My "experience" in this field is definitely dated. I started to do graduate work in biochemistry at a cancer research institute. Spent a few years working in a lab doing work on hyeline membrane disease. That was a lifetime ago (switched to computer science).
Things have changed a lot since, but I do have a sense of how difficult and painstaking this kind of research is, and I have a great deal of respect for people who are good at it.
I do agree that large revenue may take a while, but do keep in mind that our current valuation is ridiculously low, and if we do get confirmation that PLX-PAD is an effective therapy for Covid, the increase in value will be immediate and very big. Once we get to a 10 bagger, I can be patient and wait for the revenues. Also, we don't know what will happen, a buyout is certainly a possibility, thus short term big reward is possible.
As far as the detailed mechanism of action(s) of the cells, that is clearly not fully characterized. But, it doesn't have to be (it will be eventually!). The cells are complex, with the capability of responding to their environment, and will take remedial action (secrete proteins) to restore balance, in this case (among other things) reduce inflammation. This the magic of MSCs, they "know" what they need to do. As deeper knowledge develops, they will be able to tweak the cells to perform in a more targeted way (it's what I call sending the cells to finishing school, ie. the bioreactor with the right reagent mix). It seems that what we have now is good enough to do the job.
I went from optimistic to more optimistic with the Covid development. As a graduate of the Ariad saga, I know that we can go from ecstasy to despair overnight (happily for me and saud, it was ecstasy in the end). So, I do remain somewhat cautious, but definitely feeling pretty good now. Covid 19 lit a fire under everybody's b'tt, and I can't believe that if the results are good, they will deny the therapeutic tool to patients who are suffering and dying today. In any case, the other P3s are still in the mix, and they'll be coming in this year. Multiple chances at the brass ring!
