Molecular Partners Up in Trading Debut on Allergan Support

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Molecular Partners AG (MOLN) shares rose on the Swiss companys trading debut, the second-biggest biotechnology offering in Europe since 2007, as Allergan (AGN) Inc. supported the sale.

Molecular Partners put its listing on hold two weeks ago, citing a volatile stock market, and resumed book-building for the offer two days ago. Allergan, the Irvine, California-based drugmaker that funds development of Molecular Partners most advanced eye medicine, supported the IPO with an investment, according to the Swiss company.

U.S. investors are increasingly recognizing the attractiveness of European biotech, said Samir Devani, a health-care analyst at Rx Securities.

The stock rose 4.2 percent from the 22.40-franc offer price in Zurich today, after surging as much as 12 percent. Molecular Partners sold almost 23 percent of its shares, raising about 100 million Swiss francs ($104 million), not counting an over-allotment option, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Investors filter for quality, so maybe the quantity of IPOs is to decline, but the window for companies with proximity to revenues is not closed yet, Navid Malik, a London-based analyst at Cenkos Securities Plc, said by phone.

Christian Zahn, Molecular Partners chief executive officer, declined to disclose Allergans stake in an interview two days ago and said the company is not seeking a takeover.

Another possible Swiss IPO candidate may be biotechnology company NovImmune SA, newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft reported. The company hired Andrew Oakley, former chief financial officer of Actelion (ATLN) Ltd., in March as its CFO.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jan-Henrik Frster in Zurich at jforster20@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Mariajose Vera at mvera1@bloomberg.net James Kraus

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Molecular Partners Up in Trading Debut on Allergan Support

Yale Forms Gender Task Force Amid Scrutiny at Medical School

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Yale Universitys medical school has formed a task force on gender equity amid scrutiny of the handling of a researchers accusation of sexual harassment.

Yale suspended Michael Simons for 18 months as the medical schools cardiology chief last year and mandated he take sexual harassment training after complaints from a postdoctoral associate and her boyfriend, according to the New York Times. The penalty was lighter than recommended by a university committee, drawing criticism from faculty and raising questions about Yales handling of such complaints, the newspaper said.

Clearly there are concerns in the medical school about the work environment, Yale President Peter Salovey said in a Nov. 2 statement. We must -- and will -- deal with inappropriate behavior consistently, no matter what position a person holds.

Yale is among dozens of colleges across the country where students have filed complaints with the U.S. Education Department alleging their schools failed to comply with federal laws to prevent and appropriately respond to campus sexual misconduct. In a resolution reached with the department in 2012, New Haven, Connecticut-based Yale agreed to take a number of steps across the university to improve how it handles and reports allegations of sexual assault.

The latest case involves Annarita Di Lorenzo, a former researcher at the medical school, who received a love letter from Simons, according to the Times. Di Lorenzo lodged a sexual harassment complaint last year, and Frank Giordano, a medical school cardiology professor who was her boyfriend at the time and is now her husband, filed a separate complaint saying Simons retaliated against him professionally, the Times reported.

Yales University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct recommended in a report last year that Simons be removed as cardiology chief and be ineligible for any other top administrative role for five years, according to the Times. Instead Provost Benjamin Polak, who is the final decision maker, lowered the penalty to the 18-month suspension and harassment training, the newspaper said.

Several years ago I briefly pursued by e-mail a colleague who was in a junior but not a subordinate position, Simons wrote in an e-mail, saying he apologized and regrets his action. In no way did I abuse my position at Yale to punish or retaliate against any faculty member.

The committee determined the allegations of retaliation to be unfounded, Simons said.

Yale formed the gender equity task force on Oct. 3 and announced on Oct. 27 that Simons wouldnt be returning as cardiology chief, according to Tom Conroy, a spokesman. Conroy yesterday declined to comment further on the case citing confidentially of the proceedings.

The task force will consider the advancement of women faculty, opportunities for leadership, and aspects of the work environment, Yale said in a Nov. 2 statement.

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Yale Forms Gender Task Force Amid Scrutiny at Medical School

A family feel at COMP-Northwest

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LEBANON Yes, medical school requires long hours of classes and even more hours of independent study, but first-year COMP-Northwest student Whitney Stewart said a big surprise was that its also fun.

I really wish someone would have told me how much fun medical school would be, Stewart told 20 prospective COMP-Northwest students recently.

Up to 50 prospective students visit the campus each month, according to Jeannie Davis, assistant director of admissions.

COMP-Northwest receives applications from 3,000 students and interviews 300 to select the final 106 each year. The average student has a 3.6 college grade point average and scored a 28 on the MCAT.

The college will graduate its first class next spring.

Panelists ate lunch with a group of students and candidly talked about why they chose the new Lebanon college. They also answered questions such as, What is there to do in such a small town?

Then, the applicants took a tour of the campus and had interviews with staff and community members. They also tried on white lab coats and had their individual photos taken, in the event they are accepted into the program.

It is a two-way street prospective students have to like COMP-Northwest, and faculty have to believe the applicant will be a good fit.

Stewart, a married student from Bend, was joined by Jesse Lee from Portland, Phillip Grenz of Salem, Rika Mehndiratta of Portland and Kirsten Walton and Bryce Arnold from small towns in Idaho.

All said COMP-Northwest was a perfect fit for their personalities, and Walton encouraged the prospective students to, find the medical school that fits your personality. Its important that you find a place where you will succeed.

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A family feel at COMP-Northwest

Historty of America 20th Century | Sweet Land of Liberty DVD – Video

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Historty of America 20th Century | Sweet Land of Liberty DVD
Visit http://www.marshallpub.com to order. Sweet Land of Liberty DVD, History of the 20th Century, provides a condensed but thorough insight into the most memorable moments of the 20th Century...

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Historty of America 20th Century | Sweet Land of Liberty DVD - Video