Partnering and MCU
It might be an opportunity and not a problem at this point.
Its lead candidate is in Phase III with an SPA and fast track.
The SPA requires success in a 3000 patient 2 arm trial in an endpoint, where MC-1 was statistically significantly better already in a 900 patient 3 arm trial.
There should not be any problem with speed of enrollment.
The phase II enrolled pretty fast and this time there is even less competition if any for patients, and much more data that MC-1 is very safe, and highly beneficial.
The risks mentioned by Dew and David do not seem to apply as
Friesen has extensive experience to get drugs through the FDA.
He invested his own money to start the company, and not overly generous to give options to himself.
The company now has sufficient money to complete trial and approval and market the drug.
And most important:
MCU does not need marketing partner in the USA.
MC-2 will be very easy to market for CABG. Target physicians are cardiac surgeon, do not need large sales force, moreover MCU alrady has a sales force for Aggrastat to this market.
Moreover upon approval it will be competition free standard of care not requiring an overly sophisticated sales organization.
The tradeoff between some dilution vs. losing most of the revenue to the partner was probably the right one this time.
(Of course when I invested initially I hoped for quick partnering and profit. That did not happen, But the risk/reward prospect is a heck of lot better now.)
