Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX)

[DewDiligence]

>…Idenix guided on 1st year telbivudine sales based on pattern seen in first year Baraclude sales...which were not that high<

That’s correct—Baraclude was cited as the rationale for the low guidance. But I was never happy with this explanation because JP had previously accused BMY of botching the Baraclude launch and had implied that NVS and IDIX could do better with Tyzeka. JP eve boasted that IDIX had hired some of the top HBV sales reps in the country.

I understand that the HBV market has an unusual amount of inertia for reasons that have been discussed on this board by dewophile and others. Still, this is a matter of degree. I continue to find the ultra-slow sales ramp of Tyzeka puzzling.