Highline Research Advisors Initiates on Columbia Laboratories, Inc. with a Buy Rating

 

SAN FRANCISCO - February 25, 2015 -Michael Higgins from Highline Research Advisors, part of Financial Entrepreneur Platform at Merriman Capital, Inc. ("Merriman"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Merriman Holdings, Inc. MERR, announced today that Highline has initiated equity research coverage of Columbia Laboratories, Inc. CBRX with a Buy rating and a $14.00 price target. 
 
Columbia Labs is a profitable specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products to address the healthcare needs of women. Since 1986, Columbia has been successful in developing novel drug delivery platforms, resulting in FDA approval of six therapies. Today the company's leading pharmaceutical product is Crinone, a gel containing progesterone to aid in the treatment of infertility, producing royalty revenues to the company from 60+ countries, including the US. In 2013 the company acquired Molecular Profiles Ltd, a profitable molecular analytics company with manufacturing expertise. MP continues to operate independently, while Columbia leverages this subsidiary's drug formulation scientists to internally develop pipeline candidates. As a cash-flow positive company, Columbia has a strong balance sheet and no debt. Which means Columbia is generating R&D from the revenue of currently marketed products rather than diluting shareholders to fund the pipeline's growth. The company expects to combine its drug delivery platform with MP's 18 year history in molecular characterization to generate a pipeline without having to raise capital or rely on business development strategies. MP has become invaluable to companies interested in defending and extending their brands' lifecycles. Columbia is headquartered in Boston, while Molecular Profiles continues to operate from its recently expanded facilities in Nottingham, UK.

FOR FULL REPORT AND IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES PLEASE CONTACT Michael Higgins at mhiggins@highlineresearchadvisors.com or (917) 903-5254 and/ or Adriana Piltz at apiltz@merrimanco.com or (646) 292-1424.

About Highline Research Advisors
Highline Research Advisors is an institutional investment banking group providing premium services to leading companies in the healthcare sector. We offer the full spectrum of investment banking services, including financings, equity research, M&A and advisory services to clients across the full range of market capitalizations, from start-ups to Big Pharma companies. Our focus is on providing differentiated, high value added services to companies led by high quality management teams.
 
About Merriman Capital, Inc.
Merriman Capital, Inc. is a full service investment bank and Broker-Dealer that facilitates efficient capital formation through a proprietary digital network, and offers Corporate Services Advisory and comprehensive Corporate Brokerage services for public and private companies. The firm also provides equity and options execution services for sophisticated investors and differentiated research for high growth companies. Merriman Capital, Inc. is a wholly owned brokerage subsidiary of Merriman Holdings, Inc. MERR and is a leading advisory firm for publicly traded, high-growth companies.
 
Digital Capital Network, powered by Merriman Capital, is a capital marketplace that enables highly targeted and more efficient execution of transactions. Please visit our website for more information on how you can be a part of our Digital Capital Network: http://www.digitalcapitalnetwork.com.  Digital Capital Network, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merriman Holdings, Inc.  All operations on the Digital Capital Network are currently being executed by Merriman Capital, Inc.
 
Merriman Capital, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer and member of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) http://www.finra.org/ and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) http://www.sipc.org/.
Note to Investors
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2014. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2014, together with this press release and the financial information contained herein, are available on our website, www.merrimanco.com. Please click on "Investor Relations."

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At Merriman:
Michael Higgins
Highline Research Advisors
(917) 903-5254
 
Adriana Piltz
Director of Research
Merriman Capital, Inc.
(646) 292-1424
 
Howard Bernstein
Chief Compliance Officer
Merriman Capital, Inc.
(415) 262-1377

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