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| Neil Woodford |
When Neil Woodford jumped ship at Invesco to start up two new funds of his own, he was hailed as a major figure in finance who could help revive the U.K.'s promising but underfunded biotech sector. Today, though, he's feeling the heat as the great biotech plunge over the last 5 months has pounded share value mercilessly. "The net asset value has taken a bit of a hammering because of the setback in markets that's been felt perhaps most significantly in the biotech sector where there's been some really big price corrections," Woodford tells FinancialNews. Woodford has also been accused of making some bad investments, particularly in the controversial case of Northwest Bio ($NWBO). The financier has invested £141 million in the troubled Northwest, which is now worth about £40 million. Story
@FierceBiotech: Kellogg researchers shine light on new anti-cancer nanoparticle. More from FierceBiotechResearch | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: "Woodford's 2 funds have invested a combined £141M in Northwest since 2014." now worth about £40M. More | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: this is Damien Hirst's new restaurant. More | Follow @DamianFierce
> Raleigh-based NephroGenex ($NRX) has halted clinical work on a new diabetic nephropathy drug as it looks to restructure, possibly through a reverse merger. MTS Health Partners has been brought in to advise the biotech. The company has about $11.5 million in cash. Release
> Sobi is launching two new studies of Kineret for acute gout and Still's disease. Release
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI yesterday: ResMed to offer its customers software-based services thanks to $800M purchase of Brightree. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@StacyALawrence: ICYMI: Philips unveils wearable, wireless vitals patch that goes from hospital to home. Report | Follow @StacyALawrence
@EmilyWFierce: Two Texas hospitals said that they've developed a rapid test for Zika. More from Reuters | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Google's Verily, Dexcom aim to launch mini glucose monitor in 2018, with next-gen by 2021. Story
> FDA asks hospitals to stop using Custom Ultrasonics' recalled duodenoscope reprocessor. More
> Israeli PolyPid raises $22M for clinical trials of anti-infective surgical products. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Bayer sees its new Kovaltry as one arrow in a hemophilia quiver. FiercePharmaMarketing story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: EMA takes aim at another China API producer with manufacturing problems. More from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Allergan pooh-poohs threat from Shire's prospective dry-eye drug. FiercePharmaMarketing story | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Werner Baumann takes top Bayer job May 1 as Marijn Dekkers exits. News
> Zepatier beats Harvoni, Sovaldi in hep C clinical-data safety showdown: Advera Health Analytics. Article
Biotech Research News
> Kellogg researchers shine light on new anticancer nanoparticle. More
> BU researchers: Key enzyme in a pathway of T-cell leukemia offers a new target. Report
> Juno scientific co-founder Stan Riddell adds another upgrade to CAR-T. Story
> Protein engineering program at Ohio State modulates heart contraction in mice. Item
> Scripps team spotlights a new lupus drug target. Article
Vaccines News
> Philippines' immunization program for Sanofi's Dengvaxia set to start in April. More
> Inovio says Zika vaccine shows promise in mice and shoots for human trial by year-end. Report
> Mitsubishi Tanabe's tobacco-based flu jab to enter late-stage trials this year. Story
> Researchers create first 3-D 'map' of malaria parasite protein. Item
> Brazil funds dengue vaccine PhIII, report says. Article
Pharma Marketing News
> Allergan pooh-poohs threat from Shire's prospective dry-eye drug. Report
> Bayer sees its new Kovaltry as one arrow in a hemophilia quiver. Story
> Will pharma advertisers pay the price for Google's pared-down search pages? More
> WebMD sees rapid online and mobile growth in pharma ads, with more to come. Article
> Side-effects analysis gives Merck's new hep C med Zepatier an edge over older drugs. Item