Director dealings: Piers Morgan's spouse ups stake in Verona Pharma

(Sharecast News) - Verona Pharma revealed on Wednesday that chief financial officer Piers Morgan's wife Kayt Morgan had acquired 33,802 ordinary shares in the AIM-listed biotechnology outfit.Morgan's wife purchased the shares on Tuesday at an average price of 59p each, for a total value of £19,943.Following the acquisition, Morgan will have a beneficial interest in the company of 147,009 ordinary shares, representing 0.14% of Verona's issued share capital, and takes the pair's total investment into the company over the last few months to £52,000.Earlier in May, Verona announced the initiation of a phase 2b dose-ranging study evaluating nebulised ensifentrine (RPL554) added on to a long-acting bronchodilator in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on Tuesday.Verona told investors it anticipated reporting data around the end of the year, and beginning phase 3 clinical trials for the indication in 2020.As of 1620 BST, Verona shares had slipped 2.96% to 57.25p. Top Director BuysGeneral Electric Co (GEC)Director name: Ms Risa Lavizzo-MoureyAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 8.72Value: 87,196 British Land Company (BLND)Director name: Mr Chris GriggAmount purchased: 15,072 @ 534.68pValue: £80,587 British Land Company (BLND)Director name: Mr Simon CarterAmount purchased: 7,774 @ 534.68pValue: £41,566 Verona Pharma (VRP)Director name: Mr Piers MorganAmount purchased: 33,802 @ 59.00pValue: £19,943 Top Director SellsChesnara (CSN)Director name: Mr David RimmingtonAmount sold: 26,800 @ 371.00pValue: £99,428 Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT)Director name: Professor Patrick MaxwellAmount sold: 10,173 @ 511.00pValue: £51,984 Whitbread (WTB)Director name: Mr Louise SmalleyAmount sold: 232 @ 4,588.00pValue: £10,644