First of all, good subject header...it's the truth.
"Tekmira is ahead of the competition in the race to find a cure for ebola."
Now to answer with my opinion on the so called "others" briefly without too much info:
Competitors listed in alphabetical order
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) is located in North Carolina with an additional location in Alabama. They use a process called structure-guided drug design to identify and determine molecular structure of the protein in order to design a drug for optimal interaction with the protein. They just received funding to advance development of BCX4430 for treatment of hemorrhagic virus diseases. They are currently in pre clinicals with BCX4430. This funding will allow moving forward with important primate studies, filing of an IND and Phase I clinical trials.
Response: Not happening, they lack the research infrastructure at Triangle Park to develop a vaccine quick enough, most of their products are derived from papers scoured at Penn, Harvard and John Hopkins. Their clinical program is also not as efficient as I would like to see.
Also their phase gates reviews are always delayed.
STRIKE 1! They are out.
Chimerix Inc. (NASDAQ:CMRX) is located in Durham, NC, and is focused on developing oral antivirals in areas of high unmet need. They've put out a press release 9.3.2014 updating their Ebola work. There are no test results from animals yet. All work thus far is in test tubes. They are also one of the companies attending the WHO conference in Geneva.
Reponse: This a joke? No really. No test results? Is the design sketch ink still dryin on the evaporator hoods? Strike 2 !
Fujifilm Holdings Corp. (OTCPK:FUJIY) U.S. partner MediVector Inc. in Boston is privately held and in contact with the FDA regarding their anti-viral compound Favipiravir for usage against ebola. Most of their funding is for their work against the flu. They've started enrolling patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial for Favipiravir against the flu.
Response: The molecule is similar to what TKMR has already, except TKMR has a more efficient delivery mechanism utilizing nano. Nothing new here folks, move on.
Strike 3!! OUT!!! Next batters….
GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) GSK has a significant global presence in over 150 countries. They are working with research partners to develop a vaccine to prevent ebola. GSK acquired the product when they purchased Okairos in May 2013. Discussions with regulators are ongoing to advance to a Phase I clinical trial later this year.
Response: Glaxo is a five hundred pound gorilla, like Biogen Idec a company which I worked for it will take an act of Congress to get protein formulations and the red tape Arena into some sort of mouse model study...many months if not years folks.
Strike 1 !
Immunovaccine, Inc. (TSX.V:IMV) (OTC:IMMVF) is in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have recently been testing a vaccine for the prevention of ebola on exposure. The two primates that were vaccinated and then exposed to ebola 70 days later lived. Hopefully, this eventually works as a preventive in humans too.
Response: Here we go again, mom and pops soup kitchen. Even of they formulated the fountain of youth we are back to stage one again, infrastructure…. Mass production capabilities. You just don’t throw recipes over the fence. It doesn’t work that way.
Strike 2!!!
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:INO) executive offices are in Plymouth Meeting PA. They published pre clinical data on their DNA vaccine preventing Ebola and Marburg filoviruses in May 2013. Press release can be found here.The published abstract from the trial can be found here.
Response: In the words of Adam Feuerstein, “We have entered into the realm of maximum bullshit”
Strike 3! Next batter
Mapp Biopharmaceutical produces ZMapp, and they are located in San Diego CA. The company is privately held and can't be traded. Their antibody treatment is produced in tobacco plants. Licenses are transferred to Mapp's commercialization partner, LeafBio. The treatment was only effective in 43% of the animals when they did the pre clinicals.
ZMapp has been used in six human patients thus far. Two US missionaries, one Spanish priest and three other doses. The two missionaries are alive, but the priest died. Of the three doses sent to Africa, one Liberian doctor that received a dose has died. The status of the other two is unknown as I write this. We can't tell from this small number of patients whether or not these antibodies work. 55% have died from the current outbreak and those with supportive care have usually done the best. The two that lived most likely have better immune systems than those living in the outbreak sites in Africa. Better immune systems coupled with better supportive care make a difference in itself. Again, we don't have enough data to know whether or not this drug actually made a difference. I hope it did since we need an effective treatment, but, we simply don't know yet. The recent deaths of ebola patients using ZMapp may dampen the demand for it in the near future.
Response: Well, we know some things now. One they can’t make enough of it. Two, they can’t make it fast enough. Three, it didn’t work for everyone. And Four, there was even one whom had a bad reaction.
Strike 1!!!
NewLink Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:NLNK) is based in Iowa, USA. The company is cancer focused, but, expanding its pipeline to address Ebola viruses via its subsidiary BioProtection Systems Corporation. The letter contract they have with the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is for studies that will bring an ebola vaccine closer to human clinical trials. Their product has been developed by the Canadian government.
Response: Newlink genetics was supposed to be ready for a 100 patient cohort quasi rushed study back in mid August. What the Hell happened? This one just fell like right off the cliff.
Strike 2!!
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) is in Tustin CA. The company is developing antibodies for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. They did some research in 2010 dealing with Ebola, but, it doesn't appear to be a focus of theirs now. The most recent press release that mentions ebola is from November 17, 2010
Response: This one is hilarious! They have a reputation now for mixing up controls; just ask the FDA and the shareholders. ROFLMAO! Yeah, their Clinical QC is with it and sunk for cash.
Strike 3…OMG We have already struck 3 batters in 3 innings and going for a no hitter!
Profectus Biosciences is a privately held company with locations in Baltimore
more MD and Tarrytown NY. They are working on vaccines to protect against exposure. According to this press release, they look forward to combining their vaccines with both Tekmira's therapeutics and the Vanderbilt antibodies.
Response; Too much BS here. Go back to the bench. Heck I can dig up five online papers right now.
Siga Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGA) is in New York NY. They develop vaccines and therapeutics. Ebola is one of their discovery targets.
A recent court ruling requiring them to pay lump sum damages to PharmAthene PIP may change some of their priorities. They intend to appeal.
Response: Oh great, a Galena wanna-be tied up in a legal money drain; nice company. They should be ready in a few weeks to help
Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SRPT), formerly AVI BioPharma is in Cambridge MA. They use RNA technologies to find new therapies. They completed Phase I safety studies in 2012 in both the ebola and marburgviruses. Study results aren't released for either one on the Clinicaltrials.gov site. The ebola trial scheduled to start next was withdrawn due to funding constraints.
Response: Oh well...As a prior senior protein formulations scientist with a lot of viral experience, "if it isn’t published yet it more likely than not means it’s bad news".
Look I have a good idea of what’s going on. It's TKMR or nothing right now. Forget about the stock, at the rate the virus is spreading, 1.4 billion estimated by mid january if the Russians don’t help out we may see something that has not been witnessed in a long time. I think the endemic spread margins are also being down played. It’s worse than they are telling the World because if it wasn't then why are the South African already setting up check-points? Eh? Something smells really bad, and it's probably fish.
