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$15 ?? Sounds too low considering billion dollar market not to speak of their unique technology.
60% of the patients having significant fall in blood cell counts seems too risky..but 75% response rate is good...
What is Zevalin?
Zevalin is a type of radioimmunotherapy drug that's used for some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Radioimmunotherapy is a special treatment that combines monoclonal antibody treatment and radiation therapy to kill cancer cells.
How Zevalin Works
Zevalin is also called Ibritumomab Tiuxetan. It has two parts:
Ibritumomab – a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a special molecule called CD20 on the surface of lymphoma cells.
Tiuxetan – a special molecule that acts as a binding site for a radioactive isotope (Yttrium 90 or Indium 111).
The monoclonal antibody portion of Zevalin recognizes the CD20 antigen on the surface of cancer cells. It binds to the molecule and the radiation emitted from the radioactive isotope damages the DNA in the cancer cells and kills them.
When Is Zevalin Used?
Zevalin is approved by the FDA for used in patients with follicular lymphoma whose disease has come back, or who have persistent disease after initial treatment. Those individuals whose slow growing follicular lymphoma has turned into an aggressive B-cell NHL can also be treated with Zevalin. Those who have previously been treated with Rituximab (another monoclonal antibody) also may receive Zevalin.
Zevalin is being studied for different stages of lymphoma, even as initial treatment. (Find more information on clinical trials with Zevalin in the US.)
How Effective Is Zevalin?
When used in patients who have relapsed after previous treatment in follicular lymphoma, or not responded well to standard treatment, Zevalin has shown a response in nearly 75% of cases. It is able to control the disease for 6 months or more. When compared to Rituximab treatment in patients, the Zevalin regimen produces substantially higher responses and also controls the disease for a longer time.
How is Zevalin Given?
Zevalin is given as an injection in the veins. It is usually administered along with Rituximab as the "Zevalin therapeutic regimen." This regimen has 2 steps:
Step 1 includes a single infusion of Rituximab followed by an injection of Zevalin. A gamma scan (a special type of scan) is done after a couple of days to make sure that the drug has reached the correct areas of the body.
If the gamma scan is fine, step 2 is administered 7 to 9 days later and consists of a second infusion of Rituximab and Zevalin.
Side Effects of Zevalin
The most important side effect of Zevalin is a decrease in white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts. Low WBC counts increase the risk of getting infections. Low platelet counts can cause bleeding from some parts of the body. Nearly 60% patients may have a significant fall in blood counts.
Rituximab, a drug that is used as a part of the Zevalin therapeutic regimen, is known to cause allergic reactions. Many patients have allergic reactions, though the majority are mild in nature. See Allergic Reactions to Rituximab for more details.
Rarely, a severe skin reaction may occur with the Zevalin regimen. Only a few cases have been reported, though it can be quite serious if it occurs.
Mild nausea and vomiting, tiredness or chills and fever also may occur but are temporary and easily treated.
Precautions with Zevalin
Zevalin should only be given by doctors at hospitals that are allowed to use radioactive isotopes. This is because special precautions need to be taken to handle these radioactive compounds before they are given.
Precautions also must be taken to prevent and deal with allergic reactions to Rituximab. A patient may be asked to take some medications beforehand to minimize allergy.
Blood counts are monitored carefully after the treatment.
Zevalin may cause damage to the testes and ovaries –- the organs of reproduction. Fertility may be impaired, and all individuals are asked to use contraceptives during treatment and for one year after to lower the risk of birth defects.
Actually it should be positive for MNTA..they worked with FDA to identify the contamination using their unique know-how.
I fail to see any negative correlation between this news with MNTA pps slide off late...
Anyone know of why MNTA is dropping ? Volume is well above avg today.....
Why the weakness in MNTA today before tomorrow's earnings announcement ?
Based on current media news, the Swine Flu is not that dangerous after all. SO big pharma will have the vaccines well before the flow season onset.
I see Novavax going back to $1...they are two much bahaind the curve and did squat when the avaian flue hit last time...
This guy Lewis comes across a babbling baboon when you listen to him on the tv. He is all over place and very poor in articulating for being a CEO
Novavax - Listening to recent news interview, CEO Dr. Singhvi seems pretty confident of their VLP based technology to produce targeted vaccines. He commented that they have already started the work as well. If it takes ~12 weeks, they might have the vaccine by early august if all goes well.
Of course, FDA approving their product without P3 is altogether a different matter.
Bush was a puppet..Cheney is the one who was pulling all the strings..wrong priorities all thru 8 years of their combined rule
We should see NVAX 3+ tomorrow as key analysts are bullish on their technology. Time is of essence here and NVAX should benefit from its quick turnaround time based on cell cultures
The NUVO was one big scam to the end. Their multitude PR's leading to dismal failure on Alfimeprase did not divulge any information on the trial restrictions imposed by FDA. HOw else would you explain something that passed Phase I, multiple Phase II trails failed in PIII to meet even the secondary end-point ?
So you think 6+ is possible near term ? 6+ is where BAC insiders loaded up not too long ago which might prove to be the base for some time.
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Lewis or his BOD buddies buy some more next couple of days...
Citi will produce a better than expected results tomorrow. The main reason they are lending at much higher rate than the borrowing cost which is close to zero. Mortgage refinancing is helping as well.
I will light a candle in a church for those who are short going into tomorrow...
Now I am predicting it will be between 12 and 12.50 at close tomorrow...
What did I tell you all !!! BAC is at 11+ today....
Mark me, BAC will be 11+ on Monday...too much short interest who are being burnt alive as I write...they will cover..
ALso did anyone notice the volume today ? Unbelievable..this tells me one thing..big money that's waiting on the sidelines are moving in...
Also another indirect good news on BAC..their increasing the rates on Credit Card accounts with balances tells me one thing...their business is getting strong and they don't mind losing few customers to other banks because of rate hike...honestly, if you are in dumps, would you raise your rates only to see your customers walk away to other banks ???
I used to work at Ranbaxy in early 80's when Bai Manmohan singh was at its helm. What a growth they have had but the Family couldn't keep its folks together and sold themselves out
LOL...I chime in..
Total calories on some of the chain's restaurants menu..
Olive Garden fettuccine alfredo: 1,220 calories; 75 fat grams
Bahama Breeze calypso shrimp linguine: 1,220 calories; 56 fat grams
Red Lobster classic fried-seafood platter: 1,090 calories; 62 fat grams
LongHorn Steakhouse chop steak: 1,220 calories; 80 fat grams
I am with a finance company that seeing big uptick in mortgage re-financeing already. This should be true for BAC too..
See the following comment from Cramer..
Signs that things are better -- jobless claims, takeovers and now Wells Fargo (WFC Quote) -- are greeted with a level of optimism that shocks the bears and causes a total shift from ETFs that blast banks down to ETFs that blast banks up. So Bank of America (BAC Quote) becomes Wells Fargo because the two are about mortgage originations, and they now own the mortgage origination market because the government let them buy companies that looked terrible on paper but now may have upside, particularly when they don't flag the nonperformers. JPMorgan (JPM Quote) gets remembered as Washington Mutual, and that can ramp that stock, too.
Wells Fargo (WFC), Bank of America (BAC), JP Morgan (JPM), Whirlpool (WHR)
Wells Fargo's earnings beat should convince even the most bearish investors that the game has changed. Wells Fargo's solid performance wasn't merely an oddity, but a direct result of the coming turnaround as more home buyers are taking advantage of low housing prices and slashed interest rates. Cramer would buy Bank of America and JP Morgan on Wells Fargo's victory, and points to strong performance in Darden and Whirlpool as a sign of consumer health.
Does it occurred to you that govt will keep the interest near zero as long as it takes ? Already there was a news out yesterday that mortgage rates are expected to drop to 4.2 % by end of this year...
WFC forecast is mostly based on strong refinancing activities which bodes well for BAC as well...
Mark me, BAC will be 11+ on Monday...too much short interest who are being burnt alive as I write...they will cover..
ALso did anyone notice the volume today ? Unbelievable..this tells me one thing..big money that's waiting on the sidelines are moving in...
Also another indirect good news on BAC..their increasing the rates on Credit Card accounts with balances tells me one thing...their business is getting strong and they don't mind losing few customers to other banks because of rate hike...honestly, if you are in dumps, would you raise your rates only to see your customers walk away to other banks ???
MNTA - Last few days of strong rally looks like funds are loading up on MNTA. No aparent weakness though 180 days of exclusivity has gone by.
Recent comparison of MNTA with genentech (motley fool)might have something to do with the momentum.
Dew,
Added myself more at these levels. I see slowly climbing back to 6+ by mid-year
FYI, clicking on ARRY tab on the header of this board takes to same link as ITMN..? Thx
Does anyone have opinion on FIG ? This private hedge fund seems to gain aweful lot from private-govt partnership that gov. is proposing now..
MNTA - Officers Selling
IDIX - No idea why it's tanking..bought in at $6.50 based on Dew's blog.
http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/bank-of-americas-stock-is-worth-0-bac
I am not convinced, US Govt won't have to take bigger stake in BOA based on this article.
Citi's talk with government to increase govt. stake is the beginning of the end to banks remaining private.
It all boils down to TCE ratio. The big banks TCE ratio's are at dismal levels.
This leds me to believe, BOA is not far behaind from asking US govt convert their stake into common shares, IMHO
Agree. Nationalization is inevitable as otherwise if the Banks end up forced to sell at today's depressed prices, they only will get cents on a dollar.
There are NO REAL BUYERS around anymore thanks to previous administration that helped outsource all american jobs including those in IT sector that used to be high flying jobs.
Taxing the middle class, helping the rich business owners to outsource the manufacturing/jobs started this deathly spiral.
Welcome to 3rd world
So did GSK paid too much at $6.87 for IDIX share when they entered into partnership ??? I don't think so, IMHO
I am also waiting to pounce (add) on some cheap IDIX shares if I can get them
Dew,
Would you be adding IDIX more at these price levels ? With floor on the pps set high due to GSK partnership, I would expect it to climb back to 6+ in short term. Your thoughts would be appreciated. TIA
IDIX continues to slide even today..how low will we go ? I thought all 'sell on news' is over
Surprised to see the weakness in IDIX considering a shares were sold at 17% market premium ($6.87) on the day the partnership was announced.
Is it just the market or would IDIX go down further ? Good to see volume today was light and below average.
FWIW, It's interesting that looking at the 1 day chart for IDIX for Thursday vs all previous days this week, someone knew a PR is coming on Friday morning and pps will pop on the news.
Glad I waited until late afternoon to buy some more at lower price.
Look...I was just teasing as regardless of current state,m US of A will NOT let B OF A go under. I will bet on my 7500 shares.
All these panic is great opportunity to accumulate BAC and once tghe 'bad bank' plan passes next week we will be 10+ in no time.
Based on excellent volume and strength today, I see we will be around $1 tomorrow..
GTCB is like tightly wound coil waiting to go bong big time.
I had a family member say about BAC being business as usual with no impact to her deposits. The same deposit she has been making every month for 10 yrs is now taking same time as before to show up in her account. I told her there is no need to move her money elsewhere as BAC is NOT going under (and she won't).
This could be a sign of turnaround at BAC!!!!!
Just reacting to every bit of news; however actually I bought some AH after I saw Kudlow's report on CNBC tonight. Folks are saying this Bad Bank proposal is going to help banks for sure though the plan itself sucks. Who cares...looks like bank stocks are going up..
Looking at L2, heavy shorting going on above 7.
Thestreet.com doesn't give much credit to 'Bad Bank' plan