Dendreon Corp fka DNDNQ

[nerdseeksblonde]

in light of lawsuit, let me repost my critique


http://www1.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=58&mn=333&pt=msg&mid=2144684


There are a number of things DNDN is doing that I don't think are really great including the way their PR presents their
limited scientific results ( see comments earlier on my conjecture regarding Small's attitude related to this ).

However, I have to reserve judgement on the specific suit until I read a (free) copy of the complaint.

Concerns about the ability to find convincing efficacy data from the interim look relate to the whole TTP and dynamics/trajectory issue yet again. I'm not claiming DNDN should have invested in a heroic, high-risk effort to find the world's first surrogate
marker for PC regression. However, they could have reasonably
diverted money from their PR efforts into a core science effort
focused on, at minimum, an in vitro assay that captures
some of the in vivo dynamics, provenge gene expression or
even simple cytokine assays as a function of time to later
correlate with patient outcome, etc. What would this cost,
a few $M/year? Of the 200+ employees how would anyone
here break them down?
Knowing the problems with the data
and the ways for addressing them, you would think if they
really had confidence in their product this would be job 1.



The amount of tractable science that could be done with
the in vitro approach and the payoff in time scales
and logicistics, aside from any product optimization issues,
could be tremendous. The payoff from a promo video and
sales staff or regulatory positions when the FDA and doctors
just want data is questionable at best. Even more speculative science, that could show zero return, would have been well worth the risk ( it has some chance of working while a promo video and cartonn would not work against a rational FDA or doctor).