The September Biotech Daily Top 40 Index (BDI-40) returned to a new all-time record high in the first month of Melbourne Spring, up 13.1 percent to a collective market capitalization of $39,549 million.

The BDI-40 was up 89.8 percent for the year to September 30, compared to the benchmark ASX200 up 2.2 percent for the month and 17.3 percent for the 12 months.

The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI) fell 2.3 percent in September but was up 20.6 percent for the year to September 30, 2024. Cannabis Corner recovered 5.3 percent in September.

The collective value of the three Big Caps of Cochlear, CSL and Resmed (which are not included in the BDI-40) fell 5.9 percent from the previous record high to $207,795 million.

CSL lost $10,761 million or 7.2 percent to $138,047 million, Cochlear fell 5.1 percent to $18,431 million, with Resmed down 2.2 percent to $51,317 million – all three slightly below their record highs.

Pro Medicus again contributed the most to the BDI-40 – up a further $2,811 million in September to $18,187 million. It is most probable that next month, Pro Medicus will be promoted into the Big Caps.

In September, 22 of the BDI-40 companies were up, 15 by more than 10 percent; 16 fell, with 10 down by more than 10 percent; and two were unchanged.

4D Medical was the percentage best, up $96 million or 53.0 percent to $277 million, followed by Syntara (34.1%), Amplia (33.3%), Opthea (33.3%), Percheron (21.8%), Clarity (19.9%), Nanosonics (19.6%), Mesoblast (18.4%), Pro Medicus (18.3%), Impedimed (16.5%), Avita (15.5%), Cynata (11.4%), Polynovo (11.4%), Telix (10.6%) and Cyclopharm (10.5%).

Actinogen led the August falls, down $51 million or 41.8 percent to $71 million, followed by Paradigm (20.9%), Imugene (17.7%), Proteomics (17.6%), Immutep (16.0%), Dimerix (15.7%), Alcidion (14.4%), Curvebeam (13.4%), Nova Eye (12.5%) and Genetic Signatures (11.2%).

The 12 companies that comprise Cannabis Corner recovered a collective 5.3 percent in September to $279 million, with most of the gain by Cann group up $26 million or 136.8 percent to $45 million (see yesterday’s ASX price query). Bioxyne rose 17.4 percent to $27 million and Avecho fell 40 percent to $6 million.

On the Nasdaq, with its “better valuations than the ASX” Bionomics lost a further $5 million or 38.5 percent to $8 million. Eyepoint (formerly Psivida) fell 12.7 percent to $618 million.

Kazia recovered a further 10.5 percent to $21 million, Queensland’s Protagonist was up 2.5 percent to $3,830 million and Incannex improved 2.0 percent to $51 million.