Australian biotech market today 07.04008

Very small volumes have been traded in pharma and biotech stocks today at 1.30pm, although the overall healthcare index is up 1.3 per cent, compared to losses in most other indices.

Cellestis (ASX:CST), the Victorian company that manufactures whole blood in vitro diagnostics for TB and cell-mediated immune responses, has been travelling well recently and is up 24c to $2.49. The company is one of the few biotechs in the country with a positive cash flow, generating revenues last year of $14.5 million.

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB), which last week announced had raised $10 million to further its clinical trials, was up 3c on very small volumes to 80c, although it is still down on last year’s highs of over $1.

Cochlear (ASX:COH) is up 26c, CSL (ASX:CSL) is up 42c and ResMed (RMD) is up 1c.

Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) is down 3c to 17c. Progen (ASX:PGL) is up 8c, while neutraceuticals company Probiotec (ASX:PBP) is up 10c to $1.75.