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.
DELPHI ENGAGES IN SPIRITED MUCL DEBATE:
From recent exchange of views:
(one side of the coin)
First of all, I would not prefer debt. Not even sure if
MUCL could get loans, but that's another story. I feel
as though financing via debt (if they could get it)
would put MUCL in even a more precarious financial situation, and my own personal preference is always to
look for debt free companies, so no argument there.
Without going into numerous details of the recent 2 and the
next financing, I have basically 2 big issues.
1. MUCL is largely a victim of it's past unsucessful
incarnations. I understand the difficulty of "Start-ups",
but most "start-ups" do not "start" with between 100-200
million shares. ANY future success as a company will be
minimized by this handicap. Also understanding that after
the next financing there will be in the 300 million shares
neighborhood on a fully diluted basis.
2. Both of the recent financings were (in my opinion)
on very poor terms, AND poorly timed, AND linked to
excessive option/warrant packages. NOT immediate dilution,
BUT they will serve as steadily chewing away at any per
share income and equity looking forward. Newmin picked
close to the bottom of the share price for these 2
financings, and it to me that shows 1 of two things.
either poor decision making OR consciously getting
the "new boys club" in on the cheap. Either way not a
good thing for the common holder.
(delphi's side of the coin)
Your post has some substance, and given that we all know what dilution is, we don't need the math just now.
But here's the thing. There is only one MUCL. It has its particular history. Can't be another hypothetical company with an IPO to raise money, that somehow owns these specific patents and the potential they offer. It may not be 100% lovable, but it looks pretty good assuming there might just be a PR or two coming out in March or April.
And here's the other thing: do you have financing numbers from companies in similar BB doldrums? Numbers that backup the statement that the previous 2 financings "were on very poor terms"? Sure, anyone can snipe at the numbers, (you don't want Roy in your camp, do you) especially with the pps almost 3x times the Dec. lows, but do other companies have a better record with financing when their's is a downward trending stock? Hard to find a "similar" company, I know. Any BB financing numbers will do.
And the final other thing: "poorly timed"? Last summer's $$ seemed just in the nick of time, given that the Xeno contract wasn't going to be kicking in more $$ until now. But the last one? Done when it seems a number of on-going programs are just coming into their own, not to mention the imponderable cooincidence of the contamination issue of embryonic stem cells being made public just as the financing was closing. And, the magic pill it appears no one was factoring into anything: no more "may not make it as a going concern" statement from the auditors in the 10K.
What does MUCL show NOW when it seeks partners, alliances, Amex listing? Every detail of the corporate structure in black and white, cash in hand, BIG potential markets with patents in place, projects progressing, and big pharma endorsing the Xeno-manufactured hepatocytes for toxicity screening.
Everyone is proud that Dr. Chang was part of the financing package and the 3 PRs on the same day. That's easy. What was he called: "a giant"? But I would love to be fly on the wall when Mr. C. is doing his thing finding companies to acquire or partner with, putting the AMEX listing in place, and whatever else he is doing behind the scenes right now. We on RB won't know the substance of his work until it is announced. But I doubt Mr. Newmin took on some lounge lizard as part of the package. My guess, he'll earn his keep. And anyone who is long as an investment, not a trading stategy, will be smiling along with the insiders.
And finally, look at the bright side of the dilution: (What bright side, even the faithful are scratching their heads wondering what body snatcher has taken over poor old delphi) You want a roller coaster ride, then you want a company with 5-20 M shares outstanding. You want a market where large holders can enter and exit without huge swings in pps, 200-300 shares provides the buffer. The market makers are providing that kind of market right now, holding in the low .40s. while nothing is happening and people trade in or out depending on their disposition.
all IN MY HUMBLE OPINION of course. The waiting just got a lot easier, because the next big thing will be positive.
DELPHI ENGAGES IN SPIRITED DEBATE:
From recent exchange of views:
(one side of the coin)
First of all, I would not prefer debt. Not even sure if
MUCL could get loans, but that's another story. I feel
as though financing via debt (if they could get it)
would put MUCL in even a more precarious financial situation, and my own personal preference is always to
look for debt free companies, so no argument there.
Without going into numerous details of the recent 2 and the
next financing, I have basically 2 big issues.
1. MUCL is largely a victim of it's past unsucessful
incarnations. I understand the difficulty of "Start-ups",
but most "start-ups" do not "start" with between 100-200
million shares. ANY future success as a company will be
minimized by this handicap. Also understanding that after
the next financing there will be in the 300 million shares
neighborhood on a fully diluted basis.
2. Both of the recent financings were (in my opinion)
on very poor terms, AND poorly timed, AND linked to
excessive option/warrant packages. NOT immediate dilution,
BUT they will serve as steadily chewing away at any per
share income and equity looking forward. Newmin picked
close to the bottom of the share price for these 2
financings, and it to me that shows 1 of two things.
either poor decision making OR consciously getting
the "new boys club" in on the cheap. Either way not a
good thing for the common holder.
(delphi's side of the coin)
Your post has some substance, and given that we all know what dilution is, we don't need the math just now.
But here's the thing. There is only one MUCL. It has its particular history. Can't be another hypothetical company with an IPO to raise money, that somehow owns these specific patents and the potential they offer. It may not be 100% lovable, but it looks pretty good assuming there might just be a PR or two coming out in March or April.
And here's the other thing: do you have financing numbers from companies in similar BB doldrums? Numbers that backup the statement that the previous 2 financings "were on very poor terms"? Sure, anyone can snipe at the numbers, (you don't want Roy in your camp, do you) especially with the pps almost 3x times the Dec. lows, but do other companies have a better record with financing when their's is a downward trending stock? Hard to find a "similar" company, I know. Any BB financing numbers will do.
And the final other thing: "poorly timed"? Last summer's $$ seemed just in the nick of time, given that the Xeno contract wasn't going to be kicking in more $$ until now. But the last one? Done when it seems a number of on-going programs are just coming into their own, not to mention the imponderable cooincidence of the contamination issue of embryonic stem cells being made public just as the financing was closing. And, the magic pill it appears no one was factoring into anything: no more "may not make it as a going concern" statement from the auditors in the 10K.
What does MUCL show NOW when it seeks partners, alliances, Amex listing? Every detail of the corporate structure in black and white, cash in hand, BIG potential markets with patents in place, projects progressing, and big pharma endorsing the Xeno-manufactured hepatocytes for toxicity screening.
Everyone is proud that Dr. Chang was part of the financing package and the 3 PRs on the same day. That's easy. What was he called: "a giant"? But I would love to be fly on the wall when Mr. C. is doing his thing finding companies to acquire or partner with, putting the AMEX listing in place, and whatever else he is doing behind the scenes right now. We on RB won't know the substance of his work until it is announced. But I doubt Mr. Newmin took on some lounge lizard as part of the package. My guess, he'll earn his keep. And anyone who is long as an investment, not a trading stategy, will be smiling along with the insiders.
And finally, look at the bright side of the dilution: (What bright side, even the faithful are scratching their heads wondering what body snatcher has taken over poor old delphi) You want a roller coaster ride, then you want a company with 5-20 M shares outstanding. You want a market where large holders can enter and exit without huge swings in pps, 200-300 shares provides the buffer. The market makers are providing that kind of market right now, holding in the low .40s. while nothing is happening and people trade in or out depending on their disposition.
all IN MY HUMBLE OPINION of course. The waiting just got a lot easier, because the next big thing will be positive.
Never let it be said that delphi
won't step up like a punching bag and take his hits. MUCL had a stellar day to the downside. Who knows what makes for a down market day in an uptrending stock. Some days my predictions are the perfect contrarian indicator, other days I earn my moniker. If you always think there is reason for a good day, in an uptrend you will be right more often than wrong. And a stopped clock tells the right time 2x/day.
But there was a closer look at what the company intends for The Sybiol, and day 9 in the new era of company promotion ends with the pps 25% higher than it began. According to Yahoo Finance, avg. daily volume is now double what it was. 10K due Mon. Spring follows winter. He with long position never chases runup. Or something like that.
See you good folks next week.
From the downside of the MUCL board.
Never let it be said that delphi won't step up like a punching bag and take his hits. MUCL had a stellar day to the downside. Who knows what makes for a down market day in an uptrending stock. Some days my predictions are the perfect contrarian indicator, other days I earn my moniker. If you always think there is reason for a good day, in an uptrend you will be right more often than wrong. And a stopped clock tells the right time 2x/day.
But there was a closer look at what the company intends for The Sybiol, and day 9 in the new era of company promotion ends with the pps 25% higher than it began. According to Yahoo Finance, avg. daily volume is now double what it was. 10K due Mon. Spring follows winter. He with long position never chases runup. Or something like that.
See you good folks next week.
Just to let you know the MUCL board is not defunct because we are having a slow day. The following was just posted on the IH MUCL board, the best of the day from RB passed on free of charge.
JAZZ REMINDS EVERYONE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Another delphi pass on from one of the RB science mavens.
"SYBIOL cell cocktail
from MUCL website: (they sure are quick in updating the website these days).
----------------------------------------
The Sybiol®
MultiCell's majority owned subsidiary, Xenogenics Corporation, is developing The Sybiol®, a liver assist device utilizing immortalized human hepatocytes (liver cells). Since no one hepatic cell line retains all the functions believed to be necessary to successfully treat patients, the plan is to initially use a "cocktail" of cell lines that retain the highest enzymatic activity for critical metabolic pathways (i.e. ammonia metabolism, phase I and II drug metabolism, etc). Preliminary studies will evaluate the scale up production and function of selected cell lines. The goal of the first generation Sybiol® will allow the Company to carry out "proof of principle" studies to validate the technology.
Synthetic Bio-Liver Device Description
The unique design of The Sybiol® optimizes the function and survival of MultiCell's immortalized human hepatocytes, the catalytic converter of the bioreactor. The patented Sybiol® operates outside the body, similar to a kidney dialysis treatment, where the immortalized liver cells metabolize toxins in the patients blood.
The Company believes that The Sybiol® will have significant advantages that allow meaningful benefits in treatment and cost over competitive technologies currently in development.
Low cost
Long treatment cycle
Good potential for use as liver "dialysis" treatment for chronic liver disease stemming from alcoholism, hepatitis or ingestion or overdose of toxic substances
Can be used as a bridge before and after transplant surgery to increase success rate of transplantation surgery and grafts
Helps the liver regenerate — perhaps even to the extent that no transplant is needed
The Sybiol® Advantage
Efficient removal of cellular waste products
Long cell viability
A continuously replenishable supply of fresh, healthy, viable human hepatocytes
Methods of monitoring and controlling flows, oxygen temperatures and pH levels
Fast change-over between patients
Short lead time
Patent-pending technology minimizes the possibility of immune reactions to foreign proteins
--------------------------------------------------
j's note: that last one is referring to the HUMAN cells which use SERUM FREE medium. Gone are the days of fetal bovine serum, at least for MUCL, that's stone age stuff.
Multicell Technologies patents at a glance
US Patent 6,129,911 Liver Stem Cell
US Patent 6,017,760 Isolation and Culture of Porcine Hepatocytes
US Patent 6,107,043 Immortalized Hepatocytes
US Patent 5,043,260 Perfusion Device with Hepatocytes
US Patent 4,795,459 Implantable Prothetic Device (Endothelial)
U.S. Patent 6,858,146 Artificial Liver Apparatus and Method (Sybiol)"
______________________________________________________________
delphi's RB add-on:
This is the kind of update management can provide now that the patent is in hand. Just the beginning of showing the short sightedness of those who claimed the patent was a one-off pump, nothing new in the news.
We'll start finding out what those improvements are that will be given their own patents as Xenogenics tweaks the machine and its processes toward optimal functioning. Are we getting hints that plans are being advanced toward clinical trials? Progress actually happening on a program that hasn't been publically mentioned for a while, therefore assumed dead except by the reality-challenged? (I'm talking about the dreamers here, just so I am not misconstrued. I hate that construing process, where everything one says is subject to bashing.)
JAZZ REMINDS EVERYONE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Another delphi pass on from one of the RB science mavens.
"SYBIOL cell cocktail
from MUCL website: (they sure are quick in updating the website these days).
----------------------------------------
The Sybiol®
MultiCell's majority owned subsidiary, Xenogenics Corporation, is developing The Sybiol®, a liver assist device utilizing immortalized human hepatocytes (liver cells). Since no one hepatic cell line retains all the functions believed to be necessary to successfully treat patients, the plan is to initially use a "cocktail" of cell lines that retain the highest enzymatic activity for critical metabolic pathways (i.e. ammonia metabolism, phase I and II drug metabolism, etc). Preliminary studies will evaluate the scale up production and function of selected cell lines. The goal of the first generation Sybiol® will allow the Company to carry out "proof of principle" studies to validate the technology.
Synthetic Bio-Liver Device Description
The unique design of The Sybiol® optimizes the function and survival of MultiCell's immortalized human hepatocytes, the catalytic converter of the bioreactor. The patented Sybiol® operates outside the body, similar to a kidney dialysis treatment, where the immortalized liver cells metabolize toxins in the patients blood.
The Company believes that The Sybiol® will have significant advantages that allow meaningful benefits in treatment and cost over competitive technologies currently in development.
Low cost
Long treatment cycle
Good potential for use as liver "dialysis" treatment for chronic liver disease stemming from alcoholism, hepatitis or ingestion or overdose of toxic substances
Can be used as a bridge before and after transplant surgery to increase success rate of transplantation surgery and grafts
Helps the liver regenerate — perhaps even to the extent that no transplant is needed
The Sybiol® Advantage
Efficient removal of cellular waste products
Long cell viability
A continuously replenishable supply of fresh, healthy, viable human hepatocytes
Methods of monitoring and controlling flows, oxygen temperatures and pH levels
Fast change-over between patients
Short lead time
Patent-pending technology minimizes the possibility of immune reactions to foreign proteins
--------------------------------------------------
j's note: that last one is referring to the HUMAN cells which use SERUM FREE medium. Gone are the days of fetal bovine serum, at least for MUCL, that's stone age stuff.
Multicell Technologies patents at a glance
US Patent 6,129,911 Liver Stem Cell
US Patent 6,017,760 Isolation and Culture of Porcine Hepatocytes
US Patent 6,107,043 Immortalized Hepatocytes
US Patent 5,043,260 Perfusion Device with Hepatocytes
US Patent 4,795,459 Implantable Prothetic Device (Endothelial)
U.S. Patent 6,858,146 Artificial Liver Apparatus and Method (Sybiol)
______________________________________________________________
delphi's RB add-on:
This is the kind of update management can provide now that the patent is in hand. Just the beginning of showing the short sightedness of those who claimed the patent was a one-off pump, nothing new in the news.
We'll start finding out what those improvements are that will be given their own patents as Xenogenics tweaks the machine and its processes toward optimal functioning. Are we getting hints that plans are being advanced toward clinical trials? Progress actually happening on a program that hasn't been publically mentioned for a while, therefore assumed dead except by the reality-challenged? (I'm talking about the dreamers here, just so I am not misconstrued. I hate that construing process, where everything one says is subject to bashing.)
pgs Can't help you there. I just like looking at pictures of stocks heading in the right direction, especially in my one long position.
Please excuse pgs in his last post.
delphi believes he needed another cuppa joe before posting. There is a reference that is terminally obscure to everyone but delphi, because of a private email between Assistants I sent him earlier this morning. It shall remain thus. Nothing remotely company-related involved. Education being delphi's reason for being, I try not to pump up the post count with chat between Assistants.
Greetings on another fine day here in blizzard central, Mass.
Today, other than my prediction that MUCL will have another banner day, I have a story to share, somewhat bearing on the company and pps, but mostly amusing.
It is no secret that the MUCL IH board was jumpstarted by the dynamic trio from the Raging Bull board, and we drop in there to check out breaking news. (It is the most active of all MUCL sites, and if you are willing to wade through mounds of posts that are complete wastes of time, very educational. In my incarnation as delphi here at IH, I am the trash sorter at the recycling center.) Last night a journal article was unearthed showing research from Bejing (done in 2002, reported in 2004) referencing SYBIOL in an article on a "hybrid bioartificial liver". Turns out this may be the very machine promoted in 1997 as having been shipped to China for clinical trials and never heard of again. Reports from RB posters long before my arrival at that board had inside word from a company official that this machine had been hijacked and was missing in action. Yes, that is the story: the machine was stolen!! No wonder there was no further word about research in China after 1997.
Even using an outdated design and pig liver cells, and patients in extreme distress with potentially terminal conditions, the article reported 2 spontaneous remissions, a life sustained until a transplanted organ was found, and 2 deaths.
A good story always sports a moral, right. Moral of the story: let your imagination run wild and picture what the current Sybiol model may be capable of in Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Units across the land.
Happy trails and good investing....
Greetings on another fine day here in blizzard central, Mass.
Today, other than my prediction that MUCL will have another banner day, I have a story to share, somewhat bearing on the company and pps, but mostly amusing.
It is no secret that the MUCL IH board was jumpstarted by the dynamic trio from the Raging Bull board, and we drop in there to check out breaking news. (It is the most active of all MUCL sites, and if you are willing to wade through mounds of posts that are complete wastes of time, very educational. In my incarnation as delphi here at IH, I am the trash sorter at the recycling center.) Last night a journal article was unearthed showing research from Bejing (done in 2002, reported in 2004) referencing SYBIOL in an article on a "hybrid bioartificial liver". Turns out this may be the very machine promoted in 1997 as having been shipped to China for clinical trials and never heard of again. Reports from RB posters long before my arrival at that board had inside word from a company official that this machine had been hijacked and was missing in action. Yes, that is the story: the machine was stolen!! No wonder there was no further word about research in China after 1997.
Even using an outdated design and pig liver cells, and patients in extreme distress with potentially terminal conditions, the article reported 2 spontaneous remissions, a life sustained until a transplanted organ was found, and 2 deaths.
A good story always sports a moral, right. Moral of the story: let your imagination run wild and picture what the current Sybiol model may be capable of in Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Units across the land.
Happy trails and good investing....
HEAT, REVISITED
delphi advises that things can get a little testy when some issues are debated. The following was the response of a particularly exasperated long to the idea that reducing the number of outstanding shares via reverse split would help "the numbers" later on:
"The attempt to turn the quarterly cash flow from the Xeno contract into "investors' numbers" misses the point. This company is NOT going to valued according to P/E in the next few years. It is a developmental stage biotech company pure and simple. Nobody who understands what he is invested in will demand dimes or quarters or silver dollars of net income per share at this stage. No matter how much gross revenue the various projects eventually bring in, investors would justifiably punish the share price if every penny weren't plowed back into further R and D. Research and Development is what will bring investors, not some split adjusted bottom line."
As always, delphi counsels that this is an opinion, not a fact.
-
PERSPECTIVE FROM THE WORLD OF VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING
delphi recommends the following personal narrative for those who have never been involved in trying to raise money. Be sure to think twice before reacting negatively to a successful fund raising negotiation.
"there are a lot of venture capitalists out there."
"There sure are, and everyone of them is out to make a big score, and everyone of them makes sure THEY get paid, and everyone of them makes sure that THEY don't get hurt. I know. I was a partner in a VC firm more than 20 years ago.
Then, as President and CEO of a (small) corporation I had occasion to seek the possible services of a large, very credible law firm that specialized in IP and VC...I repeat, this was a credible firm that would certainly more than pass anyone's standard as "clean"...and when I left, I had to reach back and check and see that my butt was still there.
After examining the terms of the proposed deal, I politely wrote a letter in triplicate thanking them for their time and wishing them well in their further ventures.
Just to sign on the dotted line would have committed our company to a small fortune that could have destroyed us before we even began. And when it was over, I was billed for the partner's time, along with that of his two assistants. That's a "clean" venture capitalist.
Now I ask, how much is $4mil worth? Let's say you borrow it at 7% (and that would be a good rate)...that's $280,000+ for the first year. You still think we got a bad deal?"
Perspective, perspective, perspective
STEM CELLS: BACKGROUND AND COMPANY PROSPECTS
This is delphi's rewording of Dr. Faris' patent, featuring the nature of stem cells and what Multicell Technologies owns because of this patent. Appended are the thoughts and research of others related to this issue.
"The patent is for "the invention". "The invention" includes both: 1. the means of processing whole livers to obtain the unique cells occurring in a normal liver that produce functional hepatocytes; and 2. the subsequent uses of the cells obtained in this manner, including "seeding" a diseased liver with cells capable of replacing lost hepatic function (cell transplantation, as opposed to whole organ transplantation), genetically altering these cells (by any known means) to treat several known diseases or produce "therapeutic recombinant proteins", AND suspending the cells in the "hollow semi-permeable membrane fibers" of a liver assist device (SYBIOL).
What Dr. Faris has done is to figure out how to obtain a supply of cells uniquely known to possess the property of continuosly generating functional hepatocytes, and then to lock in all the known uses of these specific cells in the practice of medicine.
A closer look:
The stem cell isolated by "the invention" is defined as the cell which is paired in an intact liver with a functional hepatocyte by a "desmosomal junction". This definition of the stem cell differentiates it from other liver cells which mimic some of its functions. The stem cells in the intact liver are considered inactive until stimulated by injury or toxins. The main functional characteristic of the stem cell is that it forms "oval cells" when stimulated (it can be stimulated by known chemicals in order to get it to start this function as part of in vivo [in the body] therapy, to generate hepatocytes that produce therapeutic compounds, or in SYBIOL). Oval cells in their turn become functional hepatocytes. Tweaking the process can insure that bile duct cell production is eliminated--this is the last potential contaminant remaining after the stem cell-hepatocyte couplet has been isolated by "the invention", and the stem cell then liberated from the hepatocyte. The hepatocyte isn't immortal. The stem cell that creates oval cells is the immortal part--immortal by comparison to the lifespan of the hepatocytes it generates. The stem cell has the capacity of self-rejuvenation, and it just keeps producing hepatocytes. The only role played by the original hepatocyte from an intact liver is to define the joined cell as the stem cell. Multicell Technologies has the only known means to obtain pure cultures of oval-cell producing stem cells, and every use of these cells is also included in the patent. Hepatocytes that produce a specific substance used in the treatment of disease can be obtained by altering the DNA of the stem cell, which then generates the hepatocytes that perform the function needed."
From another source:
"Some may remember me harping now & then about blood factors, peptides, HDL's etc...all naturally produced by hepatocytes (including of course the Fa2N-4 and other MUCL lines, proven and for all to see on the MUCL website). Some may also know of Pfizer's ETC-216, which is the recombinant Apo-A1 'Milano', famous for the plaque reducing study which prompted PFE to buy tiny Esperion Pharmaceuticals last year for huge bucks just for this one big molecule. As promising as it is, and it IS promising, trials are on hold because Pfizer can't make enough of the molecule, it's very large, very complicated, and very hard to get it right. You see, it's normally made by HEPATOCYTES, as are other HDL's.
Same goes for AAT, aka: alpha-1 antitrypsin. Speaking of which--Pfizer is surprisingly not in the game (yet) for this huge niche where the players cannot keep up with the demand. Bayer and the others are fractionating pooled human plasma to get the stuff, which is desperately needed by "alpha" folks with the deficiency. The thing is--in you and me the stuff is made by our hepatocytes--perfectly, flawlessly. AAT and other HEPATOCYTE derived protease inhibitors (which cannot be duplicated by any other means) are showing big promise in treating various chronic obstructive pulmonary deseases (COPD) such as hereditary emphasema, asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc...
I could go on and on..."
In summary, delphi states:
"Multicell Technologies can create cell-based "biofactories" to produce therapeutic proteins because hepatocytes naturally make the good stuff, and if they don't, the DNA of the stem cells can be altered by known means so that the resulting hepatocytes DO produce the good stuff. It can provide "seed cells" for transplantation into diseased livers (Hep C, cirrhosis) or livers that don't make crucial proteins or don't allow the expression of these proteins, all due to the stem cells that generate the hepatocytes that make the therapeutic agents."
More from the man who speaks his mind:
"MUCL's current immortalized lines [the current product line used in drug toxicity testing] have nothing to do with stem cells. The Fa2N-4 line is from one person's hepatocytes, immortalized via SV40 (large T antigen). Multicell has said in the past that they are working on "next generation" hepatocyte lines that will be derrived from their adult liver stem cells. Then we get this quote from Mr. Newmin the other day,
"...the Company will continue to generate revenues from its stem cell program by pursuing immediate market opportunities in drug discovery. Indeed, our reputation as a leading provider of highly functional immortalized human hepatocytes for evaluating lead compounds and toxicology testing will facilitate the introduction of our stem cell products to the pharmaceutical industry."
It's a very interesting quote, because, if that next generation has arrived, I would think they would behave even more like primary hepatocytes, (in terms of actual amounts of P450s etc., not just predictable ratios)--of course with the usual MUCL bonus of being perfectly consistent for cross referencing over multiple experiments and time.
speaking of stem cells...
MUCL's "may" not be as 'plastic' as is said, which is fine with me. It's the adult stem cells that currently show the most promise with fewer giant-leaps-in-science needed to actually accomplish anything. We've got human adult hepatic stem cells. They want to produce hepatocytes, it's what they do. Think about that compared to some generic blastocyte, (ESC), that will need to be coaxed, poked, soaked, zapped, & prodded through multiple phases (mind you- using technology currently not known) to become a hepatocyte, or whatever...Rather than shooting some ESC's into a mouse with a "let's see what happens" attitude (I'm simplifying but it's basically what's up), we have a perfect functioning adult liver stem cell. We own the method of isolation. The cell may not be able to be coaxed into making heart tissue or neurons etc., but it sure makes perfect hepatocytes. The possibilities for autologous transplants are obvious, as well as for the manufacture of countless desperately needed proteins (your body's own 'drugs'), as well as of course replacing the current industry standard Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO's) to produce todays biopharmaceuticals (proteins), with perfect glycosylation, because duhhh, they're human liver cells, who's job is to express perfectly glycosylated proteins..."
PS- good article on ESC/ASC
http://www.multicelltech.com/technology/pub_051604.htm
I now append 2 links obtained from traumadog02
http://unisci.com/stories/20022/0604021.htm
- - - - -
http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~cholab/Homepage/Research.html
The first is a study showing that adult liver stem cells in rats can become functional rat insulin-secreting pancreatic cells.
The second study examines the mechanism through which Xenopus embryonic stem cells can become either functional hepatocytes or functional pancreatic cells. The IMPLICATONS for MUCL's stem cells are awe inspiring.
It is not known at this time if MUCL scientists are pursuing this aspect of the possibilities inherent in their cells.
That last line will remain until someone tells me differently and has a link to support it. delphi does not support hype, nor do we confuse hope with reality. He promotes understanding of the proven science.
market I like this board, tell you the truth. I have to pull back from looking too deep at the companies because I broke all the rules and put everything on one horse. Still love the penny stock angle though. Feels like the lever Archimedes was looking for to move the world when things start moving up. In my "in the fullnes of time" fantasy, I get to a point where I think it's time to sell some shares of MUCL, and I'll have some $$ to take a small stake in some of these companies. Then I'll come knocking on the door asking for leads instead of being an Assistant on another board with a story to tell.
Greetings from the MUCL board.
MUCL announced the Sybiol Patent before trading opened. Finished at .47, up .055 (13.25%) on 1.8M shares traded=6x avg trading volume.
The company began focusing on promoting itself 8 trading days ago. Up from .32 in that time. 10K due Mon. Everyone involved fervently wishing for rapid transition to AMEX management has said is a major goal.
The future is now a lot closer than it was 2 weeks ago. Informative posts available for initial DD on the MUCL board.
pgs Deep thoughts in the shallow end of the pool.
I guess you missed my various revelatory posts over the past month or so, you being engrossed in bringing new science to entrenched debate.
I started in 95, hooked on the STAR TREK SCIENCE of the possibilites of the Sybiol predecessor machine. Being a supreme market timer, I held what I had managed to acquire over 5 years during the 2000 runup and collapse. And being a marketable fool, having sold my house for non-investment purposes in 2002, I put half of the paper bag full of profits into MUCL near the all time lows. All I ever say about that is that I had good fortune in the timing, but it is my good fortune, and I think I'll keep it. Fool forever, but educable if the slap upside the head gets my attention, I sold about 1/4 of the stake during the runup in 2003, and was able to retire with a plan to live simply and hold the rest of the shares until they reached their full potential. Let's just say the last year has tried the patience of a patient guy. The story kept getting better, the pps worse, with the longest tax-loss-selling period in the history of the BB.
Therefore, I am a proponent of giving the company credit for finally starting to promote itself lo these 8 trading days past. And that is how I acquired my attitude that my position is now 8 days old. It don't matter how much I or anyone suffered and lost their hair and wailed at the investment community for not noticing our little gem!! That is the past. And we're better people for having suffered. So much better, in fact, that we can handle any uncertainty visited on us in the current market, and hold our shares as the company acquires whatever patina of respect and speculative fervor the market cares to lavish on it in its new iteration as a Stem Cell Company With So Much More.
pgs Does it seem lonely here without Dad the Moderator to keep things rolling?
I am still thinking that today's news, to followed up by the 10K next Monday, should prove to be an effective "next step" in the promotional campaign inaugurated only 8 trading days ago. Instead of looking at .30 as an unsteady support, we're looking to scale .50 as awareness of the company spreads. 50% gain in those 8 trading days. I try to sympathize with people who have held on with a losing hand and want to sell into volume, or who bought in the past few months and now have respectable gains, but I have been long for so much time that it seems a shame to let go just when the trip is finally started.
I once told some people who bought on my recommendation several years ago that this time would be coming: when they would have to tell themselves that it doesn't matter how long they have held, it's how the company looks in the present to new eyes. Which, I guess, makes my position acquired over the years to be only 8 days old.
wantoberich Seat belt? I'm putting on my aviator's glasses!
Seriously, we're not getting the visiting posts here, but on PennyShac a couple of posters have been updating the pps move. I guess once the promise of a PR was fulfilled it started to look a little more real to new eyes.
how good? Push through .50 and not look back good, or struggle with wall after wall of people don't know no better selling when they should wait and see?
nate Thanks for the assist in updating the board with MUCL doings. One hopes for a solid push over .50, but dang if people with no sense just keep selling this early in the day.
wantoberich What is the current volume?
delphi reports that MUCL has just released the PR announcing the patent on Sybiol. Full text at MUCL board.
This PR is out a little earlier in the day than their usual News Releases. Gives a good summary of the patented device and the scope of the company's other projects.
The link highlighted below is to a site loaded with everything relating to Multicell Technologies. delphi means EVERYTHING! It goes so far as to have an open link to 4 message boards so one can follow the ongoing posts in each one. And the IH MUCL board has a place there. The home page must be 10 feet long to scroll through, with links to all the other information. Colorful, tech-savvy, full posts on the home page dealing with current issues in MUCL land.
http://www.multicell.info/
delphi expands on MUCL's new patent
Check the MUCL board, Post 215, for a rough explanation of what the company's newly patented liver assist machine is all about. delphi's sources on RB predict a News Release today (apparently RB beat the company's patent lawyers in finding link to the patent--but no more of that by delphi. If it comes out today, fine. If not, well...a long term holder learns patience. Information for initial DD posted on MUCL board in HIGHLIGHTED posts. Good hunting.
REGARDING THE SYBIOL PATENT
The patent includes mention of every type of cell that has ever been considered for use in an "extracorporeal" liver assist device. My guess is that this is to stop anyone from claiming they're not violating the patent by stealing the design and plugging in porcine or other mammalian cells.
And an interesting add-on to the above is specifically mentioning genetically altered porcine cells to be used in the machine to be compatible with a liver genetically designed to be transplanted in place of a "real" human liver. I don't know how that field is going, but should any of the people receiving a human liver substitute from a pig need a liver assist, Sybiol is there for them.
There is mention of the "preferred embodiment" of the device--meaning they had to include descriptions of earlier machines and methods so no one can take one of the early versions and say it's new and their's, etc. But what they get around to claiming is that in the revised and improved model under discussion, they are using liver cells that are unattached to any substrate: freely floating in the sustaining medium. This is in contrast to prevailing wisdom, and is important because it eliminates steps in the handling of the cells after harvest (time/money consuming work) and also serves to protect the cells from injury when being handled in making them cohere to the substrate--AND means that there is more total surface area of the hepatocytes available to interact with toxins, metabolites, etc.--the actual function of the device. However, they have developed a method of introducing the hepatocytes to the mixing chamber that promotes the joining together of hepatocytes into "aggregated hepatocytes" working as a team to remain funcional longer than isolated hepatocytes.
Addressing the area of (probably, in my understanding) the greatest potential drawback to the therapeutic value of any such device, they say they have a means of letting through larger molecules like proteins, some of which are valuable and need returning to the treated blood before it is transfered back to the patient's blood stream--which allows them to apply the machine to extracting antibodies in the blood plasma (red blood cells are not exposed to the functions of the machine). These are antibodies which may be in the blood already (remember the transplants of whole organs--they have a tendency to provoke massive rejection if the immune system is not notched down) as well as antibodies formed through the contact (mediated by membranes) with the hepatocytes of the device. It sounds as if they have surmounted the device-killer: the immune system's sensitivity to exposure to any non-body cells. Antibodies are isolated from plasma or from the sustaining medium and not allowed to enter the processed plasma.
There is a lot of stuff about flow and contra-flow, maintaining temperature within an insulated chamber, oxigenating the sustaining media to promote forming those aggregated hepatocytes, all the variables involved with the sequences of different sized tubes with different sized holes, how to add on the commonly used filters of renal dialysis and red blood cell extraction, and how to maximize contact of hepatocyte and toxin within the 6 hours it takes to do one filtration run of blood--so that the device is a veritable swiss army knife of basic functions and sometimes necessary add ons.
In short, if it works as they imply they know it does, it's a winner, and nobody else is in the same ballpark to compete.
Upon re-reading the patent, I was struck by the obvious: They have to include the use of porcine cells in the description because they are going to have to run animal studies at some point in the gauntlet of Phases in a FDA approved study, so the patent has to say the device uses pig cells even if the "preferred embodiment" of the device will use MUCL's hepatocytes.
One of the innovative thoughts is applied to a "less preferred" iteration of the machine. To achieve good circulation of hepatocytes that ARE linked to a substrate, not "aggregated" in suspension, there is a method where beads with a magnetic center are made to move about by generation of an magnetic field in the sustaining medium. The main concerns are to get adequate closeness of hepatocyte and toxin through circulation, and the problem can be banging the cells into the chamber walls if circulation is done with a centrofuge or given too large a push by a mechanical circulator. A lot of balancing has to be achieved to get the filtration of toxins without over exposure of blood to the extracorporeal hepatocyte.
Count me as one who doesn't think Mr. Newmin is spending a lot of time scratching his head to figure out what to do next. He's had a long time to ponder this.
INVESTING IN MUCL: AN OVERVIEW
MUCL has active projects in several areas related to liver cell science. Its current retail product involves Immortalized Human Hepatocytes for drug toxicity testing. It has a patent for isolating Adult Liver Stem Cells, and several methods of utilizing the Stem Cells. It is actively researching the use of its cells as "BioFactories" for the production of Therapeutic Proteins, where the market for purified proteins is enormous. And its Patented liver assist device (Sybiol)utilizes the company's hepatocytes. Sybiol will receive its own post shortly. For purposes of this review: the patent has just received its final approval and the machine is ready for testing.
Any investor must remember that MUCL is currently a Bulletin Board stock. By definition, that makes it a speculative investment. No matter how convinced someone may be of the correctness of an investment in this company [I am a long term LONG and proud of it, but that is my opinion and I present it as such] the fact remains that a well-reasoned argument does not insure anything. The company has stated that it intends to seek an AMEX listing, and even with the low (but rising) current share price, under STANDARD 3, it appears that the company meets the requirements. Still, it does not now have that listing.
Second, understand that this is a company that has financed its existence by selling shares of its stock in private financing deals. The bright side: there is no debt. The negative is "dilution", which refers to the fact that an individual's stake in a company, percentage-wise, goes down when new shares are issued during financing. Also, most of the salaries up to this point have been paid in shares or warrants. MUCL recently concluded a new round of financing that brought in $4 million, with more later assuming warrants are exercised. In total, if all outstanding warrants are exercised over time, the total number of shares issued will be over 200 million compared to approximately 150 million currently. The crucial decision any investor must make is whether the benefits of the funding outweigh the negatives of having more shares outstanding. Another way of putting it: do you believe management has made the right decisions to promote the growth of the company. The kind of stock that appears to be attached to a rocket and actually defies "the sky is the limit" is almost always a stock with a small number of shares being traded back and forth, with an investment angle that focuses the attention and a good PR machine. The unfortunate sequel in many cases is that if the company falters, the punishment can be equally awe inspiring. [If anyone reading this has regretted missing TASR on the way up, you have to ask yourself, would I have sold at the top?]
Third, as Peter Lynch was fond of pointing out, an investor should know WHY he is investing in any company. (Of course, we all invest to make money--what is meant is: what is it about the company that makes one believe it will work as an investment vehicle.) Multicell Technologies is a biotech company, which means there is a lot of science going on. While you don't have to become a biochemist before deciding to invest, it does pay to spend some time becoming familiar with the basics. My earlier post STEM CELLS deals with some basics. Since MUCL is focused on the science of human liver cells, there are a number of different research areas involved, each with its own product niche. So some study is in order.
Fourth, past is not necessarily prolog. Looking at a 5 year chart of MUCL pps, one might assume that any rise in price in the near future is doomed to repeat the 2 previous cycles of runup and bust. One would therefore assume that the only policy to take is a short term hold, take the money and run. I will admit, at the current share price, this approach is almost certain to work. The question: what if this time is different, and the company is about to experience a complete re-evaluation of it's proper market cap? If that is the case, the hold period of a good investment could run to 2-5 years. The dilemma: buy and hold a BB stock. Is there something wrong with this picture, or does it make sense?
delphi ends with a summary of the points which indicate that buy and hold may well be a sensible approach. In my estimation, the final piece of the MUCL puzzle just fell into place: the company is now open to the thought of promoting itself actively. Having put in place a quality portfolio of intellectual property, patents in place or nearly there, a lot of science proven beyond a doubt--this is a much stronger company than in the past, and the promotion will reach people who understand the $$ billion potential of the target markets for MUCL products. The sales are not yet in that range, but there is one product line which is retail right now--immortalized human hepatocytes used for toxicology screening in drug research. Pfizer is an ongoing collaborator in expanding the known uses of MUCL's unique, patented cell line. Xenotech is the marketing partner. A 7 year contract is in place insuring minimum payments of over $2 million per year. Many of the largest pharmaceutical companies are evaluating this product in depth. Scientific conferences where Pfizer scientists are presenting research results will happen soon. This does not mean commercial success is insured. It does mean it is possible. This actually has nothing to do with MUCL being a Stem Cell company, which is the rest of the story, and has a few different parts.
Please note: MUCL holds a patent relating to ADULT liver stem cells, not EMBRYONIC. This is important not just because of the controversy about embryo research, but also because most of the effective cures based on stem cell research have come from the use of Adult stems cells, which develop into specific kinds of organ cells and are therapeutic in those organs. Even so, Adult cells exhibit some plasticity in animal studies, meaning that MUCL's liver stem cells MAY be shown to function as precursor's to pancreatic cells and be useful in treating diabetes, as well as the illnesses of the liver like cirrhosis and Hepatitus B + C, and several less well-known inherited disorders.
Further, MUCL's stem cells can be genetically altered by known methods to enable them to generate mature hepatocytes useful in the production of Therapeutic Proteins. Using cells as "mini-factories" to yield the exact protein needed for therapy and further research may be the largest market niche for which MUCL is uniquely positioned. Research is ongoing in this area.
Then there is Sybiol, a liver-assist machine (think kidney dialysis for the closest known model) patented by MUCL. This is not yet money in the bank. Assuming it becomes widely used in emergency rooms for overdoses and hepatic trauma, and to sustain people awaiting transplants, it will use MUCL's liver cell products, which are the best cells for this kind of intervention.
delphi considers all of the above to be promising areas for MUCL. Entry into any one of them involves huge expenditures of money, which MUCL does not have, and time, which it does have. It isn't going out of business. Will management seek to sell more shares to obtain some of the needed financing? Probably. Will such financing be at a low price per share? Probably not. Will management seek partnerships with larger companies to conduct clinical trials and further research? That is the most likely route for some of the niches being entered. How will it ramp up production of Therapeutic Proteins? Unknown. Can something go wrong? Always a possibility. Is the risk worth the potential reward? That decision is made one investor at a time.
shorebyfive pgs is correct to ask if you personally have had any interaction with Mr. Cataldo or one of his companies.
delphi however feels free to report that after incredible smoke on RB, very little fire was found. Opinions, rancorous vilification, unsubstantiated slurs...for sure. What it boiled down to for this scribe was that Mr. C. has had some impressive interventions concerning financing that saved some companies which went on to prosper. Some of his plans (resurrection of the film career of Jean-Claude van Damme comes to mind) and interventions have crashed and burned. Whatever the SEC found amid the rubble, Mr. C. has NO disciplinary record.
He is in the unfortunate position of being compared to Mr. Gerald Newmin, CEO of MultiCell Technologies, who has managed the successful turnaround of every company with which he has been affilitated. There is no reason to think that Mr. Newmin will allow the sundering of the enterprise he has worked to sustain and expand for the past decade.
The following opinion was submitted to RB, and bears repeating: No one associated with MUCL with utter a single untrue thing in any promotion. Aside from having Mr. Newmin at the helm (Mr. C. is non-executive CEO) to insure probity, there is simply no need for untruth. Proven science, patents and intellectual property, major partners in several areas--wherever one looks, the company is solid. Add in the resolution of all legal difficulties during the late 90s and NO DEBT, and one feels comfortable looking to the future.
nate Thanks for the MUCL chart.
I have never gone too deeply into the meaning behind the various lines over the pps data. So here's a question: do any of your tools provide a simple total of shares purchased in a day by retail buyers and shares sold by same? (I specify retail because there was commotion yesterday about a late moving 450 K block, which appears to have been identified as one MM supplying another--inflates the total volume, and in this case kept the pps low at the end of the day after some healthy buying for most of the rest of the day.) It seems to me that would be one item of interest in evaluating a rally.
Thanks for any insights.
Wantoberich Conservative, no blunders management a given at this company. This is Day #7 of the new era in company promotion. When we hear what the plan for the next year is and the new Patent is announced in the fullness of time, the only question is what base the new pps starts rising from. I expect a complete re-evaluation of MUCL's market cap as March rolls on. Never see this penny stock marsh again.
delphi will admit basing all pre-market predictions on too much hope for a company announcement regarding the Sybiol Patent. vol at 1.9 M, more buys than sells but taken to the low range of its base in late day MM activity. down .01. If I call this temporary lull a buying opportunity, you will think I am a hopeless shill instead of an positive-thinking long. 10K due next Monday, major Patent obtained, but unannounced, $640K/Quarter minimum income from XenoTech contract in place, Stem Cell patent being worked on by its main researcher. If you like biotech, ADULT Stem Cells (Hepatic), and opportunities in Therapeutic Proteins just opening up--you'll want to keep this on your radar screen and do that DD.
2 23 05 will be known as the first day the Sybiol Patent wasn't announced. vol 1.9 M, more buys than sells, down .01. If there was MM manipulation at the end of the day, it at least secured a base over .40. If the float has been stretched thin, one healthy dose of buying and no amount of manipulation will reign in the price.
delphi just heard that a 450,000 share block was moved on the low bid of the day.
"Wow, somebody sure wanted to get out!"
Well...and maybe the point should be that the Market Makers are arranging an orderly progression in the pps by facilitating large transactions like that. 3 weeks ago that block would have had to have been sold in pieces and would have taken the bid down an unhealthy percentage. Remember when the wall of worry was at .30, volume sporatic? Now, we go over .40 and stay there, rising apace to .50 with volume consistently over 1 M/day from now on--until the News Release with mention of the Sybiol Patent and what the company plans to do with it. This will change the perception of the company to STEM CELL COMPANY AND SO MUCH MORE. Mr. Newmin's CEO Letter to the Shareholders in the 10K due out next Monday, is a crucial document for guidance about future projects. Now, he has so much more to include.
The company has time to do things right because they have income of $500K/Quarter minimum from the XenoTech deal and discretionary cash on hand from the recent financing and NO DEBT eating away at the core.
pgs You were drafted to keep on keeping on, and let me post your "online library" of links to good stuff.
Nate Just came over to see if anyone was taking a peek at MUCL. It is looking good now, but not the day I had anticipated, since the company didn't issue a News Release about the Patent approval. It is coming soon, but this is also the final week for 10K preparation. One poster thinks the company is waiting for the arrival of official paperwork from the Patent Office, another thinks the Patent news will be combined with some other major announcement for a tsunami of a News Release.
onebgg Are you a holder of MUCL?
Come to visit from PennyShac?
wantoberich This isn't the day I had anticipated if the company had led off with a News Release. But this many shares traded before noon is a very good sign. News must be getting out about the patent. Gives everybody keeping track of news time enough to lock down a position under .50.
Have we decided if we're having a good day yet?
This delay in the announcement of the Sybiol Patent when it is obvious by the increase in volume that people somewhere are buying on the news, has me curious. One idea was that the actual paperwork hasn't arrived at Corporate Headquarters and they're not going to announce until they have it in hand.
pgs Does this board make you change from your RB stance of positive thinking and diligent research. Come on, this is great news. What kind of company can't do something fabulous with this kind of patent.
Short followup to previous delphi23 post
If you tried the link to the text of the Sybiol patent and it didn't work, it does work in the original post this morning on the MUCL site.