Orthocell (ASX:OCC) has joined a cohort of Australian life sciences companies seeking to calm investor nerves over looming US tariff measures, arguing that its business will remain largely untouched even as Washington signals a tougher stance on imported pharmaceuticals.
In an update to the market, the regenerative medicine company said its flagship nerve repair product, Remplir, is not expected to fall within the scope of the proposed Section 232 tariffs, which are aimed at some pharmaceutical imports rather than medical devices.
The company’s reassurance mirrors the tone adopted by other Australian healthcare names, including CSL and Mayne Pharma, which have also sought to downplay the potential fallout from the policy shift.
While details of the tariff regime are still evolving, the early consensus among these companies is that the direct financial impact is likely to be limited, at least in the near term.
Remplir, which is used in peripheral nerve repair, sits outside pharmaceutical pricing frameworks and is therefore unlikely to be captured by measures targeting drug imports.
The company also pointed to its growing footprint in the United States, where around 4,000 Remplir units are already on the market. None of these, it said, would be affected by the proposed tariffs.
The company acknowledged that the policy landscape remains fluid and said it would continue to monitor developments. While companies are publicly projecting confidence, the ultimate scope and enforcement of the tariffs will determine whether that optimism proves justified.