Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
So I Googled John Galt to see if he might be a real person and I could ask him about the web site. No literary genius I, find that John Galt is probably a pseudonym taken from an Ayn Rand novel. Along with John goes an entire philosophy that might explain his sudden disappearance! If you hear anything let me know. bp
I thought gerntalk was a class act, well run with a fair-minded administrator. There were some great discussions by reasonably patient individuals some quite knowledgeable. Its hard to see why it would disappear with out some short note of explanation or apology. There was a little bit of community there and safety from the drivel of YMB with the exception of a few serious posters. So what now. Its hard to believe that John Galt would just shut off the site, I wonder if anyone knows how to reach him to see what's up? Regards, bp
Gerntalk--Did anyone here follow the gerntalk board. It was quite good but suddenly dissapeared. Any ideas?
Bad news for patients and some investors, possible good news for imetelstat (Geron) and some investors. Regards, bp
Dew, thus far to my knowlege even if normal rhythm is reestablished with catheter based procedures, there is no firm data to suggest that the risk of stroke changes. As curious as this is, suggested explainations have been that perhaps patients continue to have unrecognized periods of asymptomatic atrial fib or the atrial tissue substrate is abnormal enough with other factors such as intrinsic inflammatory cytokines playing a role, that the risk of thromboemboli persists. In patients who have had successful conversion to normal rhythm (by drugs or procedures)higher risk patients (those with comorbid conditions like CHF, hypertension, age >75, diabetes, prior stroke or tia's) are still kept on coumadin. Whether devices like the "Watchman" left atrial appendage occluder or complete removal of the left atrial appendage at the time of procedures like the surgical mini maze will have a beneficial effect is yet to be determined. Short version: procedures like the arctic circler and related procedures are done to control patient symptoms not (as yet) to prevent strokes. The current study is interesting because it might reduce the time (and perhaps level of expertice) required to achieve pulmonary vein isolation. Regards, bp
I am confused, Dr. Abbate's comments specifically mentions Anikara the Novartis IL-1 blocker drug but not the Xoma drug. Yet there were two mouse studies presented, one with Xoma 053 and the other with the on the market Anikara from Novartis, both presentations appeared to be from the same team. The Novartis drug is a once a day the Xoma drug apparently has a much longer T 1/2. Was there any difference in efficacy? The ability to affect reverse remodeling is big. The potential effects on diabetes and inflammatory mediated vascular changes is big. Thoughts?? Regards, bp
Dew, could you please give me the 2 second version of what a 10b5-1 plan is and why such large insider sales wouldn't give one pause. Thanks bp
Major insider sales do not strike a chord of optimism. bp
Thanks to all for your kind replies, they were very helpful to me. bp
These are very impressive pictures. Any sense for the % of patients who respond to therapy? Also can anyone please review the mechanism of action and possibly compare to alternative new therapies e.g. telomerase inhibitors, hedgehog etc?? TIA bp
Dew, from a practical point of view, what does this conversion mean to the minority shareholders? There are now maybe 5-6 million shares in the hands of the minority the rest (?19 million) in the hands of LFB (very rough and approximate numbers based only on memory). If you had to speculate based on the press release and the new corporate presentation (lets see, malaria vaccine--nope, albumin--nope, Alpha 1 antitrypsin--nope, DIC study--nope, Tysabri--nope, undisclosed monoclonal abs--that must be it...) if new stock is to be issued (horrible thought) or maybe they have finally got enough partnership support to go forward, what that might mean for the minority shareholders? In essence the "float" is 6-7 million on the market unless LFB sells some of their shares which is unlikely. GTC is talking like an independent company regarding positive cash flow in 2+ years. Its all been such a disaster, but penny stock inverstors might finally have something to look at. Would that I had just discovered this stock yesterday and not 15 years ago. With so few shares in the hands of the minority stock holders, a benificent LFB could buy the company for say 50--100 (I just dropped that number in there as a suggestion to LFB) million with little complaint from the minority. Could it be that they (GTC), "still believe" and are holding on? It certainly is not so from an insider buyer standpoint, (never has been). They seem to have drawn a breath from the biobetter, biosimiliar legislation. What would you speculate now after this new press release? bp
OT-Can a fellow board member advise me or refer me to a site re the best way to approach online trading? I have had a longstanding broker friend who has changed firms about 4 times in the last 15-20 years and I have followed him each time. He is now at Morgan Stanley and they are charging me what seems like a lot for commissions. I have sought no advice from them re investments so I wonder what I am paying for? Can anyone share experiences and guide me? I do not do a lot of fast trades or turn overs, nor do I do options. I just want an organized statement and a reasonable commission rate. Right now Morgan Stanley charges me 5 cents per share. Recommendations? Thanks bp
Thanks for the correction pharm, its nice to see signs of life out there. I fear I have lost two good friends who now barely talk to me, I suggested they look into this stock years ago. Here is what I continue to see for 2010: actual Atryn sales, resolution with Leo in favor of GTCB, partner for heparin indication and DIC, entry of Fx 7a into clinical testing, possible merger with LFB that finally recognizes intrinsic value of outstanding shares and give value to at least some of the options held by administration. I am perplexed why a disease like septic shock would continue to be treated with human plasma derive products in Europe and Japan in the era of Atryn. bp
Alert, still here staunching the hemorrhage and drinking heavily. Did not Dr. Cox say he expected a conclusion from the Tribunal re Leo case before the end of the year? I wonder if he was being unusually optimistic? Regards, bp
Regarding cancer stem cells and also the importance of telomerase inhibition as a potential therapy that may target them, a site I have really enjoyed and that is also intelligently administered like this one, is gerntalk.com The board discusses the therapies that center around GRN 163L (Geron Corp), a telomerase inhibitor that is lipidated and crosses the cell membrane as well as GRNVAC 1 and VAC 2, a dendtritic cell based vaccine against telomerase. Interim data presented at ASH and ASCO is discussed for phase I study of solid tumor treatment and phase II AML treatment. There is also a lot of up to date info re embryonic stem cell research. As many of you know the Nobel prize in Medicine went to Dr. Eliz Blackwell and her colleague (I can't remember her name, forgive me) for work in identification of the existence and importance of telomeres. Hope you find it interesting if you don't already know about it. Regards, bp
But Dew, Correct me if I am wrong, was there not some mention in the last conference call about the potential (maybe small) of summary judgement? bp
Dew, Recently Geron reported the results of several of their phase one studies utilizing Imetelstat (GRN 163L), a telomerase inhibitor, I know you would be familiar with Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's Nobel prize winning work on telomeres and the notion that cancer stem cells have short telomeres and may be uniquely approachable with telomerase inhibitors of which Imetelstat is one (?the only in clinical trials.) Anyway my question is this. Wading through the usual drek on the YMB I came across two reasonable posters each of which making two astute observations (cjbradely and champion I think were there board names). One was that although the patients in the studies had failed other regimens and radiation where appropriate it appears that they were followed for some time (not clear from the presentation how long) and study data was reported in almost all the patients (that is maybe they didn't die so fast?), is it possible that some unstated mortality effect was present and not enumerated since the study was just a phase I for safety, dosing etc. The other was that one study I think still a phase one had the n increase from 48 to 80 something in Oct and is still ongoing now to terminate in March of 2010. My question is could they be going for some demonstration of clinical effect even though as a phase I it was presumabely structured as a safety and dosing study? Why else double the number of enrollees? Do you have any knowledge of a phase I study that demonstrated efficacy or was modified midstream to try to do so? Maybe I am reading too much into this but it does seem unusual and I wanted to get your take on this. Thanks, bp
Any thoughts about the Xoma IL antagonist?
Re Teva lawsuit. Recent Momenta cc implied some (however small) possibility of a summary judgement in the Dec hearings. Does this new wrinkle make that less likely? bp
Dew, Your observations re LFB and GTCB relationship are very interesting. If a reverse merger were to take place and if the minority shareholders got 2% of equity in a new entity, what would that look like? I have tried to access LFBs home page but it is in French with limited access (possibly because it is a private company). The GTCB "about LFB" press release states something to the effect that LFB has a "turnover" (not a financial term with which I am familiar) of >300 + euros/yr. How would such a company be valued? Perhaps 2% of a big number is not so bad especially if GTCB developemnt goes forward with big money support from the French govt and potential for increasing shareholder value in new entity. Of course GTCBs eventual contribution no matter how big would be diluted by all of LFBs other programs. Can you maybe make some limited projections based on the available data? One would think that since the market for plasma derived AT III is so high in Europe, presumably with no large high quality studies to back its use in DIC, one would think the Europeans would jump at the chance to use an therapeutically similiar (equivalent?, purer?) Atryn instead of plasma derived product, forgive the digression there. Thanks, bp
Can someone kindly give me the short version on RNAi and guide me to a place to learn more about it? Thanks, bp
Dew and PGS thanks for your reply, my memory is not as good as it used to be! Still, curious about DNDN dendritic cell vac vs GERN who also studied prostate Ca a few years ago but decided to go with AML with small data showing prolonged remission in some patients. Sorry for my mix up. bp
If anyone is still hanging around or hanging on, like me, you might find this interesting reading: http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2070&query=home
Thanks for your kind offer. Can you help me understand fundamental differences in approach in the Dendreon vaccine vs. the Geron vaccine using dendritic cell for AML? How does the IP portfolio of each company compare regarding need for license and patent issues? TIA bp
Anyone know if the TCT abstracts are public or is the M 118 data embargoed? Presentation Thursday I think. bp
OT Zipjet, it occurs to me you may not have gotten my PM since it seems I have allowed my iHub "official" membership to lapse so it may not have been transmitted, I probably should renew especially if I get crazy enough to buy any options. In any case it was a thank for your kind offer of assistance. bp
Quick! The options question I asked a day or two ago. Anyone? thanks bp
Agreed! Hospitals will love it (until the government reduces the DRG payment since the cost of care goes down...) bp
I thinks its not so much an issue per procedure but per diagnosis and the pertinent DRG. For example the DRG for a patient with a pulmonary embolus would be fixed and within that reimbursement the hospital would pay for meds, e.g. lovonox, room rate, nursing care, IVs etc. Once the patient is discharged, home lovonox would of course be different. Regards, bp
Given that a presumed finite date exists for approval of MNTA lovonox, each day that passes brings us closer to that approval date (assuming a high likelihood of approval for all the reasons enumerated on this board.) Assuming say >60% chance of approval in the next 6 months (perhaps I have taken some liberties with Dew numbers here), how would board members advise one who wished to buy some options? What do they cost at this stock price going out perhaps six to 12 months. Has anyone taken this approach and care to comment? Thanks in advance, bp
At least for inpatients, doctors will IMHO welcome generic lovonox (at the urging of their bottom line conscious administrators.) For out patients at the urging of the insurance company reviewers. Unless patients say that they are having a problem with the drug do not substitute seems less likely. I agree with Dew. bp
Thanks Dew, Realistically, how soon after approval (assuming approval) will we see sales of generic lovonox? regards, bp
Dew, Would you please comment on the implications of the Mylan Copaxone generic application to the FDA? Seems like they would be on a later timeline than MNTA. Are production methods similiar in cost? On another note you have mentioned that the risk of an "authorized generic" from the company making the propriatary lovonox would be unlikely, but won't they just drop the market price to compete with MNTAs generic version or are production costs that different that they would have difficulty. Thanks and best regards, bp
Kalle, I am surprised to hear your inquiries have not been answered by Tom. Tom is a good and decent person who is in a tough position trying to field the onslaught of questions we all have as we wait for more information and hope for the survival and yes even success of this company. He has always responded to many board members questions as best he could given the information he has as far as I can tell. Give it another try and let us know what he says. Regards, bp
Tom reads this board. I think with Dew as "Grand Inquisitor" it would be much more interesting and revealing with a chance for follow up questions and a "cross examination". Believe me Tom and Dr. Cox have already been asked these questions in writing countless times. bp
Dear Kalle, Nice to see someone trying to inject some life back into this moribund board. Ah in the halcion days it was full of interesting discussion. That there is good and exciting science and pending products that could be represent disruptive technology is not in question. The real issues are whether this company will survive to reap the benefits or will it go under or be acquired. They have burned through fabulous amounts of money with no significant bottom line returns yet. Many of us old timers are way under water with retirement further away than ever due to unfulfilled promises. (Like phase II DIC data anticipated years ago and ongoing disputes with former partners.) Nonetheless, Atryn may come on line for heparin resistance soon and the markets for products like factor VIIa extraordinary. Many questions remain like why don't we have a big generic pharma partner (like TEVA or Dr Ready) by now, why don't the insiders buy, what in the world happened with LEO? How come we can't raise decent money if the pipeline is as promising as we are told? Don't say its "market conditions,"-- if the products are that good the partners and funding are there. Where is Genzyme or other established biotechs, the parents that have disowned us and so now we are orphaned, like the drugs we produce? Don't tell me its to save their vats of bacteria and CHO cells when this technology is so much more efficient. I could go on ad nauseam. We have all tried to get answers to these questions such as the excellent ones you pose and are met with evasiveness and obfuscation that has bred distrust and discouragement. May I suggest if you really wish for questions of this ilk to be asked in a way that might yield some meaningful info an appeal to Dew be made to pose these questions in an open forum CC for our benefit? He might be willing to do it but understandably is fed up with the situation and no longer is a stockholder. Nonetheless, no one understands this company, the market and the current management the way he does. Dew put a phenomenal amount of work into the Read me First sections and kept us up to date on most of the latest relevant data and presented some terrific insights into the potential for the products and technology. He moderated some great discussions. My suggestion? Ask him. He has my vote, and I bet the votes of lots of lurkers. We deserve to know our prognosis directly from management in honest and straightforward terms. No doublespeak. Regards, bp
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/P... Have not read this yet but pertains to access to not yet fully approved drugs and biologics. Any relavence to potential "compassionate use" for Atryn in DIC? regards, bp
Can anyone help me understand the relationship between MDX-010 and CD137? Thanks bp