Malin achieves small increase in fair value of investments Dublin-listed biotech VC investor Malin (ISE:MLC) achieved a marginal increase in the fair value of its investment portfolio in the first half of 2018, with gains on its four largest investments set against write-downs on smaller ones. This fair value, which was struck in accordance with […]
BB-backed Ionis approaches key regulatory events Ionis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IONS), a key shareholding for BB Biotech (10.9% of NAV) and several other specialist investment vehicles, is approaching a number of important regulatory events. In particular, these include the outcome of the FDA review for Waylivra, which has a deadline at the end of this month. Waylivra has been developed […]
FDA sets Feb target review date for IBT-backed Stemline Therapeutics The US FDA has accepted Stemline Therapeutics (Nasdaq:STML)’s filing for Elzonris (tagraxofusp) for review for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an extremely rare haematological cancer, and with priority review, the agency has set itself a PDUFA target action date of 21 February 2019 – although […]
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 […]
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 […]
FDA approves BB Biotech backed Agios’ AML drug Tibsovo Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AGIO), a top 10 holding for Switzerland’s BB Biotech (BBB), has received US FDA approval for Tibsovo for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (r/r AML) with a specific IDH1 mutation. Agios, which has seen its shares rise by ~50% this year, accounted for […]
HBM-backed Argenx gets Shire as partner Dutch antibody company Argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq:ARGX), a top ten holding for Swiss-listed HBM Healthcare (HBMN, 2.9% of NAV), has gained a new licensing partner with the exercise by Shire Pharmaceuticals of an option held under a 2012 discovery alliance. The license covers a a preclinical stage antibody discovered and […]