Don’t Miss White-Hot Baker Bros.’ New Healthcare Picks

aTyr Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:LIFE) is another new addition to the healthcare portfolio of Baker Bros., which holds 2.34 million shares worth $43.25 million as of June 30. aTyr Pharma is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, which uses a set of physiological modulators for the treatment of severe and rare diseases. The shares of aTyr Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:LIFE) have declined by 4.15% since its debut on the stock market on May 8. The medical company reported its second quarter financial results last week, revealing a net loss of $11.10 million or a per share loss of $0.74. Being a clinical-stage company, aTyr Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:LIFE) didn’t report any revenue for the quarter. At the end of the second quarter, the company had total assets worth $153.08 million including cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities worth $147.70 million. aTyr Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:LIFE) shed some light on its current underdevelopment drugs including Resolaris. Its press release added, “Resolaris™, a first-in-class protein therapeutic in adult patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), is currently in an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, with initial results expected in late 2015 or early 2016.  The Company is on track to initiate a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in early onset FSHD patients in the third quarter of 2015.”  Deerfield Management, led by James Flynn, is another healthcare-focused firm with an equity position in aTyr Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:LIFE), of 461,530 shares valued at $8.55 million.

Baker Bros. reported a new equity position in Galapagos NV (ADR) (NASDAQ:GLPG) of 369,276 shares with a market value of $19.02 million. The company has its base in Belgium and it offers target-to-drug discovery technology to different biotechnology companies. Galapagos NV (ADR) (NASDAQ:GLPG) closed its NASDAQ IPO in May with an offering of 7.53 million shares,pulling in approximately $316.7 million from the offering. The biotechnology company has a market cap of $2.37 billion. Filgotinib is one of the primary pipeline products of Galapagos NV (ADR) (NASDAQ:GLPG) and it is working with AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) on the production and commercialization of the drug. Filgotinib is likely to be used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and similar inflammatory diseases. Deerfield Management also holds a large position in Galapagos, holding 642,608 shares valued at $33.09 million, according to its recent 13F filing.

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