Investment Update

RNS Number : 2013Q

Port Erin Biopharma Investments Ltd

14 October 2011

 



14 October 2011

Port Erin Biopharma Investments Limited

("Port Erin" or the "Company")

Investment Update

The Board of Port Erin, a newly formed company focused on investing in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors, is pleased to provide shareholders with its first update in regard to its investing activities. Since the Company's first day of dealings on 15 September 2011, it has made fourteen investments comprising both secondary market dealings and purchases via placings.

Secondary market purchases made to date are as follows:

Astellas Pharma Inc

Amgen Inc

Ariad Pharma Inc

Biogen Idec Inc

GlaxoSmithKline

Gilead Sciences Inc

Eli Lilly & Co

Medivation Inc

Pfizer Inc

Roche Holdings Ag

Sanofi-Aventis

Total secondary market investments: $1,088,083

Participation in placings to date:  

Arrowhead Research Corporation ($400,000)

Plethora Solutions Holdings PLC (£100,000)

Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ($98,998.25)

Arrowhead Research Corporation

Arrowhead Research is a nanomedicine company focused on the preclinical and clinical development of therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and obesity, along with the healing of wounded/diseased tissue. The company acquires proprietary drug platforms, based on market potential, development costs and pipeline synergies, and leverages its expertise and resources to keep development costs relatively low. Each technology asset is housed within its own subsidiary which offers flexibility in regard to financing and value realisation in the event of an exit transaction, whilst allowing operational control to be retain by central management.

Plethora Solutions Holdings PLC

Plethora Solutions Holdings is a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the development, and marketing of products for the treatment and management of urological disorders. The company, either independently, or with a partner, looks to acquire, develop, and market products to bring clinical benefits to patients suffering from urological complaints.

Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Synergy Pharmaceuticals is a development stage biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat gastrointestinal conditions and diseases. The company is currently developing two strong lead compounds; Plecanatide (SP-304) and SP - 333. Plecanatide (SP-304), formerly known as Guanilib, targets GC-C receptors in the GI tract, and is being developed to treat GI disorders. The drug completed a Phase IIa clinical trial in chronic constipation patients in 2010. SP-333 is a second generation drug candidate which targets GC-C receptors in the GI tracts and is being develop to treat ulcerative colitis.

As at the close of play on 12 October 2011, the Company held marketable securities to the value of £1,109,383.64 and cash of £1,434,405.

The Company continues to evaluate further potential investment opportunities and will begin reporting its quarterly NAV updates to the market on 15 December 2011.

Non Executive Chairman, Jim Mellon, commented: "We see real value in the secondary market and continue to assess numerous opportunities we are offered to participate in interesting placings - as always Port Erin is investing where I also am invested on my own account."

For further information, please contact

Libertas Capital Corporate Finance Limited

Sandy Jamieson                                                                                    0207 569 9650

Rivington Street Corporate Finance Limited

Dru Edmonstone/ Jon Levinson                                                               0207 562 3389

 

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