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Question for experienced ihubbers:
Is there any way to track the number of visitors to the NTRP site on a daily basis?
FYI NTRP is trading after hours.
My opinion concerning the Shelf Registration announced Friday afternoon is that Neurotrope’s Management made the right decision.
If we get great data and the stock were to dramatically appreciate management would be remiss if there was no shelf in place. I would also agree with runncoach when he states “My personal opinion is the company won't sell shares before the results...”
There is very little time until the results will be announced.
Moreover, Neurotrope, once they receive the study results from their contract research organization (CRO), will likely proceed to thoroughly review the data and conduct their own statistical analysis to check for accuracy, prior to the study release. NTRP could very well have the data from their CRO in the next couple of weeks.
In that context I see the Shelf Registration as the company positioning itself for a positive study outcome and not an attempt to raise money prior to their data release.
On balance, it looks bullish to me, even if we have a choppy opening Monday morning.
That could very well be the case for most PP investors but I believe the company has used at least two different Non-Disclosure Statements for Private Placement investors. I do not know how the criteria differed.
Some investors did agree to a lock-up period as a condition of their investment in Neurotrope. For instance Dr Abeles and Northlea Partners own a substantial interest in NTRP and may or may not have had access to non-public or insider information:
Prospectus Supplement is April 12, 2016
“On November 12, 2015, we entered into a lock-up agreement with Dr. John Abeles and Northlea Partners LLLP. Pursuant to the terms of the lock-up agreement, Dr. John Abeles and Northlea Partners LLLP agreed not to pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of our Series B Stock and Series A through Series E warrants, or any securities underlying, convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Series B Stock and Series A through Series E warrants. The lock-up agreement will automatically terminate upon the second anniversary of the date of the final closing relating to the offering of our Series B Stock and Series A through Series E warrants.”
page 57
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1513856/000114420416093896/v436760_424b3.htm#a_023
Frontiers, yes that was the change in the study design I was referring to.
As to why it suggests a positive Ph2b outcome I’ll explain my reasoning this way. First I will narrate a conversation I had with a private placement investor in NTRP.
When doing his due diligence he approached the CEO of another company also involved in AD research who he knows well. Among the topics discussed he recounted this exchange.
The question he asked was how difficult is it for a company involved in a FDA sanctioned research project to change the study protocol mid-term? The answer he got was that the study protocol was most commonly changed for safety reasons, usually by a Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). But to change the study design and length, and to get the FDA to go along with it, there would have to be convincing data presented in conjunction with the design change request. He went on to say that the FDA is desperate to see progress in Alzheimer Disease research and whatever data or video they saw must have convinced them.
Secondly, as I explained in an earlier post, investors in the Private Placements had to agree to sign a Confidentiality Agreement, so they must have been shown trial data that was not publically available.
The last private NTRP placement was way over subscribed. I would surmise that the data was convincing. I believe it could very well have been the same data that was presented to the FDA.
BioBuck, when did you here that.
I posted this transcript from Dr. Alkon's Sachs presentation a couple of days ago. In it Dr. Alkon cleary states "next couple of weeks" for Ph2A release:
Dr. Alkon and his research team will be publishing the Phase 2A trial results in the next couple of weeks, prior to the Phase 2B results, as he stated in the Neurotrope presentation at the Sachs Neuroscience Biopartnering & Investment Forum (3-27-17):
Note: for some reason the presentation starts at minute 17:13
Dr. Alkon’s comments concerning the Phase 2A trial results:
Minute 29:30: “we can inject (Byrostatin) by a single IV infusion into a mammalian model and then we can measure the PKC activation and the quantity of PKC in the brain as a function of the injection.
In that way in our Phase 2A trials, which we just completed, and will be published in the next couple of weeks we can actually see the Bryostatin going up in the human patient and then you can see PKC epsilon going up to a level in the blood and then we can extrapolate based on these experiments …what is happening in the brain…across the blood brain barrier”
Thank you. Any idea how often that list is updated or how the information is collected?
Whatsupp, that is significant in my opinion. Where did you see that? Could you please provide a link?
Thanks
There is some nice video and pictures on twitter of the Neurotrope group ringing the NASDAQ bell:
https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%24ntrp&src=typd
Investors in the Private Placements had to agree to sign a Confidentiality Statement, so yes they were shown trial data that was not publically available.
The last private NTRP placement was way over subscribed, so I would surmise that the data was convincing.
Dr. Alkon and his research team will be publishing the Phase 2A trial results in the next couple of weeks, prior to the Phase 2B results, as he stated in the Neurotrope presentation at the Sachs Neuroscience Biopartnering & Investment Forum (3-27-17):
Note: for some reason the presentation starts at minute 17:13
Dr. Alkon’s comments concerning the Phase 2A trial results:
Minute 29:30: “we can inject (Byrostatin) by a single IV infusion into a mammalian model and then we can measure the PKC activation and the quantity of PKC in the brain as a function of the injection.
In that way in our Phase 2A trials, which we just completed, and will be published in the next couple of weeks we can actually see the Bryostatin going up in the human patient and then you can see PKC epsilon going up to a level in the blood and then we can extrapolate based on these experiments …what is happening in the brain…across the blood brain barrier”
This was posted by runncoach over at the Investor Village NTRP Board:
"Has always made me wonder if the FDA knew the drug was working at that point and willing to do what it took to get the drug to the next stage of testing. The timing of the request would have been around the same time the first dosed patients had completed their 17 weeks I believe. If they were receiving universally positive anecdotal results at that point, it could explain why the company became so positive and big investors ponied up for this latest 25 million round. JMHO
http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=19529&mn=64&pt=msg&mid=17020303
What is a disruptive drug? Is that a scientific term?
blu, I believe most of your concerns, at this stage of the Byrostatin trials, will be addressed in the Ph2b open label and Phase3 study designs.
The question to ask yourself is why did the FDA allow Neurotrope to alter the Ph2b study in mid-course and to shorten its duration?
I would argue that that action is very unusual for the FDA.
Neurotrope would have had to file a petition with convincing back-up data for the FDA to agree to the changes.
That, in my mind, is the most compelling argument to date that NTRP will report a positive outcome in the Ph2b trial.
There is a new Neurotrope board on the reddit WallStreet page and there have been over 200 comments in just 24 hours.
The board title is: Watch as Alkon the Falcon takes $NTRP to the MOON
If you are not familiar with reddit viewer discretion is advised. It can be crude, rude, humorous, or sometimes informative…well I warned you!
https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/627c8w/dd_alkon_the_falcon_a_tale_of_big_brainz_50000/
This should generate some press coverage:
$NTRP Neurotrope, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRP) to Ring The Nasdaq Stock Market Opening Bell
March 30, 2017
ADVISORY, March 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Neurotrope, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTRP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, will visit the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
In honor of the occasion, Joshua N. Silverman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, will ring the Opening Bell.
Where:
Nasdaq MarketSite – 4 Times Square – 43rd & Broadway – Broadcast Studio
When:
Friday, March 31, 2017 – 9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET
Neurotrope Media Contact:
Jeffrey Benison
212.334.8709 or 516.286.6099
jbenison@neurotropebioscience.com
Nasdaq MarketSite:
Emily Pan
(646) 441-5120
emily.pan@nasdaq.com
Feed Information:
Fiber Line (Encompass Waterfront): 4463
Gal 3C/06C 95.05 degrees West
18 mhz Lower
DL 3811 Vertical
FEC 3/4
SR 13.235
DR 18.295411
MOD 4:2:0
DVBS QPSK
Social Media:
For multimedia features such as exclusive content, photo postings, status updates and video of bell ceremonies, please visit our page:
http:// /NASDAQ.
For photos from ceremonies and events, please visit our Instagram page:
http://instagram.com/nasdaq
For livestream of ceremonies and events, please visit our YouTube page:
http://www.youtube.com/nasdaq/live
For news tweets, please visit our page:
http://.com/nasdaq
For exciting viral content and ceremony photos, please visit our Tumblr page:
http://nasdaq.tumblr.com/
Webcast:
A live stream of the Nasdaq Opening Bell will be available at:
https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live or http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx
Photos:
To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Open, please go to http://business.nasdaq.com/discover/market-bell-ceremonies and click on the market open of your choice.
About Neurotrope
Neurotrope is at the forefront of developing a novel therapy to treat and potentially reverse moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The Company's world-class science is a paradigm shifting approach that treats some of the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease.
The scientific basis of our treatment is activation of Protein Kinase C isozymes e and a by bryostatin-1, a natural product, which in mouse Alzheimer's disease models was demonstrated to result in repair of damaged synapses as well as synaptogenesis, the induction of new neuronal networks, reduction of toxic beta-amyloid generation, prevention of neuronal death, and enhancement of memory and learning, thus having the potential to improve cognition and behavior in Alzheimer's dementia.
Neurotrope is conducting a Phase 2 trial of bryostatin-1 in the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia, as well as preclinical studies of bryostatin-1 as a treatment for Fragile X Syndrome, Niemann-Pick Type C disease and Rett Syndrome, three rare genetic diseases for which only symptomatic treatments are currently available. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to Neurotrope for bryostatin-1 as a treatment for Fragile X Syndrome. Bryostatin-1 has undergone testing in over 1,500 people establishing a large safety database.
https://www.otcdynamics.com/ntrp-neurotrope-inc-nasdaq-ntrp-to-ring-the-nasdaq-stock-market-opening-bell/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
Thanks for posting that article. It is an excellent overview of the state of affairs in the AD research field.
Video of Dr. Alkons Keynote Address at the Sachs Neuroscience Biopartnering and Investment Forum
This video is of the Keynote address that Dr. Alkon gave before the couple hundred attendees (the Sachs Forum was held on the 40th floor of #7 World Trade Center) It is not the NTRP presentation video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-dPFsNgGdekWkpSSW5fY2I1QW8/view
In addition to Dr. Alkon's Keynote address at todays Sachs Forum "Neurotrope's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Susanne Wilke PhD, together with Dr. Alkon, will be presenting at 3:00 pm EDT, to discuss the Company's disruptive approach to Alzheimer's disease treatment, current clinical development plan, and upcoming milestones. A live webcast of the presentation will be available online at:
No, the research to back up the statement "Bryostatin-1 has demonstrated the potential to prevent neuronal death" is not new and underlies the thesis of Neurotrope's research:
PKC e Activation Prevents Synaptic Loss, Aß Elevation, and Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Mice
Jarin Hongpaisan, Miao-Kun Sun and Daniel L. Alkon
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/2/630.short
Abstract
Among the pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neurodegeneration, only synaptic loss in the brains of AD patients closely correlates with the degree of dementia in vivo.
Here, we describe a molecular basis for this AD loss of synapses: pathological reduction of synaptogenic PKC isozymes and their downstream synaptogenic substrates, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This reduction, particularly of PKC a and e, occurs in association with elevation of soluble ß amyloid protein (Aß), but before the appearance of the amyloid plaques or neuronal loss in the Tg2576 AD transgenic mouse strain.
Conversely, treatment of the Tg2576 mouse brain with the PKC activator, bryostatin-1, restores normal or supranormal levels of PKC a and e, reduces the level of soluble Aß, prevents and/or reverses the loss of hippocampal synapses, and prevents the memory impairment observed at 5 months postpartum.
Similarly, the PKC e-specific activator, DCP-LA, effectively prevents synaptic loss, amyloid plaques, and cognitive deficits (also prevented by bryostatin-1) in the much more rapidly progressing 5XFAD transgenic strain.
These results suggest that synaptic loss and the resulting cognitive deficits depend on the balance between the lowering effects of Aß on PKC a and e versus the lowering effects of PKC on Aß in AD transgenic mice.
Neurotrope's President and Chief Scientific Officer to Present Keynote Address at Sachs Associates' 2nd Annual Neuroscience Biopartnering & Investment Forum
NEW YORK, March 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurotrope, Inc. (NTRP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer' s disease, announced that Dr. Daniel Alkon, M.D., Neurotrope's President and Chief Scientific Officer, is scheduled to present at the Sachs Associates' 2nd Annual Neuroscience Biopartnering and Investment Forum, being held March 27, 2017 at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City.
Dr. Alkon has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the event. His presentation entitled "A Regenerative Medicine Approach to Neurodegeneration," will take place on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 1:10 pm EDT and lead into the "Advances in Parkinson's Disease and Other Movement Disorders Panel."
Dr. Alkon commented, "I am honored to present a Keynote address at the Sachs Annual Neuroscience Biopartnering & Investment Forum. Neurotrope's pre-clinical and clinical data support the potential of its lead compound, bryostatin-1, to induce the formation of new, mature synaptic networks that could reverse major cognitive deterioration that occurs in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Bryostatin-1 has demonstrated the potential to prevent neuronal death as well as the well-known brain pathologies, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Bryostatin's multiple efficacies, collectively provide an unprecedented opportunity to treat neurodegeneration with a regenerative medicine approach. The Neuroscience Biopartnering & Investment Forum provides a great opportunity to discuss the exciting advances being made in the science of neurodegenerative diseases, promising treatments under development, and bryostatin's position in the arena."
In addition, Neurotrope's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Susanne Wilke PhD, together with Dr. Alkon, will be presenting at 3:00 pm EDT, to discuss the Company's disruptive approach to Alzheimer's disease treatment, current clinical development plan, and upcoming milestones. A live webcast of the presentation will be available online at:
AF is mildly critical of NTRP but really kicks AVXL in the gut:
Adam Feuerstein
Follow
Mar 24, 2017 8:34 AM EDT
Michael A. "Hi Adam, with the Eli Lilly (LLY) solanezumab flop now four months behind us and several readouts for different molecules targeting other Abeta intervention points expected later this year. What is your expectation in the field going forward?"
Bleak. Be wary of anyone offering rosy assessments of effective Alzheimer's drugs. Unicorns are easier to find. Lilly's sola failure last December was followed in February by the forced halt to Merck's (MRK) verubecestat phase III study due to futility at an interim analysis.
Coming up in the third quarter, Axovant Sciences (AXON) will announce results from its phase III study of intepiridine. Risky? Absolutely, given the spotty track record for 5-HT6 antagonists in Alzheimer's.
Beyond Axovant, the Alzheimer's field gets far more murky. Companies like Neurotrope (NTRP) and Anavex Life Sciences (AVXL) are best known for making unsubstantiated drug claims based on fringe science. A phase II study of Neurotrope's bryostatin in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's reads out in April. I wrote about bryostatin here.
Anavex uses rehashed, recycled data on Anavex 2-73 to help sell stock to a vulture finance fund, which in turn offloads shares to retail investors. The company says a larger, scientifically rigorous study of the drug is in the planning stages, but actual execution seems to be kicked down the road on a regular basis.
https://www.thestreet.com/story/14058387/1/biotech-stock-mailbag-sage-therapeutics-cellceutix-alzheimer-s-risk.html
Is it a buy here or is TRCH going lower?
Short selling or retail bailing?
I looked into this when it was first mentioned on this board.
Aphios has not gone anywhere with their Byrostatin formulations as far as I can tell. So they are years behind NTRP:
APH-1104 Product Development Plans:
We will develop APH-1104 as a therapeutic for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive disorders (CD). We plan to utilize other analogs of APH-0703 as backups for APH-1104. Our milestones are as follows: (1) establish cGMP for the API and FDP at the pilot-scale level; (2) establish a drug master file, design IND enabling preclinical studies and Phase I/IIa clinical trials, and draft IND package; (3) conduct FDA-necessary IND-enabling preclinical in vivo studies, including toxicology, efficacy and pharmacology, under GLP; (4) perform stability testing of API and FDP under GLP; (5) file IND for conducting Phase I/IIa clinical trial of APH-1104; and (6) conduct Phase I and IIa clinical trials of oral APH-1104.
http://www.aphios.com/products/therapeutic-product-pipeline/cns-disorders/aph-1104.html
So what is your point?
xldXd, those options you are concerned about can not be exercised until after 03/17/18.
If the Directors thought the Ph2b study was going to fail why did they not set the option price below market and make them exercisable immediately?
Those options are going to be very valuable or worth nothing long after the results of the Ph2b study are public information.
https://www.streetinsider.com/SEC+Filings/Form+4+Neurotrope,+Inc.+For%3A+Mar+17+Filed+by%3A+Silverman+Joshua/12693605.html
I agree burg, I would think that Dr. Alkon has had, by now, a number of anecdotal reports about the Ph2b study and that is reflected in the tone and conviction of his presentation.
The company is looking ahead at spending money on a continuation open label Ph2b study, a Ph3 study, and a Fragile X study. Not the type of planning you would expect if the signs were not good.
F1ash, that is a very important catch: “a DMC may review unblinded study information (on a patient level or treatment group level) during the conduct of the study."
And your observation: “Obviously they can't share specifics, but I definitely see it within the realm of possibility that they might be able to provide some subtle clues to management.”
Also, the potential of Byrostatin being used in ERs worldwide for stroke treatment would be another massive market for NTRP if the drug is approved for that use.
My transcribed quotes from Dr. Wilke and Dr. Alkon’s presentation at the Oppenheimer 27th Annual Healthcare Conference 03/21/17 (please feel free to add other transcribed portions of this presentation): https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/opco/healthcare2017/79104510713.cfm
Dr. Wilke:
4:10 “(NTRP) expects to either halt or to reverse Alzheimer’s disease in advanced patients”
5:25 “the Neurotrope difference is that we have a uniquely regenerative approach that has the potential to reverse AD even in advanced patients”
5:35 “we also believe that synaptic loss is an independent event that can be reversed”
Dr. Alkon:
16:08 “if you look at every major aspect of the (AD) disease process, the patho-physiology, it‘s regulated by PKC epsilon, in turn activated by Byrostatin. Then ultimately even the plaques and tangles are prevented”
17:20 (discussing transgenic animal disease model) “if you treat even two or three months after that mouse model has actually progressed into those pathologic changes with Byrostatin or similar compounds in our portfolio, you can actually prevent and reverse all of those (pathological) changes. The PKC epsilon is stimulated to be activated, the synthesis goes up, the a-beta oligomers go down, the synapses are restored, and the cognitive deficit is remediated.”
19:45 “you can actually see that Byrostatin (in animal models) and similar compounds totally restore the ability to acquire new information and then even restore the ability to recall old information”
20:15 “if within 24 hours of that stroke (in an animal model) you give Byrostatin or a comparable member of our platform you completely prevent that (loss of memory)…the animal can recall the information he gained 4 months earlier, he can learn new information, and if you look 4 months latter you can see that the information is still stored.”
21:10 “this experiment was reproduced by another laboratory (speaking of the effect of PKS epsilon) where they had a double transgenic (animal model), they genetically increased PKC epsilon and genetically prevented all of the amyloid plaque”
21:36 “our clinical trial program began with experiments we didn’t do ourselves, Phase 1 studies by the Cancer Institute, 1500 patients showed well tolerated capacity even up to two and a half years of Byrostatin, even at higher dosages, we use much lower dosages.”
22:01 “we did Phase 2a studies where we could monitor the drug itself, we could see target engagement with certain highly sensitive assays and we even showed with a single dose cognitive enhancement that could be measured with the Mini Mental Status Exam 3 hours afterwards…that motivated us to go to Compassionate Use studies where we took very severe patients…we could reverse (some of) those (severe) symptoms…
That experience with Compassionate Use patients encouraged us to go after a niche which the industry has had the approach of advoiding and the reason is their philosophy has been if you come too late you can’t treat the disease. Well we have gone after that niche - severe patients with a mean Mini Mental of 10 and that is our current P2b study with 150 patients…we are looking for something that hasn’t been seen before, a reversal of the disease, a positive change not just a reduction in the rate of decline which is what the industry has been looking, not too successfully, in my view.
We hope to get Breakthrough Status if we get the kind of improvement we are looking for. We hope to then look at Phase 3 with 300 to 400 patients…we also are looking at other diseases that have synaptic loss since this seems to be a universal aspect of many degenerative diseases. One of these examples is Fragile X in kids, which is a par excellence example…the synapses are completely wiped out.”
Q&A:
28:20 (Stanford) “has developed a new synthesis an accelerated economical synthesis …NTRP has an exclusive license, IP license, for all neurologic psychiatric disorders from Stanford. So we have a synthetic version of Byrostatin that is going to be practical, economic, easy to scale up, so we will have an unlimited supply.”
30:01 “Has anything happened since (the trial began) then to encourage or discourage you as to the outcome of Phase 2?” Dr. Alkon: “We are very pleased that our data safety monitoring board, which has met several times, has not had any occasion to stop any trial so the patients are tolerating the drug well.” As (Dr. Wilke) said we have had this anecdotal report back that they would like to continue with the trial and to respond to that we plan to do an open label extension for all 150 patients where we will bring them back in addition to the Phase 3 trial.”
Here is a link to the accompanying slides used in Dr. Alkon's presentation (page 11 summarizes Compassionate Use Patients):
https://www.veracast.com/opco/healthcare2017/main/events/1045_neurot/pdf/Neurotrope_(NTRP).pdf
Everything Dr. Alkon commented on at the end of the Q&A points to a positive Ph2b outcome.
I will provide transcribed quotes later today.
Be sure to log in this morning and listen live to Dr. Alkon and Dr. Wilke's presentation:
Neurotrope BioScience to Present at the Oppenheimer 27th Annual Healthcare Conference
News provided by
Neurotrope, Inc.
Mar 16, 2017, 08:30 ET
Share this article
NEW YORK, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurotrope, Inc. (OTCQB: NTRP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, today announced that it is scheduled to present at the Oppenheimer 27th Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time at the Westin New York Grand Central Hotel in New York, New York.
Neurotrope's lead compound, bryostatin-1, has demonstrated, in extensive pre-clinical studies and early clinical observations, a unique potential for multi-modal efficacy to restore degenerated synaptic networks, prevent neuronal death, and reverse cognitive deficits, while also potentially preventing the pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's dementia, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Susanne Wilke, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Neurotrope BioScience and Dr. Daniel Alkon, President and Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting at the conference.
A simultaneous live audio webcast is also available at: https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/opco/healthcare2017/79104510713.cfm ;
A webcast replay will be available afterwards via the Company's website at www.neurotropebioscience.com under the Investors section.
Company executives will also be available for one on one meetings with investors on March 21st and 22nd.
I don't see any problem with the share structure, there has been no insider selling, and there is no dilution or capital raise prior to Ph2b study results.
Personally, I believe, once we have Ph2b results in about 4 weeks the share structure will be a huge positive if the company decides to raise capital for further studies or allow a Big Pharma company to partner with it. The recent increase in authorized but NOT ISSUED shares will allow that.
Antti, thank you for your reasoned and insightful comments. You write:
"But as you probably agree they (NTRP) have actually been very efficient in their execution and are already about to get some definite data from phase 2b. It's not that usual thing in this space IMO and tells how anxious they (and FDA) are to see whether or not this mechanism works."
In your opinion how much input would the FDA have in a study of this importance to the AD research field?
Lane Simonian, the author of the article in question while well intentioned, is not a scientist or researcher he is a history teacher.
He states:
“Bryostatin by Neurotrope (OTCQB:NTRPD) downregulates protein kinase C alpha and protein kinase C alpha is the linchpin in the initial production of inflammation and oxidation in Alzheimer's disease (bryostatin's effect, protein kinase C alpha). However, due to damage to upstream receptors in most people with Alzheimer's disease, protein kinase C alpha activity decreases as the disease progresses (study). So it is not likely that bryostatin can be used to help most people at least not past a certain stage.”
His statement is not backed up by any reference citing research to prove his point. It is clearly only his opinion and not in any way reflects scientific thought into the multi modal effects of Byrostatin.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4054680-alzheimers-disease-next
I would rather listen to the principal researcher in the field, Dr. Alkon:
My notes from Dr. Alkon’s BIO CEO presentation 02/13/17:
Minute 17:54: I do want to say that Bryostatin is one of a platform of drugs that we have. It is our lead compound now because it has experience in the patient population and we know it’s well tolerated. But we have 40 or so other compounds some of which are even more potent and even more specific and have proprietary composition of matter protection which we can use for second and third generation of drugs.
Minute 23: (Bryostatin) is well positioned to virtually…take care of every major aspect of this disease. So it is multi modal, multi modal means that we can look at prevention, slowing down progression, and actual reversal of Alzheimer’s disease. Which is what is in our current Phase 2 trial.
Minute 25:45 (refer to Slide 40 – Bryostaten Compassionate Use Program: Severe Alzheimer’s Disease “No other reports have ever shown comparable benefits in such severely demented patients”) These are our compassionate use patients…we saw major reversal of disease that’s why we teed-up our Phase 2 trial in the way we did for severe (Alzheimer’s) patients to see reversal. To see not just a reduction in the rate of decline…but a flipping, a changing of the sign of what happens, for example, with the preferred metric of advanced Alzheimer’s disease, the Severe Impairment Battery.
https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bio/ceoinvestor2017/18111483071.cfm
Bartlman, I believe you are confusing the number of stockholders required for a NASDAQ listing with the number of stockholders required to participate in the options market (2000 stockholders).
See:
https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/assets/initialguide.pdf
I believe some warrants have been cashed in. If you go the OTC website for NTRP you can track the number of outstanding shares that the transfer agent reports.
As of Mar 06, 2017 it stands at 7,448,823.
http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NTRP/profile
I could have edited that statement out but that would not have been intellectually dishonest. Was the price decline due to short sellers, day traders jacking up the trading volume and moving the stock price up and down, or profit taking, or all of the above.
I still believe that the amount of stock available to short is limited.
You are confusing liquidity with volatility and "trading volumes".
Day traders can jack up the trading volume by making many buy/sell orders in a single trading session for example.
Theburg, I answered your question a week or so ago concerning Option trading for NTRP:
As I have pointed out given the low float and high “borrow” cost at this juncture it is difficult and expensive to find stock to short. I know for a fact that Goldman Sachs and other top Wall Street firms are shorting or are facilitating customers who what to short the stock. When I inquired at Schwab that was what I was told. One problem is they just can’t short with any volume to knock the share price down.
Looking ahead, once NTRP is on NASDAQ, will options become available? Options can be used to hedge a short position affording some protection if the share price was to move to the upside. Option trading does not happen automatically when a stock is listed on NASDAQ.
According to Investopedia companies must meet four criteria before options on their stock can be traded on options exchanges:
1. The underlying equity security must be listed on the NYSE, AMEX or Nasdaq.
2. The closing price must have a minimum per share price for a majority of trading days during the three prior calendar months.
3. The company must have at least 7,000,000 publicly held shares.
4. The company must have at least 2,000 shareholders.
If a company does not meet any one of these criteria, options exchanges such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange will not allow any options to be traded on the underlying security. Additionally, because of the second condition listed above, a company cannot have options traded on it until at least three months after its initial public offering date.
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/04/072104.asp#ixzz4b3QkkIai
Looking at the above criteria numbers 3 and 4 probably will disqualify NTRP from being listed on the options market any time soon. Personally I view that as a favorable situation if you are long the stock. It means price discovery will be based on company news and developments and not on games played by a cabal of short sellers.