Last checked at 10 Feb 2017 11:10
Crystal Amber Fund Limited - Investment in GI Dynamics IncCrystal Amber Fund Limited - Investment in GI Dynamics Inc
PR Newswire
London, February 10
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR")
10 February 2017
Crystal Amber Fund Limited(“Crystal Amber Fund” or the “Fund”)
Investment in GI Dynamics Inc
The Fund is pleased to announce that it has acquired a further 16.08 per cent. of the issued Chess Depositary Interests (“CDI”) in GI Dynamics Inc (“GI Dynamics”), taking the Fund’s CDI holding in the company to 38.73 per cent.
GI Dynamics is the developer of EndoBarrier, the first minimally invasive device therapy approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. EndoBarrier is a temporary bypass sleeve that is endoscopically delivered to the duodenal intestine, offering similar effects to the surgical gastric bypass. It is CE mark approved and commercially available in Europe and a number of countries outside of the United States.
Founded in 2003, GI Dynamics is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It listed in September 2011 on the Australian Stock Exchange, with a share price of AUS1.10 and market capitalisation of AUS300 million. Following what the Fund considers to be several operational failures by previous management, including a terminated FDA trial, GI Dynamics’ share price currently stands at 2.8c, valuing the company at AUS15.5 million, approximately £9.5 million. Shareholders since listing include Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic Inc.
Since launch, the EndoBarrier therapy has been used in over 3,500 patients worldwide. Multiple independent studies support its safety and efficacy in reducing weight, HbA1c (blood glucose) levels and the need for insulin and other prescribed medications. EndoBarrier stands as a minimally invasive alternative to bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy, which have well documented side effects and safety issues. The wide prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity present a potentially vast market opportunity expected to reach 355 million patients in 2030.
The Fund supports the current management’s strategy to commercialise the device in Europe, initiate a new FDA trial and continue to gather clinical data. This would build on 2016’s successes, including the 300 patient UK trials led by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (“ABCD”) and the data announced from the German registry, which included 243 patients. The company has achieved partial reimbursement in Germany (NUB status 1) and Israel and has received preliminary reimbursement codes in Holland and Switzerland.
The Fund believes that GI Dynamics has a world class technology, addressing an unmet clinical need, with its current share price a function of shareholder disillusionment resulting from past management disappointments.
The Fund, in conjunction with its Investment Adviser, now looks forward to working with the GI Dynamics board to fully capitalise on what the Fund believes is GI Dynamics’ highly scalable potential.
For further enquiries please contact:
Crystal Amber Fund LimitedWilliam Collins (Chairman)Tel: 01481 716 000www.crystalamber.com
Allenby Capital Limited - Nominated AdviserDavid Worlidge/James ThomasTel: 020 3328 5656
Winterflood Investment Trusts - BrokerJoe Winkley/Neil LangfordTel: 020 3100 0160
Crystal Amber Advisers (UK) LLP – Investment AdviserRichard BernsteinTel: 020 7478 9080