CHICAGO, May 26, 2011—William Blair & Company today announced that Y. Katherine Xu has joined the firm as an analyst on the sell-side healthcare research team, with a focus on biotechnology.
Ms. Xu also published a comprehensive report on therapies in development for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus; in this report, she initiated coverage of three companies—Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ACHN $5.91), Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANDS $1.11), and Inhibitex, Inc. (INHX $3.48) with Outperform ratings—and assumed coverage of three others, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IDIX $4.65; Market Perform), Pharmasset, Inc. (VRUS $98.42; Outperform), and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX $55.81; Market Perform).
Ms. Xu, who will work out of the firm’s New York office, previously was a senior vice president and senior biotechnology analyst at Wedbush Securities, vice president and senior biotechnology analyst at Credit Suisse, and a senior biotechnology analyst at Pacific Growth Equities. She recently was recognized in the 2011 Financial Times/StarMine “World’s Top Analysts” listing as the No. 7 overall stock-picker in the United States in 2010. Before her move to equity research, Ms. Xu was a life sciences investment banker at Petkevich & Partners.
“Katherine is an award-winning veteran with a thorough understanding of the institutional marketplace and the small- and midcap therapeutics companies in the biotechnology sector,” said Bob Newman, manager and director of research. “We are thrilled to have her join our expanding quality-growth research franchise.”
In addition to Ms. Xu, five other William Blair & Company analysts received awards in the 2011 Financial Times/StarMine “World’s Top Analysts” listing. William Blair & Company equity research analysts also received seven “Best on the Street” awards in The Wall Street Journal’s 19th annual analyst survey. The seven awards represent the second-highest total of any firm included in the survey, and William Blair’s “batting average” of .219 (seven awards out of 32 eligible analysts) was the highest of any firm that won five or more awards.
William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a global investment firm offering investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, and private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients. Since 1935, we have been committed to helping clients achieve their financial objectives. As an independent, employee-owned firm, our philosophy is to serve our clients’ interests first and foremost. We place a high value on the enduring nature of our client relationships, the quality of our products and services, and the continuity and integrity of our people. William Blair & Company is based in Chicago, with office locations including Boston; London; New York; San Francisco; Shanghai; Wilmington, Delaware; and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.williamblair.com.
