5 Best Australian Stocks to Buy in 2026

4. Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ:KZIA)

Stock Upside Potential: 105.08%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 6

Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ:KZIA) is among the best Australian stocks to buy in 2026. Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ:KZIA) recently strengthened its team and expanded its platform as it works to address unmet needs in the cancer treatment space. On April 15, the company announced the appointment of Sudha Rao as its chief scientific officer.

Rao brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical research and development experience to Kazia, which says this will strengthen its scientific leadership team. Rao is the lead inventor on some 39 international patents.

At Kazia, Rao will lead research and development activities for the company’s drug pipeline. This will involve overseeing the company’s flagship paxalisib program, which is being developed as a therapy for brain cancer, breast cancer, and other oncology indications.

Kazia CEO John Friend said that Rao is a leading breast cancer researcher and translational epigenetics scientist. Notably, Rao came shortly after Kazia said on April 13 that it has licensed a drug development platform from QIMR Berghofer for around $1.39 million.

Separately on April 15, the equity research firm Laidlaw initiated coverage of Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ:KZIA) with a Buy rating and a price target of $25. For this bullish view, Laidlaw pointed to the potential of Kazia’s lead drug candidate paxalisib. The firm cited a Phase 1b study finding that all treated patients demonstrated efficacy. Laidlaw noted that the study is ongoing and expects more results in 2026 and 2027.

Additionally, Laidlaw noted that Kazia and the FDA will meet in Q2 2026 to discuss the next development step for paxalisib in brain cancer. According to the firm, the meeting could lead to Phase 3 study for a standard approval of paxalisib.

Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ:KZIA) is a biotechnology company focused on developing cancer treatments. The company’s product pipeline includes potential therapies for brain cancer, liver cancer, and renal cancer. Kazia Therapeutics aims to address cancer treatment areas underserved by existing therapies.