Syncona Share News (SYNC)

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

TRADING UPDATES: Augmentum Fintech makes further investment in Tide

(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

IN BRIEF: Syncona announces takeover offer for Freeline Therapeutics

Syncona Ltd - London-based investor in healthcare companies - Says Syncona Investment Management Ltd has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire the entire remaining share capital of Freeline Therapeutic Holdings PLC. Offers upfront cash consideration of USD5.00 per American depository share, representing a 20% premium over the USD4.16 volume weighted average price from October 4 to October 16. Syncona currently owns around 57.9% of shares in Stevenage, England-based Freeline, which it co-founded in 2015. Freeline aims to develop gene therapies to treat chronic diseases, most notably its potentially "transformative" FLT201 programme to treat Gaucher disease.

Syncona says Freeline and SwanBio clinical trails make progress

(Alliance News) - Syncona Ltd on Wednesday said its portfolio company Freeline Therapeutics Holdings PLC has received positive initial safety, tolerability and enzyme activity data from its FLT201 trial for the treatment of Gaucher disease.

IN BRIEF: Syncona launches GBP40 million share buyback programme

Syncona Ltd - London-based investor in healthcare companies - Launches share buyback programme worth up to GBP40.0 million, to be conducted by Numis Securities Ltd. Says core focus remains on allocating capital to portfolio companies' assets. However the buyback is necessary due to Syncona's shares currently trading at a discount to net asset value, which was 184.6 pence per share at June 30. Says buyback will not affect investments into clinical stage assets planned for the next 24 months. Company expects that capital deployment into portfolio and pipeline will total between GBP150 million and GBP200 million for the year ending March 31, in line with prior guidance. Chair Melanie Gee says Syncona "has a high level of confidence in our portfolio and its valuation".

Syncona shares slump as Novartis ends eye treatment development

(Sharecast News) - Syncona shares fell as the UK healthcare investment firm said Novartis had stopped the development of experimental eye treatment, GT005, resulting in milestone payments write-off of £54.5m for Gyroscope Holdings in which Syncona once held a 54% stake.

Syncona suffers negative valuation hit as Novartis discontinues GT005

(Alliance News) - Syncona Ltd on Monday said it has been informed by Swiss-American pharmaceutical company Novartis AG that the development of eye treatment, GT005, for geographic atrophy secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration will be discontinued.

LONDON BRIEFING: Restaurant Group sells Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are called higher on Monday, ahead of a busy week of interest rate decisions and economic data.

IN BRIEF: Syncona notes clinical progress of portfolio firm Freeline

Syncona Ltd - London-based healthcare investor - Notes second quarter results announcement from its Nasdaq-listed portfolio company Freeline Therapeutics Holdings PLC. Says the key highlights include Freeline completing the dosing in the first dose cohort of the phase 1/2 trial of FLT201 in Gaucher disease, following dosing of the second patient. Says initial clinical data from the FLT201 trial is expected in the second half of 2023. Also says Freeline has a cash position of USD38.8 million at June 30 compared to USD55.4 million on March 31, which Freeline expects will enable the company to fund its planned operations into the second quarter of 2024. Freeline says net income in the three months that ended June 30 narrowed to USD14.8 million from USD51.1 million a year earlier.

IN BRIEF: Syncona says net asset value slips 1% in first quarter

Syncona Ltd - London-based healthcare investor - Net asset value at June 30 is 184.6 pence per share, down 1.0% from 186.5p on March 31. NAV total return also was negative 1.0% for the recent three months, Syncona's financial first quarter. Notes performance was hurt by "negative foreign exchange movements" across its life science portfolio. This is valued at GBP628.7 million on June 30, up 4.0% from GBP604.6 million on March 31.

Syncona reports slight dip in net assets

(Sharecast News) - Healthcare investor Syncona reported a slight dip in net assets in its quarterly update on Thursday, to £1.24bn, down from £1.26bn at the end of March.

IN BRIEF: Syncona's portfolio Achilles Therapeutics net loss narrows

Syncona Ltd - Healthcare company focused on developing its life science portfolio - Notes its portfolio company Archilles Therapeutics PLC's net loss in its second quarter ended June 30 narrows 2.9% to USD16.8 million, from USD17.3 million year-on-year. Cash and cash equivalents are "strong", standing at USD143.7 million on June 30, down 17% from USD173.3 million on December 31. Research & development expenses increase are USD13.8 million, down 6.8% from USD14.8 million at the same point the year prior. Archilles Therapeutics's general & administrative expenses were USD4.3 million, down 26% from USD5.8 million the year before, driven by a change in cost allocations and lower professional fees.

UK shareholder meetings calendar - next 7 days

Syncona net asset value falls as cites economic uncertainty, inflation

(Alliance News) - Syncona Ltd on Thursday reported a lower net asset value per share at the end of March amid a "challenging" backdrop for the biotechnology companies, citing inflation and economic uncertainty.

LONDON BRIEFING: Stocks set lower after US Fed decision, ahead of ECB

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London were set to open lower on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve paused its interest rate hikes but indicated that more will follow this year.