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I agree. I like that quote btw!
About patents, it is very common for a company to have patents in foreign countries. It does not mean they have a presence or connection there. Just means that someone in that country will not be able to replicate what they have done and that they will be protected if they enter the country in the future. It’s just a good to have as it helps the EV of the company to some extent.
Viking Therapeutics Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2 Study of VK5211 in Patients Recovering from Hip Fracture
- Study Achieves Primary Endpoint, Demonstrating Statistically Significant, Dose Dependent Increases in Lean Body Mass Ranging from 4.8% to 9.1% Following Treatment with VK5211
- Statistically Significant Improvements also Achieved on Secondary Efficacy Endpoints
- Conference Call Scheduled for 8:00 am ET Today
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viking-therapeutics-announces-positive-top-line-results-from-phase-2-study-of-vk5211-in-patients-recovering-from-hip-fracture-300562365.html
These VCs nailed their 2017 health-care predictions. Here's what they see for 2018.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/27/venrocks-health-investors-make-predictions-for-2018.html
- Venrock partners Bob Kocher and Bryan Roberts make an annual list of health care predictions.
- Last year, they got eight out of 10 right.
- Their short-list for 2018 includes the growth of AI and health M&A.
...
Another Theranos
We think at least one healthcare information technology company with an enterprise value of more than $1 billion (not including Outcome Health, which we could not have predicted tanking so spectacularly quickly) will be exposed as not having product results to support their hype. It will also expose embarrassed investors, who did not do careful diligence, and founders with poor integrity.
...
CRISPR commoditizes
CRISPR has been one of the great technical advances in biological and medical research in a long time, and the CAS-9 enzyme that enables it is the source of much IP litigation and conflict. In 2018, it will become obvious that there will be many enzymes that can enable gene editing and the CAS-9 IP limitations will fall away.
Big Pharma gets bigger
We think that after a few years of smaller acquisitions, the mega-mergers will ramp back up in 2018. We predict that both BMS and Astra Zeneca will get acquired by other big pharmas.
ONCS—Polycistronic Interleukin-12 Immune Modulator (PIIM)
...And when you add all of these advantages up - no tumor biopsies, no predictive software, no engineering, no T cell manufacturing/expansion in the lab, dramatically reduced SAEs, lasting immunity, etc. - you end up with enormous cost savings.
The first PIIM construct is a disruption waiting to happen.
As hschlauch noted, I too think it is reasonable to expect some sort of partnership in coming months, this time with a down payment IF there are going to be multiple cancer indications involved. We shall see. Just speculation of course.
Roche's IMpower 150 study could shake up the I/O market
https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/roche-lung-cancer-tecentriq-impower150/511326/
Dive Brief:
- Roche's immunotherapy Tecentriq slowed lung cancer progression in previously untreated patients when given in combination with the Swiss pharma's older drug Avastin and chemotherapy, according to top-line results announced by the company Monday.
- In a study known as IMpower 150, the pairing of Tecentriq with Avastin and chemo reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival) in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), compared to those who only received Avastin and chemo.
- The results boost Tecentriq's profile and could give Roche the means to challenge Merck & Co.'s lead in the first-line NSCLC setting, where its PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda is currently approved.
Innate shares crushed on second big setback for Bristol-Myers partnered lirilumab
https://endpts.com/innate-shares-crushed-on-second-big-setback-for-bristol-myers-partnered-lirilumab/
Innate Pharma is suffering through its second big setback of the year on its lead cancer drug lirilumab. Back in February the French biotech was forced to concede that lirilumab was no better than a placebo in fighting acute myeloid leukemia. And just before Thanksgiving researchers conceded that the drug combined with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab) also flopped, this time in a study focused on squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
That would appear to leave Innate at the end of the development path with nothing to show for it, something that made their investors distinctly unhappy. Their stock $IPH on Euronext dropped more than 40%
Bristol-Myers had inked a $465 million licensing deal — with $35 million for the upfront — to partner with Innate.
Innate, though, hasn’t given up on lirilumab. They plan to show up at ASH in Atlanta in early December to discuss their latest findings from the AML study, and where they see a potential avenue for new research.
...
Like you said re: AWS
https://twitter.com/byrosenberg/status/934152551984803840
5 Wild Biotech Products That Will Touch Our Lives in the Near Future
https://singularityhub.com/2017/11/24/5-wild-biotech-products-of-the-future/#.Whhfb2pf9bg.twitter
1. Good morning, cow-free cow milk...
2. The post-animal burger...
3. Hacking biology with a liquid biocomputer...
4. The “MicrobeMiner” to crowd-source antibiotic discovery...
5. Grow yourself a mushroom lamp...
Zurcher Kantonal Bank bought 92,100 shares in Q3.
Zurich Cantonal Bank is the largest cantonal bank and fourth largest bank in Switzerland, as well as the leading financial services provider in the Greater Zurich area, with total assets of over CHF 150 billion.
Agreed. Looking forward to reading htpaxis' counter-arguments addressing the points mentioned by ZeWaffleBaron.
Whatever the outcome of hip data, this is likely going to catch up with MDGL valuation in Q1 after their NASH data. MDGL is reporting their data this quarter, another derisking event for hip outcome for VKTX if MDGL reports positive. This can easily be a double digit stock next quarter regardless of hip outcome. If hip is also positive, then this will be mid to high double digits next year IMO.
I currently have no position but hope to get in next month. GL all, even if I miss the boat!
Agreed. (eom)
He has 2M shares from the company as an incentive. I don’t think he will be looking to buy more but wouldn’t hurt. Personally speaking not a top priority from my point of view.
How Eli Lilly’s $1.8 Billion Bet on Cancer Vaccines Puts Spotlight on Immunovaccine’s Anticipated Clinical Data
https://www.equities.com/news/how-eli-lilly-18-billion-bet-on-cancer-vaccines-puts-spotlight-on-immunovaccine-anticipated-clinical-data
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Recognizes Immunovaccine Researchers with Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) “Best Basic Science Paper Award”
http://ir.imvaccine.com/news-releases/news-release-details/society-immunotherapy-cancer-sitc-recognizes-immunovaccine
A good close despite tomorrow being a holiday and Friday being a short trading day. On that note, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
You are right, he is a (senior) biotech columnist, not an analyst in the traditional sense (doing financial modeling, etc). He does however, have a solid record of being right about development stage companies/pipelines more often than not.
Adam Feuerstein started it :)
Will tiny $ONCS break out with promising melanoma immunotherapy study results? https://t.co/L0I2NmuFyv $INCY #SITC2017
— Adam Feuerstein ✡️ (@adamfeuerstein) November 8, 2017
They have more trials and collaborations than ONCS to be fair.
Yes, the other half of INCY valuation accounts for its revenues and cash but Epcadostat valuation ($10B+) is based on data not better than ONCS’ and expectations, so far, as pointed out by Adam Feuerstein.
Right, even for preclinical studies like ADXS-AMGN neoantigen collaboration, which BTW hasn’t started phase 1 for a long time now. I wonder why.
I think ONCS multigene construct is going to be partnered out sooner or later and it could have significant implications.
Remember the times when daily volume used to be only 30K? Times I changing, I think.
I’m looking at the 5 year ADXS chart and I see an organic rise from less than $1 to $5+ to $10+ to $15+ to $25+ over a continuous span until the erosion in recent years. I haven’t followed ADXS much so can’t comment on what really went wrong. I did read about the clinical hold by the FDA on one of the trials that caused some damage. Also despite having 5 big pharma as collaborators, none seemed to take interest in taking the next step with ADXS? Could ADXS science/data be to blame as well? Looks like O’Connor did his part on turning this from a penny stock into a respectable biotech by getting these big pharmas on board initially. Could it be a possibility that ADXS’ science/data wasn’t able to deliver as promised?
MS1-2 New clinical approaches for TNBC
Telli M Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Over the last decade, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been the subject of intense clinical investigation. Importantly, an improved understanding of the critical role of DNA damage repair deficiency in TNBC has led to effective therapeutic strategies to target BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-associated TNBCs with platinum chemotherapy agents and PARP inhibitors. A major area of increasing clinical relevance focuses on the treatment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-associated breast cancers after the development of resistance to platinum and PARP inhibitor therapy. Lurbinectedin, a novel marine derived DNA damaging agent, has shown activity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-associated cancers, including those with platinum resistance.
While therapeutic strategies for TNBC patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have increased, most TNBC patients lack an underlying germline mutation in these genes and continue to have high unmet clinical need. Multiple lines of investigation are currently underway. Androgen receptor (AR) blockade has shown preliminary proof-of-concept in AR expressing TNBCs. While monotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors has shown modest activity in metastatic TNBC, multiple studies are exploring the role of these agents in combination with chemotherapy, targeted therapies and other immunotherapeutic agents. Given the high prevalence of TP53 mutations in TNBC, strategies to target additional cell cycle checkpoints including ATR, ATM, Wee1 and others may hold promise. Antibody-drug conjugates targeting Trop-2, LIV-1 and GPNMB expressing TNBCs have also shown clinical activity and are advancing in clinical development.
That would be nice. I would actually prefer they do a Tecentriq combo with Roche/Genentech. More the big pharmas less the chances of getting lowballed by Merck.
BTW please note that Melinda Telli is also involved in few other breast cancer trials. So this data may or may not be related to ONCS trial. Best to wait for company PR in December.
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 6, 2017
https://www.sabcs.org
New clinical approaches for TNBC
Melinda Telli, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA
She is the ONCS lead investigator for TNBC trial. So I’m expecting data here. Although it may be better to wait for company PR to confirm that data will be presented here.
Note that it is only a phase 1, monotherapy trial with < 10 patients.
Welcome back!
Love how 500,000 shares before lunch is now light volume for ONCS.
Picked up some more today. (eom)
Roche Cancer Drug Rises To Challenge Merck, Bristol-Myers
http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2017/11/20/roche-cancer-drug-rises-to-challenge-merck-bristol-myers/
Top 40 Drugs in the Pipeline—Sep 2016
https://cen.acs.org/content/dam/cen/supplements/09435-cens-web.pdf
Courtesy of @SheffStation
...Over and over again, Bitcoin's value has seen spectacular plunges only to recover the lost ground and rise to new heights. Bitcoin has seen at least three major Bitcoin "bubbles" over its seven-year life.
Each time, a huge price gain was followed by a spectacular crash, leading many people to declare that the currency had been nothing more than a bubble. Each time, the currency has defied critics, regaining the previous highs and then pushing still higher.
Today's Bitcoin price might represent a bubble, in retrospect. But it's past time to acknowledge that Bitcoin isn't only a bubble.
...
But here's the thing: people have been predicting Bitcoin's impending demise for years, and they've consistently been wrong. Even if Bitcoin were to lose 90 percent of its value in the coming weeks, it would still be worth around $800—a value many people dismissed as an absurd bubble four years ago. If it lost 99 percent of its value, it would be worth $80—a value that would have been considered absurdly high less than five years ago.
Blockchains are an important new technology, and cryptocurrencies are a fundamentally new asset class. Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, might be overvalued right now, but it might not be. Either way, it certainly isn't going to suffer an Enron-style collapse.
A bitcoin article that fits the demographic tailwind theme...
7 Stats That Highlight A Millennial Propensity For Bitcoin
https://www.forbes.com/sites/spencerbogart/2017/11/08/7-stats-that-highlight-a-millennial-propensity-for-bitcoin/
Isn’t that what happened past Tuesday when it dropped from $2.95 to $2.15 upon PR/filing of warrants being exercised coming out. Don’t know if they sold immediately but just the act of exercising warrants adds to the shares outstanding and the market prices in a mathematical correction. That’s how I understand it.
'Glowing' NEJM editorial highlights off-label potential for Imfinzi
http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/glowing-nejm-editorial-highlights-off-label-potential-for-astrazeneca-s-imfinzi
- Stage 3 lung cancer nods for Imfinzi in developed markets could rack up about $2 billion per year in sales, Bernstein's Tim Anderson says.
AstraZeneca has had trouble easing concerns about its immuno-oncology portfolio, but a new editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine should do just that, one analyst says.
The journal has published full results from a phase 3 study showing that AZ’s PD-L1 contender Imfinzi could stave off non-small cell lung cancer progression for 11.2 months longer than placebo in stage 3 patients, along with an editorial that Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson described as “glowing.”
...
To not kill a pop on some (collaboration) news IMO. Imagine there’s one, and warrant holders rush to exercise. They’ll have to file the form with the SEC and will crash a rally like it did last week. If you are ONCS or any biotech, you will want to be able to raise cash on a rally. But new investors may not want to participate in such a raise if they think warrants will be exercised soon and take the share price down. So good house cleaning on Dan’s part getting rid of these warrants now.
ADXS—Preclinical Neoantigen Technology
Advaxis� Preclinical Neoantigen Technology (ADXS-NEO) https://t.co/hMBLgd8E6w pic.twitter.com/EUloPlnetk
— Oncology Tube (@oncologytube) November 16, 2017
The jury is still out on that. But if it is, it is nowhere close to the peak.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/11/15/bitcoin-prices-could-reach-196165-79/amp/
RVNC—A 24-Week Neurotoxin Would Be Disruptive, KOL Survey Suggests - Cowen
$RVNC TP $55 Revance Therapeutic (RVNC): A 24-Week Neurotoxin Would Be Disruptive, KOL Survey Suggests - Cowen pic.twitter.com/UESV3I4zct
— vnmaster gupta (@Gupta_Calling) November 16, 2017
O'Connor needs to get a big pharma collaboration in addition to (or other than) MRK initially at least to ensure they don't lowball. I think that's the plan. If this was a lowball done deal sale to MRK post positive PISCES, O'Connor would not have been brought in, IMO.