Whilst the index has traded within a tight 10% range, between Monday 13 April to Friday 24 April, several individual stocks have recorded significant gains during the period including, but not limited to, Omega Diagnostics (ODX ), Genedrive (GDR ) and Avacta (AVCT ).

Whilst these companies make up less than 15% of the index, in the last week alone Omega, Genedrive and Avacta have seen their share prices gain 33%, 42% and 47% respectively.

Its worth noting that whilst there were three double digit fallers in the index last week - namely Modern Water, Novacyt SAS and Fusion Antibodies - However, these stocks were retreating from all time highs in some cases and as with any other index, profit taking should be expected.

Outside the healthcare sector, GFINTY (GFIN ) and Dev Clever (DEV ) recorded the largest gains with their share prices increasing 46% and 29% respectively.

Special mention this week must go to out smallest constituent, React Group that saw its shares soar 75% following its trading update stating they are trading ahead of market expectations and are experiencing a period of high demand to provide decontamination and infection control services for premises thought to be harbouring COVID-19.

It’s worth investor noting that the Company’s proprietary components and methodologies eliminates all traces of the virus and can provide ATP testing to confirm and certify a site is clear for safe operational use. 

Joiners

Kromek (KMK ) Mkt Cap; £69.77m
We are adding Kromek following news it now intends to commence the manufacture and sale of medical ventilators in the UK and globally under license from Metran Co., Ltd ("Metran"), a Japan-based leading developer of medical ventilator products and technology, to support the COVID-19 response. 
 
For over 30 years, Metran has specialised in the development and manufacture of respiratory equipment, and it is Japan's leading ventilator manufacturer. Its ventilators offer an effective solution to the current crisis where ventilators need to be manufactured rapidly to meet public health demands. 

4d Pharma (DDDD )  Mkt Cap; £35.37m
We are adding 4d Pharma following news it has received expedited acceptance from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to commence a Phase II study of MRx-4DP0004 in patients with COVID-19. 
 
MRx-4DP0004 is an orally administered, single-strain Live Biotherapeutic currently in a Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of patients with partly controlled asthma. To date, 20 patients have been dosed, with no drug related serious adverse events. In preclinical studies the Company has previously shown that MRx-4DP0004 is able to significantly reduce lung inflammation and impact particular immune cell types and pathways which have more recently been implicated in the hyperinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.