Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (ENTA)

[willyw]

I've seen a few articles that make it seem that the USA wants to try harder to be ahead of the curve with covid (and or other possible emerging health threats) The CDC has recently spoken to reorganizing, in part based on perceived past failures in covid.
And Fauci really never stopped lamenting our covid response;
https://www.aol.com/fauci-u-covid-response-theres-140731132.html

When I factor in that both Joe and Jill Biden experienced covid/paxlovid viral breakthroughs I have to wonder if EDP-325 might experience a more rapid green lighting of the EDP-325 approval process. Exactly how common is breakthrough? J.Luly Enanta CEO in the recent August earnings report gave a few reasons as to how EDP-325 could be superior to Paxlovid.

EUA? Rolling approval? Some grant or other assistance?
I feel the current climate is that they are not going to make the world wait for a better covid antiviral.

Enanta CEO J.Luly has mentioned that the phase 2 work should be within Enanta's capacity without outside partnership.
The ATM aspect may reassure investors, the government or potential partners that the Phase 2 (or 2/3) IS going forward. This itself could streamline the work of setting up the next stages of trial work.

In gaining a partner to potentially take the trials to phase 3, larger enrollment and world wide to be in a superior bargaining position Enanta may almost need to demonstrate that they don't need a partner. The ATM could ensure Enanta a stronger bargaining position in order to achieve a more lucrative financial agreement with a potential partner.

A final point worth noting is that potentially the patent issue with Pfizer could be decided- either in an legal decision or a settlement.
IF Enanta saw an encouraging legal patent decision the potential EDP-325 collaboration could become even more attractive.

Whether they touch the ATM or not, it seemed responsible to me to make sure that they can move forward in the approval and de-risking process of EDP-325.