Sweden's 10 strongest life science stocks 2022

Now that we have put the stock market year 2022 behind us, we can conclude that it was not the best from a life science perspective, at least in terms of the stock market. While the development in the companies is progressing at a steady pace, the general stock market mood has settled like a blanket over the sector. Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology Index, which tracks biotech companies listed on Nasdaq in the US with a market capitalization of less than USD 5 billion, fell by 30 percent in 2022. This compares with the broader index S & P500 which recorded a decline of 20 percent.

AstraZeneca qualifies for the list

It's not uncommon for stock market giants to make the list of the year's best-performing stocks, but the list of 2022's best-performing life science stocks qualifies AstraZenecaThe share price increase reflects the good operational development the company has seen during the year, and expectations of future growth, not least through the acquisition of Alexion 2021. AstraZeneca shares rose by 2022 percent in 32 and closed the year at an all-time high, by just a few kronor. The rise meant that the company added just over 600 billion kronor in market capitalization, equivalent to almost a whole ABB.

Lumito rises ahead of market launch

High up on this year's winners list we also find the diagnostics company Lumito, which is in full swing preparing for the market launch of Scizys by LumitoThe product is a medical technology tool for tissue diagnostics that will make it easier for pathologists and researchers to identify, among other things, cancer in tissue samples. The launch is planned for early 2023 and it is clear that the market has high expectations for the company, whose shares increased by 82 percent last year.

Good sales development boosts Camurus

Also the Lunda company Camurus had a positive stock market performance in 2022, driven by continued sales success for Buvidal, the company's product for the treatment of opioid addiction. The product combines the opioid buprenorphine with the company's patented formulation technology FluidCrystal, which allows healthcare providers to administer the drug weekly or monthly. During the first nine months of 2022, sales amounted to SEK 668 million, representing growth of 62 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

Good momentum in sales combined with expectations around an upcoming US launch and a potentially broadened indication for Buvidal has driven interest in the stock, which traded up 2022 percent in 68.

FDA approval behind rise in Bonesupport

Another of 2022's life science rockets was the medical technology company Bone support. Behind a sharp rise lies the FDA's decision to approve the company's antibiotic-releasing product Cerament G for sale in the American market. The product is based on the company's Ceramicplatform consisting of injectable bioceramic bone graft substitutes that have the ability to release drugs. In the case of Cerament G, Bonesupport has now been approved for the indication osteomyelitis, or bone infection. The FDA approval is described as the biggest milestone in the company's history to date and expectations for the product are high. Bonesupport shares rose by 83 percent in 2022.

Alzheimer's a clear theme in 2022

The big stock market winner in the sector in 2022 was BioArctic, whose shares rose by a whopping 128 percent during the year. The rush came after the Japanese partner Eisai announced positive phase III results with lecanemab, which is being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The area has attracted a lot of attention in 2022, thanks to FDA's controversial decisions to give Biogen conditional approval for the brake medicine aduhelm, despite criticism for lack of evidence on efficacy and serious side effects.

The approval testifies to how much an effective treatment for Alzheimer's is long-awaited, which bodes well for companies like BioArctic, given that their candidate manages to make it all the way to market approval. Read more.

However, the improved sentiment has not been able to provide sufficient support to Alzheimer's colleagues Alzinova and AlzeCure, which were down 57 and 30 percent respectively during the year.

2022 Swedish course rockets in Life Science

Below, BioStock lists the 2022 price winners among Swedish life science companies.