NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[skitahoe]

For all the theorists on Dr. Duffy, here's the ultimate conspiracy theory. It all began over a dozen years ago when Merck spoke with NWBO management about what they were doing. Essentially they began discussions on what they were doing, and Merck said, you prove it works and is approvable, and we'll buy your company once you prove it to us by trial. They agreed that a fair price would be something over $20 billion.

Time passes, the trial evolves, and approaching the finish line Merck says, we'll keep our end of the bargain, but we need to see how you're doing, and assist you in getting the trial properly evaluated, so we want Dr. Duffy to work with you in dealing with the regulators.

Now Merck's been satisfied, Dr. Duffy has returned, the top line data will be released, the price will move up dramatically, and when the time is right, Merck will step in, perhaps with a partnership at first to build the price higher, but eventually they'll purchase the company.

This is clearly a fiction, but no more so than some of the speculation that others are suggesting about Dr. Duffy's role. We really will never know precisely why Dr. Duffy did what he did, but we know one thing, Merck knows more about what NWBO is doing than any of the other BP's.

Gary