ASX BRIEFS

Andrew Musgrave

Welcome to 'ASX BRIEFS,' the definitive podcast for enthusiasts, investors, and professionals keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Hosted by Andrew Musgrave, 'ASX BRIEFS' delves deep into the heart of Australia's financial markets, bringing you insightful conversations with the minds shaping the future of investing down under. Each episode, join Andrew as he interviews a diverse lineup of fund managers, executives, and industry insiders, offering you a unique blend of expert analysis, strategic insights, and the latest trends affecting the ASX. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, 'ASX BRIEFS' is your go-to source for comprehensive updates and thought-provoking discussions designed to inform, inspire, and empower your investment journey. Tune in to 'ASX BRIEFS' and take the pulse of Australia's financial markets right at your fingertips.

  1. 7H AGO

    FRONTIER ENERGY LTD (FHE) - Building Certainty Where The Grid Is Weakest

    Send a text WA’s grid is changing faster than most realise, and the evening peak is where the challenge bites. We sit down with Frontier Energy CEO Adam Kiley to explore how the Waroona Renewable Energy Project—120 MW of solar paired with a 6.9‑hour, 81.5 MW battery—aims to serve the 4 pm to 10 pm window that coal and gas used to cover. With a prime location only 500 metres from the Landwehr Terminal and a connection to 330 kV lines, Waroona is built on strong grid bones that support both Stage One delivery and future expansion. Adam unpacks the numbers driving confidence: a guaranteed $32 million per annum from WA’s reserve capacity mechanism over the first five years, independent banker‑case models reflecting record‑high wholesale prices, and a clear pathway to 60–70% project debt. We dig into the macro: around 6.6 TWh per year of retiring coal and older gas, plus 3.5 TWh of new demand by 2031, creating an 11 TWh hole on a 22 TWh grid. Rather than waiting on long, costly transmission build‑outs, Frontier’s strategy co‑locates generation and storage at a strong node to shift midday sun into night-time supply when prices and reliability needs are highest. We also talk execution: updated financials and technical expert reports for lenders, equipment contracting, and the timeline to final investment decision. Then we look at what’s next—an accelerated Stage Two study with similar scale, backed by 830 hectares of controlled land, approvals to amend, and a focus on replicable revenue certainty. If you care about clean baseload, peak-hour pricing, and practical solutions to the SWIS transition, this conversation lays out how firmed renewables can deliver. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend who tracks the energy transition, and leave a quick review so others can find it.

    13 min
  2. 1D AGO

    INVION LTD (IVX) - From Lab To Clinic: How Invion’s Light-Activated Therapy Targets Cancer And Infections

    Send a text What if a beam of light could turn the tide against stubborn tumours and even wake the immune system? We sit down with Professor Thian Chew, Executive Chair and CEO of Invion Limited, to unpack how their photodynamic therapy zeroes in on cancer cells, stays inert until activated by a specific wavelength, and then triggers targeted oxidation that spares healthy tissue. The kicker: this same mechanism appears to amplify immune responses and shows promise against infectious agents like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. We walk through concrete progress already underway. A non‑melanoma skin cancer study advances a topical application, while a forthcoming anogenital cancer trial with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre explores combining light‑activated therapy with established immunotherapies to convert “cold” tumours into “hot” responders. Backing from South Korea’s KDDF and partner Hanlim Pharma brings up to two million dollars in non‑dilutive support focused on oesophageal cancer and the development of an IV formulation. With both topical and IV routes, the platform can map to diverse clinical settings and multiple tumour types. A major strategic shift came with Invion’s perpetual, exclusive global licence to the Photosoft™ platform. That move removes a long‑standing overhang, giving us the freedom to set indication priorities, simplify global partnerships, and negotiate clean commercial pathways. Under the hood, the science uses glucose conjugates to exploit the Warburg effect, letting sugar‑hungry tumours absorb the compound across a range of cancers. Beyond human oncology, our partnership with Protect Animal Health pushes a parallel pet oncology program that can reach companion animal trials faster, potentially generating earlier revenue and translational insights. We close with a clear look at the next 12–18 months: continued recruitment and readouts in skin cancer, regulatory steps and initiation milestones with Peter Mac, preclinical efficacy and formulation updates in oesophageal cancer, and progress across companion animal studies. With recent capital raised and R&D facilities in place, plus non‑dilutive partner funding, the runway supports a steady cadence of data. If you’re tracking precision oncology, immune priming, and platform therapeutics, this is a roadmap worth following. Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share with a friend who follows biotech, and leave a quick review to tell us which upcoming catalyst you’re watching most.

    12 min
  3. 2D AGO

    EVE HEALTH GROUP LTD (EVE) - Rethinking Drug Delivery To Unlock Access, Adherence, And Global Growth

    Send a text A stubborn truth in healthcare is that the right treatment can still be the wrong format. We sit down with Damien Wood, CEO of EVE Health Group, to unpack how rethinking delivery—gummies for period pain and rapid oral films for ED—can remove friction, speed relief, and improve adherence across everyday conditions that carry massive personal and economic costs. We start with Dyspro, a cannabinoid-based chewable designed for dysmenorrhea. It addresses a problem that drains billions from productivity and quality of life, yet is under-treated with options many find harsh or inconvenient. Then we dig into Libbo, an oral soluble vardenafil film that dissolves in seconds, works in about 15 minutes, and avoids first-pass metabolism. The result is a discreet, water-free option that fits real-world behaviour, supported by telehealth consultations, e-scripts, and home delivery through StiffIssue.com and partner clinics. The conversation widens to strategy. We explore Australia-first launches, TGA pathways for export, and why alcohol-free formulations unlock the Middle East and North Africa, where cultural fit and regulation matter. With higher ED price points across MENA, partnerships and local distributors create a pragmatic route to scale. Damien also lifts the hood on Eve’s core capability: solubilising water-insoluble drugs to improve bioavailability and recast known actives into films, sprays, and topicals. As the patent cliff hits, this opens a pipeline where better formats can drive better adherence, particularly for older adults and anyone managing polypharmacy or swallowing issues. By the end, you’ll see how delivery science, digital access, and cultural insight combine into a playbook for growth: expand adoption at home, target markets where differentiation matters, and licence where partners can move faster. If healthcare should feel simpler, faster, and more human, this is a roadmap worth watching. Enjoy the episode, then follow and share your thoughts—what format would make your own care easier? Subscribe and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

    13 min
  4. FEB 5

    EQUUS ENERGY LTD (EQU) - From Listing To Landmark Deal: How Equus Plans To Power WA And Asia

    Send us a text A newly listed small cap with a giant resource, a blue-chip funding partner, and a market hungry for reliable gas—this conversation with Equus Energy’s Will Barker gets right to the heart of how strategic timing can transform a project into a regional anchor. We unpack the Equus Gas Project on Western Australia’s Northwest Shelf, a mature, independently certified 2C contingent resource of 1.7 TCF of gas plus condensate, located alongside Gorgon, Io‑Jansz, Pluto and Scarborough. With over US$1.5 billion already invested in appraisal and studies, Equus now targets existing infrastructure to compress timelines and reduce development risk, aiming to supply both LNG backfill and domestic gas. Will explains how Equus’s current valuation implies around 24 cents per barrel of oil equivalent—far below several offshore peers with smaller certified resources—setting up a potential re-rating if the team delivers milestones. A key driver is a landmark arrangement with Alcoa, Western Australia’s largest gas buyer, providing over US$30 million in staged funding to advance feasibility, commercial work, partner selection and offtakes. This is not debt or prepayment; it’s a strategic commitment that secures exclusivity over Equus’s domestic gas obligation and signals confidence from a major industrial customer at a time when WA faces a looming gas shortfall. We also dive into the roadmap ahead: completing feasibility, updating economics, launching a structured partnering process, selling down at the project level to bring in an operator with balance sheet strength, and progressing gas offtake and infrastructure agreements. For listeners tracking ASX energy, LNG backfill, and domestic gas security, this is a clear, data-rich look at how a 100% owned resource can be transformed into long-term supply for Asia and Australia. If you value grounded strategy, real milestones, and market timing, you’ll find plenty to analyse here. Enjoy the conversation, then follow and subscribe—leave a quick review to tell us what milestone you’re watching next.

    10 min
  5. JAN 20

    PACIFIC EDGE LTD (PEB) - How Pacific Edge Is Rewriting Bladder Cancer Diagnostics With Cxbladder And Triage Plus

    Send us a text A pee-in-a-cup that can change urology care might sound too simple, but that’s exactly the point. We sit down with Dr Peter Meintjes, CEO of Pacific Edge, to explore how Cxbladder turns a urine sample into decisive signals that help rule out bladder cancer, reduce invasive cystoscopies, and save health systems money without cutting corners on accuracy. We walk through how the test works, why choosing RNA from urine is such a technical leap, and how a stabilising buffer keeps samples viable at room temperature for up to 11 days. Then we dig into Cxbladder Triage Plus, a multimodal upgrade that blends RNA and DNA with advanced algorithms. With stronger performance and a US Medicare price of USD 1,328, Triage Plus is positioned to deliver real-world savings by avoiding unnecessary scopes and scans while giving clinicians clearer answers for patients with hematuria. Reimbursement drives adoption, so we unpack the pathway with Novitas, the Medicare contractor, following inclusion in the American Urological Association guideline. Peter explains the evidence framework—analytical validation, clinical validation, and clinical utility—that underpins coverage decisions, and why a new local coverage determination could reset the company’s US strategy. We also cover capital discipline after coverage loss, the send-out testing model across Australia and Southeast Asia, and the longer-term plan to simplify the assay into an IVD kit that partner labs can run closer to patients. We close with a practical look ahead: restoring Medicare coverage, charting a return to profitable operations, and fully resourcing high-priority projects. If you care about cancer diagnostics, health economics, and how evidence shapes access, this conversation offers a clear map of the science, the policy, and the commercial levers at play. Enjoy the episode, share it with a colleague, and subscribe to get the latest updates—then tell us what part of this strategy you want to hear more about next.

    16 min
  6. 12/22/2025

    ABX GROUP LTD (ABX) - Heavy Rare Earths, Clean Fluorine, Near-Term Bauxite

    Send us a text Critical minerals move fast when geology, chemistry and execution align. We sit down with Dr Mark Cooksey, Managing Director and CEO of ABx Group, to unpack how the company plans to bring heavy rare earths and clean fluorine chemicals to market while capturing value from proven bauxite assets. First, we break down why ABx’s Tasmanian ionic clay resource matters: cleaner leaching, fewer process steps and a mixed rare earth carbonate with higher proportions of dysprosium and terbium, the workhorses behind high‑temperature permanent magnets. Mark explains how collaboration with ANSTO strengthens metallurgy from bench to larger test scales, and how a new exploration licence in northern Tasmania bridges existing leases, supports resource growth and deepens understanding of the geological controls behind the ionic clay system. We then shift to fluorine. With fluorspar supply tightening and fluorine recognised as a critical input for semiconductors, fluoropolymers and refrigerants, ABx is developing a process to convert a surplus aluminium smelter byproduct into hydrogen fluoride. The pilot plant at Bell Bay, Tasmania, leased within a Rio Tinto facility, is designed for fast learning: build over the next six months, then run to generate performance data and samples for customers. Alongside, ABx advances bauxite projects through agreements with GII in Queensland and New South Wales, progressing environmental approvals and option studies, while a smaller Tasmanian bauxite operation targets early 2026. Across the conversation, Mark lays out clear FY26 priorities: finalise metallurgy and engineering for a right‑sized rare earths start‑up, advance commercial talks for premium MREC, complete and operate the fluorine pilot, and drive bauxite approvals toward near‑term cash flow. If you care about heavy rare earths, fluorine supply chains, and practical, local execution in Australia, this is a timely look at where the market is heading and how ABx plans to lead. If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can discover it.

    9 min
  7. 12/04/2025

    CHIMERIC THERAPEUTICS LTD (CHM) - Cancer Cell Therapy Breakthroughs

    Send us a text A tiny dose that holds cancer at bay for a year, scans that turn solid tumours into “donuts,” and a bold trial where patients receive cell therapy before chemo—this conversation with Dr Rebecca McQualter, CEO of Chimeric Therapeutics, is packed with data and real-world impact. We dig into the CHM CDH17 CAR T program as it clears dose level two with clean safety and early signs of activity across colorectal, mid and hindgut neuroendocrine, and select pancreatic cancers. The durability story stands out: a patient on the lowest dose maintained stable disease for 12 months with detectable CAR T cells and no further treatment, trading chemo sessions for time with family and a long-postponed trip to the Redwoods. We also unpack the CHM Core NK platform for blood cancers, an off-the-shelf approach with a unique frontline design at MD Anderson Cancer Center. By delivering engineered NK cells first and chemotherapy second in frail, high-risk AML patients, the study is seeing three complete responses and one partial response trending to complete, alongside stronger persistence signals. For clinicians and investors, this sequencing could reshape how frontline care is conceived when transplant isn’t an option, offering a path that prioritises efficacy while preserving patient resilience. On strategy, we talk portfolio breadth and focus: four clinical-stage programs, yet concentrated execution on the first-in-class CHM CDH17 asset where unmet need and market potential intersect. With only five patients left to finish phase one, FDA-cleared phase one/two mechanics to accelerate, and active partnering underway for phase two, the near-term roadmap is clear. We close with how a lean team, refreshed board, and disciplined spend power complex cell therapy programs without losing sight of the person behind each data point. If you care about CAR T innovation, NK cell persistence, and rethinking cells-before-chemo in AML, this is your next listen. Subscribe, share with a friend who follows oncology, and leave a quick review to tell us what you want answered next.

    8 min
  8. 12/02/2025

    ZOONO GROUP LTD (ZNO) - How A Dry-Active Antimicrobial Turned Food Trays Into Profit Machines

    Send us a text A boom, a backlash, and a pivot with teeth—this conversation traces how Zoono Group turned a pandemic-era hygiene surge into a durable, data-backed strategy to cut food waste and boost supermarket margins. We unpack the science behind a dry-active antimicrobial coating that bonds to packaging, survives heat and storage, and delivers a mechanical kill through cell disruption. The result is a protective surface that prolongs freshness, reduces shrink, and moves retailers from cost-centre thinking to a measurable return on investment. We walk through the road from lab to store shelf: multi-year regulatory and safety validation in the UK, proof-of-concept with Marks & Spencer across soft fruit categories, and the durability tests required for real-world packaging lines. Then come the commercial wins—Sharpak in the UK, Mpact in South Africa, and Multisteps in Australia—adding up to roughly $50 million in contracted sales over five years. The economics are striking: one extra day on 150 million punnets of raspberries can save an estimated £11 million, while coating those trays costs about £1 million. For packaging suppliers, the technology becomes a point of difference; for retailers, it’s a direct line to less waste and stronger margins. We also touch on capital discipline—remaining debt-free, fully subscribed rights issues, and guidance to return to profit by year-end. Looking ahead, we explore growth in Asia and India, including trials on bananas and mangoes, and the network effects that could take the UK model into Europe at larger scale. If you care about food waste reduction, packaging innovation, or the business of fresh produce, this is a clear-eyed look at how a durable antimicrobial platform can create value across the supply chain. Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, share it with a colleague in retail or packaging, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.

    12 min

About

Welcome to 'ASX BRIEFS,' the definitive podcast for enthusiasts, investors, and professionals keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Hosted by Andrew Musgrave, 'ASX BRIEFS' delves deep into the heart of Australia's financial markets, bringing you insightful conversations with the minds shaping the future of investing down under. Each episode, join Andrew as he interviews a diverse lineup of fund managers, executives, and industry insiders, offering you a unique blend of expert analysis, strategic insights, and the latest trends affecting the ASX. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, 'ASX BRIEFS' is your go-to source for comprehensive updates and thought-provoking discussions designed to inform, inspire, and empower your investment journey. Tune in to 'ASX BRIEFS' and take the pulse of Australia's financial markets right at your fingertips.

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