VSGN
I am basing my assumption that the results of ACCLAIM will be good not on mechanistic grounds but on the results of the Phase II. The study generated highly statistically signficant results for a number of end points including an 87% reduction in risk of death (P=0.022), 61% reduction in risk of hospitalizations (P=0.006) and 63% reduction in MACE (P=0.005). These results were generated with only 75 patients enrolled in the study.
As you noted (more or less), CRP levels have been shown in just about every disease with an inflammatory component. I'd suggest that the therapeutic effect of Cellcade must be derived from something more than effects on CRP. PGS seems to have the inside line on muscle physiology, maybe he could comment?
From an investment perspective, I think that if the stock takes a sufficient hammering tomorrow morning, the risk:reward will be good for a purchase and full or partial sale before the ACCLAIM results.
I wouldn't call myself a big fan of VSGN, but there just might be money to be made on a bounce off of tomorrow's sell off. We'll see what happens.
Urche: when you say you are doubtful about the "role of modulating CRP as therapy for vascular disease and heart failure" are you talking about reducing CRP levels in isolation from other markers of inflammation, or are you doubtful about the whole concept of the relationship between inflammatory and vascular disease? Two different concepts in my mind.
John
AI
