Broadwood Capital, a fund managed by Neal C. Bradsher has increased its stake in BioTime, Inc. (NYSEMKT:BTX). According to a filing with the SEC, Broadwood currently holds around 9.52 million shares, up from some 9.02 million revealed in the fund’s latest 13F. The stake is activist by nature and amasses 14.1% of the company’s common stock.
Neal C. Bradsher managed Broadwood Capital manages $468 million in equity portfolio with major emphasis on Healthcare, Consumer Goods and Services sector. Among the notable holdings, Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOR) is worthy of mention. Broadwood holds a $191.21 million position, which contains around 3.30 million shares of the company. Apart from this, Broadwood has investments in Staar Surgical Co. (NASDAQ:STAA), the stake amassing 6.40 million shares, worth $86.68 million and Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ:MNST) with a $84.08 million stake, which involves 1.61 million shares.
BioTime Inc. (NASDAQ:BTX) is a bio-tech company focused on regenerative medicine. This field is fast emerging and BioTime is developing its line of research products like ACTCellerate cell lines, ESpan culture media, HyStem hydrogels, human embryonic stem (hES). BioTime has recently acquired stem cell assets of Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) for its subsidiary Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
To take the investment further, Asterias has already leased 44,000 square feet of space from a company in California; this will house research, development and manufacturing facility for the cell therapy products. Construction is expected to start as early as the second quarter of 2014 so that the production facility meets current good manufacturing practices of US and European regulators.
Another BioTime Inc. (NASDAQ:BTX)’s subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. has recently been awarded a $1.7 Million grant from Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist for developing to help finance the development of OpRegen®, a cell-based therapeutic product in development by Cell Cure for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, according to a press release by the company.