Woodford finally closes chapter on failed Vernalis investment Neil Woodford’s eponymous Patient Capital Trust (WPCT) will have to look forward to receiving just £1.8m for the 30.6m shareholding – acquired in 2015 for £18.5m – in Vernalis, the UK biotech whose failed endeavour to break into the US cough/cold market led to it being put up […]
Syncona remains at high premium and highly geared to Autolus Syncona (SYNC)‘s shares have been the second best performer this year among the 14 biotech investment trusts monitored by Marten & Co, rising by 24.5% in the first seven months to end July. However, the trust’s NAV has only gained 8.7% in the period and […]
Trust favourite Alnylam approaches key FDA decision Biotech trust stock favourite Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ALNY) should find out later this week whether the FDA will grant approval to its first product, Onpattro (patisiran), for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (or hATTR). In this case, unusually, there is relatively little concern that Onpattro may not receive US approval and the […]
IBT backed Regeneron teams up with Bluebird on T cell cancer therapies US top tier biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) is to make a $100m equity investment at a 59% premium in the gene therapy pioneer Bluebird Bio, as part of a newly established collaboration to develop and commercialise novel immune cell therapies for cancer. Regeneron is […]
Arix leads first VIPE into Pharmaxis LSE-quoted life science investor Arix Bioscience (ARIX) is to acquire an 11% interest in Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS) in its first VIPE or venture investment in public equity. Arix led a A$24m placing in the Australian biotech, in which it will invest A$14.2m for a 11% holding. This will mean the […]
Trust favourite Neurocrine’s shares rise on strong Ingrezza report Neurocrine Biosciences (Nasdaq: NBIX), the US biotech that is the largest single holding for International Biotechnology Trust (IBT, 5.5% of NAV) and second largest for BB Biotech (BBB.S, 8.9% of NAV), has seen its share rise by more than 15% this week on the back of a strong […]
Arix remains highly geared to Autolus value Arix Bioscience’s 8% investment in Autolus Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AUTL), the recently floated second-generation CAR-T company, now accounts for more than half of the value of its investments, some 25% of its NAV and almost 30% of its stockmarket value, according to calculations by Marten & Co. Arix is by far […]
HBM sees best share price performance in YTD period London-listed HBM Healthcare (HBMN) recorded the best share price price performance so far this year of the 14 biotech specialist investment trusts monitored by Marten & Co, with a 25% rise in the seven months to end July. HBM’s share price outstripped growth in NAV, which […]
Puretech Health affiliate Karuna raises $42m Karuna Pharmaceuticals, a neuroscience unit of LSE-listed healthcare venture firm Puretech Health (LSE: PRTC), has completed a $42m Series A financing comprising the issue of $20m of new equity and $22m on conversion of debt. Participants in the financing included Arch Venture Partners, Wellcome Trust, Dr Steven Paul (a Karuna board […]
Autolus jumps to top position in Woodford Patient Capital Trust Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT)’s stake in Autolus, the UK second generation CAR-T therapy company, rose by six places to top position in the portfolio in June, according to WPCT’s latest factsheet. The rise reflects Autolus’ recent IPO, which was priced at a valuation considerably above […]