Biotech Values

[gofishmarko]

Re: VRTX

>>>The VX-950 results are very impressive indeed, but this has been known since January (#msg-9177786). I don’t see anything in today’s PR, specifically, that changes the competitive landscape.<<<

Dew,
This data was new:

"Researchers reported for the first time today that 8 of 8 patients who received VX-950 and peg-IFN in combination for 14 days have no detectable virus in their blood at the end of 12 additional weeks of peg-IFN+RBV dosing"

Although it was only 8 patients , I think this is very important if it holds up in larger trials. A 12-week EVR ( i.e at least a 2 log drop ) is highly predictive of SVR when using pegifn plus riba (~ 65-75%). I would expect a 12-week complete viral response to result in even higher SVR rates.

I think VRTX is moving to the front of the pack on hep c. A few weeks of treatment including VX-950 followed by a few months more of pegifn + riba that results in SVR rates of 80 or 90 % in gen 1 patients would capture the naive markets in the U.S and Europe, IMO. They're not there yet , of course , but I think this data will make a splash , and it may explain some of IDIX' recent weakness.