Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (ENTA)

[willyw]

Well, it's been a brutal few days. : )
One could get discouraged.

In mid june Gilead should get Sov/Vel approved,
and we may get a read out on the Abbvie 2nd gen program by summer....perhaps.
So there may be better days ahead for GILD, and the potential for the Abbvie 2nd gen may improve ENTA's current slump.

Merck has been ruining Gilead's and Abbvie's picnic near term.
What does their long term game look like?

http://www.natap.org/2016/EASL/EASL_38.htm

This is their triple therapy; 8 weeks.
How does it stand up to Gilead's double or triple therapy?
How does it stand up to Abbvie's 8 or 12 week 2nd generation doublet?

Keep in mind.....
These 8 week values are for treatment naives; not even exposure to IFN

Neither Gilead or Abbvie want to lower prices, because they have viable 2nd (or 3rd) gen programs. Maybe Merck doesn't care cause they aren't a long term player (I dunno; I wonder)

I just don't see Merck in this for the long haul; not with what they've got. I don't think they will be able to match Gilead's or Abbvie's efficacy or modest side effects. Other than G-1 Merck's looks like a 12 (or 16) week program. Unknown about genotypes 4-6, cirrhotics or problem subgroups; doesn't look promising to me.


I am also rather uncertain about JNJ.
So many TE patients have been treated with PI's, and Simeprevir is weak on RAVs, and ineffective on G-3. I would be looking for a more effective PI to add to the JNJ program.

Will the current price slide inhibit further development in HCV programs?