It makes a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs are sold to clinical laboratory accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical laboratories. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, distributed by 1WA (Oneworld Accuracy Inc.), Alpha-Tec Systems, Inc., Diagnostic International Distribution SpA., Labquality Oy, The Medical Supply Company of Ireland, Neo-Science Equipment LLC, R-Biopharm AG, SDT Molecular Pte Ltd, Seegene Canada Inc., and Thomas Scientific LLC. Microbix is ISO 9001 and 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides CE marked products.
Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably viral transport medium (DxTM™) to stabilize patient samples for lab-based molecular diagnostic testing and Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots. Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Recent insider purchases
Nexe Innovations Inc.
NEXE Innovations Inc. (TSXV: NEXE) (Frankfurt: NX5) (OTC: NEXNF) is a leader in innovative compostable materials technology based in British Columbia, Canada. The first product developed by NEXE is one of the only patented, fully-compostable, single-serve coffee pods for use in existing major single-serve coffee machines.
Recent insider purchases
NEXE.V (Daily)
NEXE stands out as an attractive chart setup after its recent pullback to important support near $.50. We note the recent Barron's cover article and the first product developed by NEXE Innovations is one of the only patented, fully-compostable, single-serve coffee pods for use in existing major single-serve coffee machines. 2023 appears to be a pivotal year for NEXE as the company's scaled production comes online. NEXE maintains a strong balance sheet with C$28 million in working capital and minimal debt.
NEXE has corrected back to its rising 50-day moving average as insiders continue to steadily accumulate shares on the open market.
Diagnamed Holdings Corp.
DiagnaMed Holdings Corp. (CSE: DMED) is an artificial intelligence-driven digital health company focusing on improving brain health for mental health and neurodegenerative disorders. The Company is developing its BRAIN AGE™ AI Product Suite, which includes BRAIN AGE™, an electroencephalogram-based (EEG) artificial intelligence solution to detect an individual’s brain age, and the Brain Health Digital Platform for clinical and home use.
The company recently announced the incorporation of OpenAI's ChatGTP artificial intelligence platform into their BRAIN AGE™ AI Product Suite, a diagnostic platform to assess cognitive impairments (including mental illnesses) and neurodegenerative conditions in athletes. The platform will be available in May 2023.
Recent insider purchases
DISCLAIMER:
The work included in this article is based on current events, technical charts, company news releases, and the author’s opinions. It may contain errors, and you shouldn’t make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. This publication contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to comments regarding predictions and projections. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. This publication is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always thoroughly do your own due diligence and talk to a licensed investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions. Junior resource and biotechnology companies can easily lose 100% of their value so read company profiles on www.SEDARplus.ca for important risk disclosures. It’s your money and your responsibility.