SurModics Inc (SRDX)

[DewDiligence]

>Novartis' remarkably stable (>30 year shelf life in the lab) PTK787 (Vatalanib) is a compound that SRDX might want to follow closely, as it is currently in PIII trials for cancer and PII for AMD. This small molecule has potential advantages over Lucentis, in that in addition to blocking all 3 isoforms of the VEGFR, it also prevents activation of these receptors by alternative ligands, for example PDGF.<

PTK787 has a lot going for it on paper, but results in the clinic have been disappointing. Last year, NVS advised analysts to remove any revenue projections for this compound from their models on account of the tepid phase-3 interim results in colorectal cancer.