Rodman sees higher small-cap biotech valuations

Citing the proposed acquisition of Anadys Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ANDS) by Roche (NASDAQ: RHHBY) at a 260% premium, Rodman & Renshaw figures that Pharma’s strong balance sheet and expiring patents on blockbuster drugs “bring together the perfect storm of factors could lead to higher small-cap biotechnology valuations.” The Roche-Anadys acquisition highlights the “increasing appetite of pharmaceutical companies [...]

Paladin eyes Mexico and Brazil for expansion

Pharmaceutical distributor Paladin Labs (TSX:PLB) has set its sights on moving into Mexico and Brazil as it continues its strategy of expanding internationally to complement its growth in Canada. “I would like to be in more geographies, and we’re keenly interested in Mexico and Brazil and looking to do something there,” CEO Jonathan Goodman says [...]

Genoptix accepts takeover bid from Novartis

San Diego-based Genoptix (NASDAQ: GXDX) has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Novartis, which will begin an all cash tender offer for Genoptix at a price of $25 a share or a total of about $470 million. The transaction implies, on a fully-diluted basis, an enterprise value of $330 million. The offering price represents [...]

In conversation with Dr. Simon Pimstone

As CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Simon Pimstone and his partners have led the closely held Vancouver company on a journey of developing novel drugs that target genetically defined targets.  By studying genes responsible for rare and inherited diseases, Xenon figures they represent highly validated intervention points for new medicines.  In other words, going from [...]

YM reshuffles the Cytopia deck

YM BioSciences (AMEX:YMI; TSX:YM) got more than it bargained for with its recent acquisition of Australia’s Cytopia. “When we were buying the company, our sole interest was in CYT997, Cytopia’s lead vascular disrupting agent (VDA),” CEO David Allan told biotuesdays.com in an exclusive interview.  VDAs, which can disrupt the blood flow that feed tumours, became [...]