Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat: BioLineRx is an Israeli company working in several health areas. What’s your take on the company, Pat? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: BioLineRx (ADR), $1.12, symbol BLRX on Nasdaq (ADRs outstanding: 104.1 million; Market cap: $118.0 million; www.biolinerx.com), is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that aims to identify, license and develop promising therapeutic medications and treatments. It’s based in Israel. The company licenses the new drug compounds developed by academic institutions and biotech companies based in Israel; it then takes them through the pre-clinical and clinical trial stages before partnering with pharmaceutical companies. Together they work on advanced clinical development and commercialization. BioLineRx believes that its close ties with universities, research institutes, academic institutions and biotechnology companies in Israel and around the world give it access to promising projects at an early stage. Early-stage biotech firms entail considerable risk. But BioLineRx cuts that risk by working with major pharmaceutical companies when its therapies require significant funding. The company’s balance sheet is very sound: it has almost no debt; and it holds cash of $35.6 million, or $0.34 a share. BioLineRx also uses up its cash…