NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[CogDiss 1188X]

Perhaps the War on Cancer has become like modern warfare, which isn't really war with victory in mind, but is a vehicle for the production of goods and services at inflated prices using cost plus fixed free contracts etc, where the accounting is fogged up to the point that the real profit is hidden in the cost structure.

Seems like a fruitful comparison, Cap’n. You may have seen the analysis by Goldman on cures vs recurring treatment. The analyst is taking about gene therapy for illness involving loss of gene function, but it carries over to the big kahuna, cancer treatment:

“Is curing patients a sustainable business model? The potential to deliver “one shot cures” is one of the most attractive aspects of gene therapy, genetically-engineered cell therapy and gene editing. However, such treatments offer a very different outlook with regard to recurring revenue versus chronic therapies, particularly in certain diseases where it is possible to cure a large proportion of the prevalent patient pool (or at least prevent an additional dose from being required for an extended period). While this proposition carries tremendous value for patients and society, it could represent a challenge for genome medicine developers looking for sustained cash flow. GILD is a case in point, where the success of its hepatitis C franchise has gradually exhausted the available pool of treatable patients.”

Re: being cynical — certainly a justifiable position. On average, I’d rather sit at a table full of cynics than those who believe “The Secret,” mainly because I might learn something interesting or at least be entertained. However, I believe many (most?) people want the world to be a better place, that family and friends are the foundation of life and that there are many solutions to the problems we face — but they tend to be localized in scope and outside-the-box in nature.

More on table choice: Of course, if the Dalai Lama were there, Bill Murray and I would want to hear what he has to say!